Auto AC is weak when it is hot outside

[Glen Baker LLC]

Manual or automatic.
Solve one problem at a time.
How cold is the air coming out of the vent?
Then airflow.
Fact:
A vent thermometer is the best way to show, how cold the air coming out of the vents is. Either it's cold to Specs or it isn't.
Nothing anecdotal about it

If a vehicle is still under warranty, I am not one too recommend spending any money diagnosing the problem. In this instance for less than $10. You can have the satisfaction of going into the dealer and showing them the vent air temperature. It's a handy tool to have. You can use it multiple cars and you can use it in your home so it's not a total waste of $10.

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[Backin15]

I have a 25 and keep it on 1 bar auto, no problems last summer keeping cool and was plenty warm this winter. I am wondering if those of you who are struggling to keep cool have a sunroof? The solar heat gain from them can be very high.

 

[710-oil-614]

I have a 25 and keep it on 1 bar auto, no problems last summer keeping cool and was plenty warm this winter. I am wondering if those of you who are struggling to keep cool have a sunroof? The solar heat gain from them can be very high.

I have the sunroof, keep the shade closed and zero issues.

I also have ceramic film on the windshield and front windows so it reflects 91% of IR. It plus the HVAC is really great.

 

[HeyBales]

Funny that the 25MY is the one that will actually auto-turn on the HVAC and have the AC button pressed, when that's not how it was left.

And it seems 2 comments in this thread for the 25MY acknowledge there may be a lag time, for a very reasonable purpose - don't max circulate hot air, until compressor has got some ability for cooling possible.
Perhaps when that temp is too high it lags more. Slower air movement does allow it to be colder.

OP - suggest let it run longer in case it keeps ramping up as the temp drops, and per Glenn's suggestion - measure the temp in the vent for compare.

Also make sure it's not sending out the defrost vents along with face, as a method of spreading the cooling out, and you merely feel less at the face.
May not show that button (you don't have a button!) lit up, but still could be using them.

 

[Backin15]

Auto setting will activate the AC even if it is cold out if it thinks dehumidification is necessary. The auto setting works very well for me, keeping the temp consistent and the fan adjusting the airflow as necessary, I seldom have to touch the HVAC controls. If you haven't tried the heated seat auto mode give it a try, on a cold day it will start the seat on high heat and gradually cut it back as the cabin warms. I wish it would also adjust the steering wheel heat though.

 

[nickruggeri]

I love my 2025 Lariat but this has been driving me nuts.

I keep the automatic climate control set to 70. Set the level to 2 bars which is medium (I have also tried setting to 3 bars which is high). Confirmed AC light is on.

At home the vehicle is parked inside a large apartment building garage that is fully enclosed. The temp is always moderate and does not vary much, probably about 70 this time of year. I turn the truck on and it strong blows cold air immediately. Really, it almost seems like it is overdoing it more than it should. Kind of weird but hey it is blowing cold so I'll take it.

Then I go to a store and park outside in the sun when it is 80 and come back to the truck and turn it on. It is not blowing hard or cold. I end up cranking the temp all the way down to 60 and then I get a medium blow and medium cool air the rest of the trip. It is barely acceptable comfort at that point.

I had the dealer check it out when the truck was in for a defective washer fluid sensor. They said the climate control is working as designed.

The auto climate control worked better on my 2011 Subaru!

I read the manual and I am not aware of any setting that is incorrect.

This is just so wacky. It cools too much when the exterior temperature is moderate. It doesn't cool enough when it is hot outside.

Is the the auto climate control really designed to be this dumb and this is what others experience? Or do I have a defective system? It seems like some temp sensor is bonkers or something.

I am considering reaching out to the salesman about this or taking the vehicle to a different dealer.

Thanks for the help!

 

[nickruggeri]

I never use auto mode, just manual mode. The A/C is always working great. I hope you get it resolved, but it’s still a good idea to try another dealership.

 

[MikeS1942]

Good for you but some are getting little or no air flow in auto

Well he did ask if anyone had this problem, so you re going to get yes and nos. Dealers just love giving those simple replies about systems working normal. Get a thermometer and another dealer.

