Question About The "recirculation Mode" Button

[ivomir]

Hi

I've had my 2009 IS350 for a few months now, and from the very beginning I've had this problem with the AC:

You know that button that has 3 states - "recirculate", "outside air", and "auto". Basically I want it on "auto" ALL THE TIME. But sometimes (ranging from twice a day to twice a week) when I start the car it loses its setting and resets to "outside air". I can sometimes see the "auto" light turn on briefly as I am starting the car, and then turn off immediately.

Anybody else has this problem?

Thanks

Ivo

P.S. I am bringing my car to the dealer in 2 days for its first maintenance and I will ask them, but I want to see if it is a common problem first.

[NicLX470]

Hi

I've had my 2009 IS350 for a few months now, and from the very beginning I've had this problem with the AC:

You know that button that has 3 states - "recirculate", "outside air", and "auto". Basically I want it on "auto" ALL THE TIME. But sometimes (ranging from twice a day to twice a week) when I start the car it loses its setting and resets to "outside air". I can sometimes see the "auto" light turn on briefly as I am starting the car, and then turn off immediately.

Anybody else has this problem?

Thanks

Ivo

P.S. I am bringing my car to the dealer in 2 days for its first maintenance and I will ask them, but I want to see if it is a common problem first.

I don't really pay attention that much to it but if I put it on auto then turn the car off. Then start it back up either overnight or for just a little while it seems to still be in auto when the car is restarted even though the center AUTO light does not illuminate because it will start up in recirculation mode but then later switch to outside air mode. But I keep it on recirculate most of the time anyway. It's too hot here in Texas and whether I'm behind a smoggy car or not; I just think outside air stinks period. My new IS350 smells too good to let the outside elements ruin it! But regardless it can switch back and forth on its own from inside to outside air in auto mode depending on the smog sensor and what it thinks is good and bad air.

[bartkat]

Hi

I've had my 2009 IS350 for a few months now, and from the very beginning I've had this problem with the AC:

You know that button that has 3 states - "recirculate", "outside air", and "auto". Basically I want it on "auto" ALL THE TIME. But sometimes (ranging from twice a day to twice a week) when I start the car it loses its setting and resets to "outside air". I can sometimes see the "auto" light turn on briefly as I am starting the car, and then turn off immediately.

Anybody else has this problem?

Thanks

Ivo

P.S. I am bringing my car to the dealer in 2 days for its first maintenance and I will ask them, but I want to see if it is a common problem first.

In auto mode it's going to run on outside air most of the time except under certain conditions at start up as noted above and sometimes when idling in heavy traffic or hot conditions. Running on recirc all the time is going to get pretty stale air after while I think.

[retired00]

Hi

I've had my 2009 IS350 for a few months now, and from the very beginning I've had this problem with the AC:

You know that button that has 3 states - "recirculate", "outside air", and "auto". Basically I want it on "auto" ALL THE TIME. But sometimes (ranging from twice a day to twice a week) when I start the car it loses its setting and resets to "outside air". I can sometimes see the "auto" light turn on briefly as I am starting the car, and then turn off immediately.

Anybody else has this problem?

Thanks

Ivo

P.S. I am bringing my car to the dealer in 2 days for its first maintenance and I will ask them, but I want to see if it is a common problem first.

Are you turning the compressor off (A/C) button, perhaps to let the system clear out with fresh air before shut-down? When you stop the A/C I believe it reverts to outside air rather than auto on the air source button. It would resume in that outside air setting. I seem to recall there's a personalized (dealer) setting that may let it stay on outside air all the time (or some variation of that).

[NicLX470]

Hi

I've had my 2009 IS350 for a few months now, and from the very beginning I've had this problem with the AC:

You know that button that has 3 states - "recirculate", "outside air", and "auto". Basically I want it on "auto" ALL THE TIME. But sometimes (ranging from twice a day to twice a week) when I start the car it loses its setting and resets to "outside air". I can sometimes see the "auto" light turn on briefly as I am starting the car, and then turn off immediately.

