With this system you can control the heating, cooling, and ventilation for your vehicle.
If your vehicle has the remote start feature and it is activated, the climate control system will heat and cool the inside of the vehicle, using the previous system settings before the vehicle was turned off. The rear window defogger will be turned on by the climate control system when it is cold outside. If the vehicle has heated seats, they will also turn on. Cooled seats are not activated during a remote start. Normal operation of the system will return after the key is turned to the RUN position. See Remote Keyless Entry (RKE) System Operation for more information.
Choosing the coldest or warmest temperature setting will not cause the system to heat or cool any faster. In cold weather, the system will start at reduced fan speeds to avoid blowing cold air into your vehicle until warmer air is available. The system will start out blowing air at the floor but may change modes automatically as the vehicle warms up to maintain the chosen temperature setting. The length of time needed to warm the interior will depend on the outside temperature.
Do not cover the solar sensor located in the center of the instrument panel, near the windshield. For more information on the solar sensor, see "Sensors" later in this section.
After your vehicle is started, the display will show the interior temperature settings.
When the ENG/MET (English/metric) button on the Driver Information Center (DIC) is pressed, the display will show readings in Fahrenheit or Celsius. Use the ENG/MET button to toggle between them.
AUTO (Automatic Air Conditioning): If AUTO is selected on the fan or mode control, the system automatically controls the air conditioning compressor. The A/C compressor will run automatically even at cool outside temperatures in order to dehumidify the air. The A/C indicator light is lit when the system is operating automatically. Press the A/C button on the fan control to turn off the A/C. For improved window clearing performance in defog or defrost modes, the A/C compressor runs automatically in damp cool conditions.To change the current mode, select one of the following positions using the right control:
(Vent): Turn the control to this mode to direct air to the instrument panel outlets.The solar sensor, located in the defrost grille, middle of the instrument panel, monitors the solar radiation. Do not cover the solar sensor or the system will not work properly.
There is also an interior temperature sensor located next to the steering wheel that measures the temperature of the air inside your vehicle.
There is also an exterior temperature sensor located behind the front grille. This sensor reads the outside air temperature and helps maintain the temperature inside the vehicle. Any cover on the front of the vehicle could cause a false reading in the displayed temperature.
In order to prevent false temperature readings at startup, the displayed temperature will not change until the following occurs:
• | Vehicle speed is above 10 mph (16 k/mh) for 5 minutes. |
• | Vehicle speed is above 32 mph (51 k/mh) for 2 and a half minutes. |
The climate control system uses the information from these sensors to maintain your comfort setting by adjusting the outlet temperature, fan speed, and the air delivery mode. The system may also supply cooler air to the side of the vehicle facing the sun. The recirculation mode will also be used as needed to maintain cool outlet temperatures.
Fog on the inside of windows is a result of high humidity (moisture) condensing on the cool window glass. This can be minimized if the climate control system is used properly. There are two modes to clear fog from your windshield, defog and defrost.
(Floor/Defog): Use this mode to clear the windows of fog or moisture and to warm the passengers. Turning the control to this mode directs about half of the air to the floor outlets and the remaining air is directed to the side window outlets and to the windshield. When you select this mode, the system turns off recirculation and runs the air-conditioning compressor unless the outside temperature is at or below freezing. The recirculation mode cannot be selected while in the floor/defog mode.Do not drive the vehicle until all the windows are clear.
The rear window defogger uses a warming grid to remove fog or frost from the rear window.
(Rear Defogger): Press this button to turn the rear window defogger on or off. An indicator light below the button comes on to let you know that the rear window defogger is activated. Be sure to clear as much snow from the rear window as possible. The rear window defogger will only work when the ignition is in RUN. The rear window defogger stays on for about 20 minutes after the button is pressed if you are traveling at slower vehicle speeds. At higher vehicle speeds the rear window defogger may stay on continuously. If turned on again, the defogger will only run for about 10 minutes before turning off. The defogger can be turned off by pressing the button again, by turning the ignition to ACCESSORY or RUN, or by turning off the engine.The heated outside rearview mirrors will heat to help clear fog or frost from the surface of the mirror when the rear window defogger is on. See Outside Automatic Dimming Heated Mirror for more information.
Notice: Do not use a razor blade or sharp object to clear the inside rear window. Do not adhere anything to the defogger grid lines in the rear glass. These actions may damage the rear defogger. Repairs would not be covered by your warranty.