 

[MakinDoForNow]

Well he did ask if anyone had this problem, so you re going to get yes and nos. Dealers just love giving those simple replies about systems working normal. Get a thermometer and another dealer.

Yes but easy to check to see if AC vents are not in manual closed position.

 

[MikeS1942]

Yes but easy to check to see if AC vents are not in manual closed position.

Oh for sure. But if a previous dealer visit didn't find an issue like that, you'd think they would bring that to one's attention.

 

[HeyBales]

Auto setting will activate the AC even if it is cold out if it thinks dehumidification is necessary. The auto setting works very well for me, keeping the temp consistent and the fan adjusting the airflow as necessary, I seldom have to touch the HVAC controls. If you haven't tried the heated seat auto mode give it a try, on a cold day it will start the seat on high heat and gradually cut it back as the cabin warms. I wish it would also adjust the steering wheel heat though.

Just FYI for differences - Non-auto setting will also have the AC come on in the background if humidity is high.
Auto has nothing to do with it.

pre-25MY you at least need the HVAC system on.
But AC button will not be lit when it's doing it if you don't have AC on.

25/26MY the system can be turned on and AC status On.
It may still do background AC with AC status off.

 

[HeyBales]

Yes but easy to check to see if AC vents are not in manual closed position.

Works as expected in closed garage in morning.
Changes how it works in sun in parking lot.

One would hope not closing the vents between those 2 times!

 

[HeyBales]

Funny that the 25MY is the one that will actually auto-turn on the HVAC and have the AC button pressed, when that's not how it was left.

And it seems 2 comments in this thread for the 25MY acknowledge there may be a lag time, for a very reasonable purpose - don't max circulate hot air, until compressor has got some ability for cooling possible.
Perhaps when that temp is too high it lags more. Slower air movement does allow it to be colder.

OP - suggest let it run longer in case it keeps ramping up as the temp drops, and per Glenn's suggestion - measure the temp in the vent for compare.

Also make sure it's not sending out the defrost vents along with face, as a method of spreading the cooling out, and you merely feel less at the face.
May not show that button (you don't have a button!) lit up, but still could be using them.

Even my 24MY on Auto, which I'll use a few times for heat in winter - directs the hot air to defrost vents - none to face vents. And some feet.

But sometimes my fingers are cold from windshield clearing, and that's not a useful set of vents with no heated steering wheel - so punch the face vent selection and auto is off so I can warm fingers up.

With 25MY doing even more on it's own - I'm going for defrost vents being used at the same time as face.

Now I'm going to test the 24MY, despite our surprisingly cool day.

 

[MightyMaverick]

I NEVER use auto climate. I just don't see the point. To me, it just pointlessly blasts air no matter what the outside temperature is. I like to just get in and set it manually so it's in my control, not what the truck thinks is right. Plus, I don't like to hear a blower motor on high unless I absolutely need it, like during the summer down here. Thankfully, the sunshade helps keep the temperature down and I usually remote start it from my phone when I'm reaching the end of my shift. That way, the truck will be fully warmed and cooled off inside since it's so smart regulating it in that regard. But auto, forget about it!

 

[Tbone289]

I NEVER use auto climate. I just don't see the point. To me, it just pointlessly blasts air no matter what the outside temperature is. I like to just get in and set it manually so it's in my control, not what the truck thinks is right. Plus, I don't like to hear a blower motor on high unless I absolutely need it, like during the summer down here. Thankfully, the sunshade helps keep the temperature down and I usually remote start it from my phone when I'm reaching the end of my shift. That way, the truck will be fully warmed and cooled off inside since it's so smart regulating it in that regard. But auto, forget about it!

Outside air temperature has nothing to do with how it works, nor should it. You can set the maximum fan speed on auto to three different levels so that it never blows on high and select whatever temperature you want the interior to be.

Yeah, I probably wouldn't use it and think it was pointless if I didn't know how it works too...

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