Anybody else has this problem?

Thanks

Ivo

P.S. I am bringing my car to the dealer in 2 days for its first maintenance and I will ask them, but I want to see if it is a common problem first.

In auto mode it's going to run on outside air most of the time except under certain conditions at start up as noted above and sometimes when idling in heavy traffic or hot conditions. Running on recirc all the time is going to get pretty stale air after while I think.

That's when I press the neat little filter button and clean my recirculating air!! It's a neat feature and makes the air feel and smell so good!!

[ivomir]

I don't really pay attention that much to it but if I put it on auto then turn the car off. Then start it back up either overnight or for just a little while it seems to still be in auto when the car is restarted even though the center AUTO light does not illuminate because it will start up in recirculation mode but then later switch to outside air mode.

Are you saying it is on AUTO even though the light is not on? I should test that. But then how is the user to distinguish between AUTO (with the light off) and MANUAL?

Are you turning the compressor off (A/C) button, perhaps to let the system clear out with fresh air before shut-down?

No, I leave everything on AUTO - the AC, the recirculate, even the headlights :) I want to set it once and not bother with it ever again.

[NicLX470]

I don't really pay attention that much to it but if I put it on auto then turn the car off. Then start it back up either overnight or for just a little while it seems to still be in auto when the car is restarted even though the center AUTO light does not illuminate because it will start up in recirculation mode but then later switch to outside air mode.

Are you saying it is on AUTO even though the light is not on? I should test that. But then how is the user to distinguish between AUTO (with the light off) and MANUAL?

Are you turning the compressor off (A/C) button, perhaps to let the system clear out with fresh air before shut-down?

No, I leave everything on AUTO - the AC, the recirculate, even the headlights :) I want to set it once and not bother with it ever again.

No no no, the AUTO light is still on for the A/C itself but the (auto) light between the recirculate and outside air is not on and it seems to still switch on its own from outside to recirculate mode. But I think it has something to do with if you change the temp and stuff to better get to the temp you want it just does what it thinks it needs to. But if I ever see it on "outside" air when I don't want it to be it's easy to just press it back to recirculate.

[2007is350blueonyxpearl]

does the 2007 is 350 have this filter button . thanks

That's when I press the neat little filter button and clean my recirculating air!! It's a neat feature and makes the air feel and smell so good!!

[NicLX470]

does the 2007 is 350 have this filter button . thanks

That's when I press the neat little filter button and clean my recirculating air!! It's a neat feature and makes the air feel and smell so good!!

If you have this button then yes........ (the button inbetween the "off" and "front defrost" button)

[2007is350blueonyxpearl]

thanks for the pic I will have to take a look

[ivomir]

I read the manual more carefully and talked to an engineer at the service department. There are 2 reasons the car may decide to switch between inside and outside air:

1) When I set the AC temperature too low it switches to inside air to cool down faster

2) When the sensor detects exhaust fumes coming from the outside it will switch to inside air

The "AUTO AC" button controls the first case. The "AUTO recirculate" button (the one that's failing for me) controls the second case. Also it is only present on IS 350 and according to the engineer is new for 2009 models. He said he wasn't familiar with the new system and will look it up for my next service. I don't hold my breath, but I hope in the next 6 months he will be dealing with more 2009 IS 350s and learn some more.

It looks like either a software or hardware problem. If it is hardware, then the whole navigation system will need to be replaced or at leat removed for repair. This has the risk of them messing up something else in the process. I'd rather have to push a single button once every week than risk further damage :)

If it is a software bug (quite possible, especially if it is a new feature), I hope if more people complain they will take notice and fix it.

[smooth1]

?

Ok, now you need to take a picture of your dash and put it up here so I can see what your talking about. I have an 08 IS350 and I have what sounds to be the same set up you do. But then you said it was new for 09?

[NicLX470]

?

Ok, now you need to take a picture of your dash and put it up here so I can see what your talking about. I have an 08 IS350 and I have what sounds to be the same set up you do. But then you said it was new for 09?

