How often does your A/C compressor run?

WindyCityPilot · October 31, 2006

Just curious how often your A/C compressor runs. On my '06 Z-71 if I have the climate control system on then the A/C compressor will run. Even if it's cold and I have the heat cranked up as soon as I turn on the system the compressor engages. Doesn't make much sense to me. If I'm using the defroster then yeah it makes sense...or if I crank down the temp then it makes sense to give me some cold air. But if I turn on the heat there is no reason for it to run. This is not in the "Auto" mode either.

Anyone else have this? Is it normal? Oh wait...it's a GM...everything is "Normal".

pm26 · October 31, 2006

Just curious how often your A/C compressor runs. On my '06 Z-71 if I have the climate control system on then the A/C compressor will run. Even if it's cold and I have the heat cranked up as soon as I turn on the system the compressor engages. Doesn't make much sense to me. If I'm using the defroster then yeah it makes sense...or if I crank down the temp then it makes sense to give me some cold air. But if I turn on the heat there is no reason for it to run. This is not in the "Auto" mode either.

Anyone else have this? Is it normal? Oh wait...it's a GM...everything is "Normal".

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Running the A/C withwarm temperature setting gives you an option of drying the air before being blown in. A/C not only cools the air, but also removes the moisture from it. So if you turn the

A/C switch on, and turn the temperature controller up, the warm air will be dried before being blown in. This will prevent windows from fogging. The same principle as the defroster setting.

jamez641 · October 31, 2006

[quote name=

Running the A/C withwarm temperature setting gives you an option of drying the air before being blown in. A/C not only cools the air' date=' but also removes the moisture from it. So if you turn the

A/C switch on, and turn the temperature controller up, the warm air will be dried before being blown in. This will prevent windows from fogging. The same principle as the defroster setting.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Just as he said the air conditioner "conditions" the air not just makes it cold. I used to have a honda and I had the a/c on whether it was blowing hot or cold air. Never had a problem with it and I do the same with my truck, a/c is on all the time.

WindyCityPilot · October 31, 2006

So if you turn the

A/C switch on, and turn the temperature controller up, the warm air will be dried before being blown in.

This is what my point is....I do not have the A/C switch on but the compressor is still engaged. I'm thinking that isn't right. In the winter the air is already dry enough...I don't need the compressor to dry it even more.

Does that sound right to you guys? Temp cranked up to 80, and the A/C button is not lit up....so I would assume that the A/C should not be cycling on and off.

Argyll · October 31, 2006

...Anyone else have this? Is it normal? Oh wait...it's a GM...everything is "Normal".

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I have the automatic climate control system in my '03 Silverado and it works exactly like you say. I think that is by design. If you want the A/C compressor off totally, push the little snowflake button. When you see a snowflake with a line going through it displayed in the LED window, then the compressor should be off completely and not run. Whenever you don't see the snowflake in the display, the compressor will run.

It took me a little bit of time to figure that out when I first got this truck (bought it used). You just have to pay attention that you see the lined snowflake in the display if you want the A/C compressor off (like if you just wanted vented outside air coming in). Anytime you run defrost it will be on though.

WindyCityPilot · October 31, 2006

I have the automatic climate control system in my '03 Silverado and it works exactly like you say. I think that is by design. If you want the A/C compressor off totally, push the little snowflake button. When you see a snowflake with a line going through it displayed in the LED window, then the compressor should be off completely and not run. Whenever you don't see the snowflake in the display, the compressor will run.

It took me a little bit of time to figure that out when I first got this truck (bought it used). You just have to pay attention that you see the lined snowflake in the display if you want the A/C compressor off (like if you just wanted vented outside air coming in). Anytime you run defrost it will be on though.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

If I press the snowflake button on my '06 once I see a snowflake appear on the display but it does not have a line through it. If I press it again the snowflake goes away. Maybe I'm missing something here. I'm not all that impressed with the climate system in the new trucks. Give me a simple dial, and A/C button, and a dial to select where I want the air coming from. Easy, simple, it works. I love how they always find a need to re-engineer a system that works instead of fixing all the problems that we actually have with the trucks!

Argyll · October 31, 2006

If I press the snowflake button on my '06 once I see a snowflake appear on the display but it does not have a line through it. If I press it again the snowflake goes away. Maybe I'm missing something here...

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

When you see the snowflake appear in the display, the diagonal line is hard to see. It's really just on the outside edges of the snowflake. When you see it in your display, go outside under the hood and look at your A/C compressor. It should be off and never cycle. If you DON'T see the snowflake in the LED, the compressor will cycle. That's how mine works anyway. Kinda backwards in my opinion. I thought at first the snowflake in the display meant the compressor was on, not off.

WindyCityPilot · October 31, 2006

If I press the snowflake button on my '06 once I see a snowflake appear on the display but it does not have a line through it. If I press it again the snowflake goes away. Maybe I'm missing something here...

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

When you see the snowflake appear in the display, the diagonal line is hard to see. It's really just on the outside edges of the snowflake. When you see it in your display, go outside under the hood and look at your A/C compressor. It should be off and never cycle. If you DON'T see the snowflake in the LED, the compressor will cycle. That's how mine works anyway. Kinda backwards in my opinion. I thought at first the snowflake in the display meant the compressor was on, not off.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Yeah that is definately backwards. I'll give it a try and see what happens. I just assumed that when I hit the button and saw the snowflake that meant the A/C would be running all the time. Thanks for the input Argyll!

Shawn T · October 31, 2006

If I press the snowflake button on my '06 once I see a snowflake appear on the display but it does not have a line through it. If I press it again the snowflake goes away. Maybe I'm missing something here...

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

When you see the snowflake appear in the display, the diagonal line is hard to see. It's really just on the outside edges of the snowflake. When you see it in your display, go outside under the hood and look at your A/C compressor. It should be off and never cycle. If you DON'T see the snowflake in the LED, the compressor will cycle. That's how mine works anyway. Kinda backwards in my opinion. I thought at first the snowflake in the display meant the compressor was on, not off.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

The 04-06 Auto Climate control display is different than the 03 MY. In 03, the "snowflake" does not display when the compressor is running (normal mode). When you push the button, to override it, there is a snowflake with a slash through it. MY 04-06, just the opposite, in normal mode the "snowflake" is displayed (without the slash) with the compressor running. When you push the button to override it, it just turns off. I know this, because my previous truck was an 03. I actually noticed it on my parents' 04 Escalade before I even bought my 06. Confused now?

dewfpo · November 1, 2006

The 04-06 Auto Climate control display is different than the 03 MY. In 03, the "snowflake" does not display when the compressor is running (normal mode). When you push the button, to override it, there is a snowflake with a slash through it. MY 04-06, just the opposite, in normal mode the "snowflake" is displayed (without the slash) with the compressor running. When you push the button to override it, it just turns off. I know this, because my previous truck was an 03. I actually noticed it on my parents' 04 Escalade before I even bought my 06. Confused now?

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Exactly, snowflake on = A/C on, push the snowflake button to turn off the A/C (no snowflake).

DEWFPO

Dans Denali · November 1, 2006

Read your owners manual.

Dan

WindyCityPilot · November 1, 2006

Read your owners manual.

Dan

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Did that..which is why I was asking if my symptoms seemed normal. Read my original post and I was not asking how to turn off the A/C I was asking if it was normal to have it cycling all the time even with no snowflake in the display.