Air Handling
There are 4 door actuators that control the air flow into the passenger compartment :
- Defrost/panel/floor
- Air inlet
- Driver side temperature
- Passenger side temperature
All of the door actuators contain a reversible electric motor and a potentiometer. The potentiometer circuit consists of a 5-volt reference signal connected to one end of a variable resistor, and a signal ground connected to the other. A signal circuit is connected to a contact wiper, which is driven along the variable resistor by the actuator shaft. The signal to the HVAC control module from the contact wiper indicates the position of the actuator door. The HVAC control module powers the actuator motors to move the doors to the desired positions. The desired door positions are calculated by the HVAC control module based on the set temperature, in-vehicle temperature, ambient air temperature and sunload.
The HVAC control module sends a PWM signal to the blower motor speed control to regulate the blower speed as necessary. The blower motor speed control provides variable ground feed for the blower motor based on the input from the HVAC control module. A delay function provides a gradual increase or decrease in blower motor speed under all conditions.
AUTO
When AUTO is selected:
- the temperature control setting is manually set to the desired setting.
- the air inlet door actuator is automatically controlled by the HVAC control module based on the temperature setting.
- the defrost/panel/floor mode door actuator is automatically controlled by the HVAC control module based on the temperature setting.
- the A/C request is automatically controlled by the HVAC control module based on the temperature settings. The A/C compressor does not operate if the outside air temperature is below approximately 0 °C (32 °F).
- The A/C request button and the recirc request button can be manually selected. When manually selected, the A/C indicator does not change state with changing outside air temperature.
- the blower motor is on. The blower motor speed is automatically controlled by the HVAC control module based on the temperature setting, but can be manually overridden.
OFF
When OFF is selected:
- the recirc request button is disabled.
- the air inlet door actuator closes, preventing outside air and allowing only recirculated air.
- the A/C request button is disabled.
- the blower motor is OFF.
Max A/C
When Max A/C is selected:
- the air inlet door closes, preventing outside air and allows only recirculated air.
- the recirc button is disabled and the indicator is illuminated (recirc forced on).
- the defrost/panel/floor mode doors direct airflow to the instrument panel A/C registers.
- blended air temperature is available.
- the A/C request button is illuminated and is disabled.
- the A/C compressor operates if the outside temperature is above approximately 0 °C (32 °F).
- the blower motor is on.
PANEL
When PANEL is selected:
- the recirc request button is enabled. If the recirc request button is selected (indicator on), the air inlet door actuator closes, preventing outside air from entering the passenger compartment. If the recirc request button is not selected (indicator off), the air inlet door actuator allowing only outside air into the passenger compartment.
- the defrost/panel/floor mode door directs airflow to the instrument panel A/C registers.
- blended air temperature is available. Only when A/C compressor operation has been selected by pressing the A/C request button (indicator on) can the airflow temperature be cooled below the outside air temperature.
- the A/C request button is enabled. The A/C compressor operates and the indicator illuminates if the A/C request button is selected and the outside temperature is above approximately 0 °C (32 °F).
- the blower motor is on.
PANEL/FLOOR
When PANEL/FLOOR is selected:
- the recirc request button is enabled. If the recirc request button is selected (indicator on), the air inlet door actuator closes, preventing outside air from entering the passenger compartment. If the recirc request button is not selected (indicator off), the air inlet door actuator allowing only outside air into the passenger compartment.
- the defrost/panel/floor mode door directs airflow to the floor duct and the instrument panel A/C registers. A small amount of airflow from the side window demisters and defrost duct is present.
- blended air temperature is available. Only when A/C compressor operation has been selected by pressing the A/C request button (indicator on), can the airflow temperature be cooled below the outside air temperature.
- the A/C request button is enabled. The A/C compressor operates and the indicator illuminates if the A/C request button is selected and the outside temperature is above approximately 0 °C (32 °F).
- the blower motor is on.
FLOOR
When FLOOR is selected:
- the recirc request button is enabled. If the recirc request button is selected (indicator on), the air inlet door closes, preventing outside air from entering the passenger compartment. If the recirc request button is not selected (indicator off), the air inlet door opens, allowing only outside air into the passenger compartment. In this mode, the recirc request times-out after 5 minutes and return to fresh air mode. recirc mode can be selected again after the time-out.
- the defrost/panel/floor mode door directs airflow to the floor duct. A small amount of airflow from the defroster duct and side window demisters is present.
- blended air temperature is available. Only when A/C compressor operation has been selected by pressing the A/C request button (indicator on) can the airflow temperature be cooled below the outside air temperature.
- the A/C request button is enabled. The A/C compressor operates and the indicator illuminates if the A/C request button is selected and the outside temperature is above approximately 0 °C (32 °F).
- the blower motor is on.
FLOOR/DEFROST
When the FLOOR/DEFROST is selected:
- the recirc request button is enabled. If the recirc request button is selected (indicator on), the air inlet door actuator closes off outside air from entering the passenger compartment. If the recirc request button is not selected (indicator off), the air inlet door actuator admits only outside air into the passenger compartment.
- the defrost/panel/floor mode door directs airflow to the floor duct, the defroster duct and the side window demisters.
- blended air temperature is available.
- the A/C request button is enabled. The A/C compressor operates automatically and the indicator illuminates if the A/C request button is selected and the outside temperature is above approximately 0 °C (32 °F).
- the blower motor is on.
DEFROST
When DEFROST is selected:
- the recirc request button and indicator is disabled. Regardless of button and indicator status, the air inlet door actuator admits only outside air into the passenger compartment.
- the defrost/panel/floor door directs airflow to the defroster duct and side window demisters. A small amount of airflow from the floor duct is present.
- blended air temperature is available.
- the A/C request button and indicator can be toggled. To reduce fogging, the A/C compressor operates automatically, regardless of indicator status, if the outside temperature is above approximately 0 °C (32 °F).
- the blower motor is on.