Am I missing something? why would your a/c automatically turn on? I have a button that turn on/off the a/c...

Ugh - here we go.....again.

In short, your AC comes on automatically at certain blower settings. Not to COOL the air, but to CONDITION it (it is an air conditioner, right?) and remove the humiditiy.

This happens whether you push the button or not, and the light does not have to be on for the compressor to run.

Go outside, put the defroster setting on, and crank the temp all the way to hot. You will hear the compressor kick on and off, even with the heat blasting and the button off.

It helps keep the car more comfortable, and makes the defroster work properly. Removing the humidity from the car is a GOOD thing.

So yes - you ARE missing something here ;).

~HH

If you're THAT determined to "disconnect" the A/C, I suggest you do a search in this forum about a mod that allows you bypass this auto A/C on "feature". It has something to do with the HVAC controls. I have not done it myself, but it requires you to desolder some micro switches off the PCB.

This way, you're not totally disconnecting it, but it gives you full control of your A/C.

If you absolutely have to have air on the feet and don't want the AC on, just set it on dash/feet and close all the dash vents.

Is there any reason for you to simply NOT USE THE DEFROSTER MODE when you don't want the AC on?

And if you are so concerned about your power output and fuel economy then you bought the wrong car to begin with.

And worse fuel economy in the winter is not a result of the AC so much as it is things like:
1) Engine starting up at much colder than normal operating temperatures
2) Denser (colder) air requires more fuel to meet the normal fuel/air mixture



P.S. Driving your car uses power and that costs money too