Is Defrost always turn AC on?

[Brock4u]

IS it just my Vue or do all Vues do this? When i turn defrost on whether the heat is on or not i can feel the compressor kick on. when i turn the air to cold and its on defrost it the AC is this normal? Whenever i use the defoster i should not have to use AC as well, i dont like that.

[john95SW2]

IS it just my Vue or do all Vues do this? When i turn defrost on whether the heat is on or not i can feel the compressor kick on. when i turn the air to cold and its on defrost it the AC is this normal? Whenever i use the defoster i should not have to use AC as well, i dont like that.

Mine too...I think they all do

[MN06vue]

the 2 main things a/c does is remove heat and humidity. the reason the a/c goes on is to remove moisture in the air. It defrosts faster with a/c. the moisture can come from water vapors from an open window or even from your own breathing.

[OhioVueBoy]

Not just the VUE.... just about every car on the road does this.

It's damn near impossible to defog without it.

~D.J.~

[Brock4u]

Hmm good information to know, thanks a lot!

[froggy81500]

the 2 main things a/c does is remove heat and humidity. the reason the a/c goes on is to remove moisture in the air. It defrosts faster with a/c. the moisture can come from water vapors from an open window or even from your own breathing.



Not just the VUE.... just about every car on the road does this.

It's damn near impossible to defog without it.

~D.J.~


Exactly.

What I've tried to do is find a compromise. I like to keep my selector in the mix between floor and defrost in my Ion when I need the windshield cleared. I try to find a spot close to the point where the compressor kicks on so I get some clearing of the windshield and not run the compressor at the same time. Depending on the humidity level it works for the most part. When its just me in the car typically I have no issues but when I have an adult passenger its a bit much humidity and I find myself flipping back and forth to the defrost.

[WarnsVue06]

Exactly.

What I've tried to do is find a compromise. I like to keep my selector in the mix between floor and defrost in my Ion when I need the windshield cleared. I try to find a spot close to the point where the compressor kicks on so I get some clearing of the windshield and not run the compressor at the same time. Depending on the humidity level it works for the most part. When its just me in the car typically I have no issues but when I have an adult passenger its a bit much humidity and I find myself flipping back and forth to the defrost.

X2,

a little different take on it....
http://www.saturnfans.com/forums/showthread.php?p=1249900

[revue]

Not just the VUE.... just about every car on the road does this.

It's damn near impossible to defog without it.

~D.J.~

I beg to differ. Every October I pull the A/C clutch relay so it can't can run at all in the winter, never had any problems defogging. But there's no heavy breathing going on in my Vue. :)

[kodak_jack]

IS it just my Vue or do all Vues do this? When i turn defrost on whether the heat is on or not i can feel the compressor kick on. when i turn the air to cold and its on defrost it the AC is this normal? Whenever i use the defoster i should not have to use AC as well, i dont like that.
It not only comes on when you have the defroster on, but will probably run with it in the heat setting with the selector set for the floor. This isn't supposed to happen below 39 Degrees, but I know it does. The only solution when you don't want it on in heater mode is to go one notch down from the floor selector position. This will give you some air out of the vents, but the compressor will not kick in. Solution #2 is to pull the relay. JMHO, the heater isn't worth a crap below 30 Degrees. I'm fortunate enough to have heated seats and that's the only thing that saves me.:(

[OhioVueBoy]

I beg to differ. Every October I pull the A/C clutch relay so it can't can run at all in the winter, never had any problems defogging. But there's no heavy breathing going on in my Vue. :)

Haha... there hasn't been heavy breathing in mine since I moved away from home... but I digress...

I'm not sure where you are geographically... I know mine is an absolute pain in the winter when the compressor is off and there is snow on the roads. I get moisture in the corners of the windshield that will not burn off.

I have a 2002 with the first generation defroster grille (there was a TSB for a redesigned one starting with the 2003s that does a better job of hitting the lower corners)... I should have had that TSB done when I had the chance.

~D.J.~

[baydreamer]

Good reason for ac turn on in the winter is to keep oil on ac seal from drying out. Honda mechanics recommend turning ac on regularity in winter to keep seal from drying out. Most foreign cars ac turn on only with ac button, no defrost cycle will engage