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Windshield Defogger and A/C Recirculation

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Care, Maintenance & Troubleshooting' started by Rick Hoover, Nov 21, 2015.

  1. Rick Hoover

    Rick Hoover Junior Member

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    I recently picked up my first Gen III after having traded in my Gen II. I'm certainly happier about a lot of things, but do miss a few things too. One being the option to turn air recirculation on when using the windshield defogger.

    Now if I want to defog my windshield, I have to do it with outside air coming in. The Gen II would default to the same thing, but I could then select recirculation to close the outside air intake damper.

    Here in humid Florida I don't want the outside air coming in most of the year, especially when I'm trying to remove moisture (humidity) from the inside of my windshield. I also realize there are special electronic customizations that can be made and are referenced in the back of the owner's manual. I've made a couple changes, as designed by the manufacturer; one was shutting off the annoying reverse beeps. This was done by entering in a special code in a program on my phone via Bluetooth, through an ELM device and by way of the OBD connection. Is there such a similar hack/code for shutting off outside air and being able to select recirculation when defogging the windshield, or has Toyota taken that privilege away from me entirely?
     
  2. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    iirc, there is, but you may have to ask the dealer to do it. if you press recirq, i think it changes, doesn't it? it just doesn't default.
     
  3. Rick Hoover

    Rick Hoover Junior Member

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    Thanks for the reply bisco, but no I can run recirc on any A/C option but the windshield. The windshield will only allow outside air, regardless of how many times I press the recirc button.
     
    #3 Rick Hoover, Nov 21, 2015
    Last edited: Nov 21, 2015
  4. SharkNX

    SharkNX Junior Member

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    Hi Rick.
    In general, the dehumidification proces is lot easier with outside air than recirculated air. It might sound wierd but internal air is lot more often more humid than outside air. Also GenIII Prius and CT200h have more effective ... I don't know how to call it ... "evaporator" in AC than GenII. That's why you can't set it to recirculated mode.
    In most cases you won't feel the difference.

    Also when you run AC with recirc mode on daily basis, you're kind of helping mold to grow on the evaporator.

    You can't change it even via Carista app. There is only option to deactivate AutoAC after pressing Windshield Defogger button. No options to disable or enable the recirc during windshield defogger mode.
     
    #4 SharkNX, Nov 22, 2015
    Last edited: Nov 22, 2015
    Rick Hoover likes this.