No no I didn't say it was a new feature. I said it was a "neat" feature. I was talking about how I use that button to freshen up the stale recirculated air and blueony asked if his car has it. So I took a picture of what the button is. Because I have an 09 I have no idea if earlier models have it but i'm sure they do. I was just pointing it out to him so he knows what button to push.

[ivomir]

?

Ok, now you need to take a picture of your dash and put it up here so I can see what your talking about. I have an 08 IS350 and I have what sounds to be the same set up you do. But then you said it was new for 09?

No no I didn't say it was a new feature.

I think he was talking to me. I said that the Lexus engineer said that the [AUTO] light is new for 09. I don't have a camera handy to take the picture, but my dash (I have the navigation system) looks like this:

+-------------------------------------------------------------------+

NAV SCREEN

+-------------------------------------------------------------------+

[AUTO] [fan OFF] [filter] [front air] [defogger] [air intake]

The last button (air intake) has 3 lights:

[recirculate air] [AUTO] [outside air]

Pressing the button switches between the 3 states. In the AUTO state one of the other 2 lights is also ON. When not in AUTO mode, the computer can decide to switch to inside air when the AC is in AUTO (the first button under the screen) and it needs to cool off quicker. When in AUTO mode, aside from the AC, the computer can decide to use inside air when it detects exhaust fumes coming from the outside. The manual calls this "EXHAUST GAS AUTOMATIC mode" and says that only 350 models have it, but not 250. I don't know if 250 doesn't have [AUTO] mode because it is always ON, or just doesn't have an exhaust gas sensor.

There are two AUTO labels (one for the AC and one for the exhaust mode), that's adding to the confusion. I hope my color coding helps clear things up a bit.

If you have the same setup on your 08 IS 350, then the enginer I talked to was wrong (not surprising).

Ivo

[NicLX470]

?

Ok, now you need to take a picture of your dash and put it up here so I can see what your talking about. I have an 08 IS350 and I have what sounds to be the same set up you do. But then you said it was new for 09?

No no I didn't say it was a new feature.

I think he was talking to me. I said that the Lexus engineer said that the [AUTO] light is new for 09. I don't have a camera handy to take the picture, but my dash (I have the navigation system) looks like this:

+-------------------------------------------------------------------+

NAV SCREEN

+-------------------------------------------------------------------+

[AUTO] [fan OFF] [filter] [front air] [defogger] [air intake]

The last button (air intake) has 3 lights:

[recirculate air] [AUTO] [outside air]

Pressing the button switches between the 3 states. In the AUTO state one of the other 2 lights is also ON. When not in AUTO mode, the computer can decide to switch to inside air when the AC is in AUTO (the first button under the screen) and it needs to cool off quicker. When in AUTO mode, aside from the AC, the computer can decide to use inside air when it detects exhaust fumes coming from the outside. The manual calls this "EXHAUST GAS AUTOMATIC mode" and says that only 350 models have it, but not 250. I don't know if 250 doesn't have [AUTO] mode because it is always ON, or just doesn't have an exhaust gas sensor.

There are two AUTO labels (one for the AC and one for the exhaust mode), that's adding to the confusion. I hope my color coding helps clear things up a bit.

If you have the same setup on your 08 IS 350, then the enginer I talked to was wrong (not surprising).

Ivo

Whooops my bad!!

[2007is350blueonyxpearl]

ivomir, I do have the filter button :D

[smooth1]

?

Ok, now you need to take a picture of your dash and put it up here so I can see what your talking about. I have an 08 IS350 and I have what sounds to be the same set up you do. But then you said it was new for 09?

No no I didn't say it was a new feature.

I think he was talking to me. I said that the Lexus engineer said that the [AUTO] light is new for 09. I don't have a camera handy to take the picture, but my dash (I have the navigation system) looks like this:

+-------------------------------------------------------------------+

NAV SCREEN

+-------------------------------------------------------------------+

[AUTO] [fan OFF] [filter] [front air] [defogger] [air intake]

The last button (air intake) has 3 lights:

[recirculate air] [AUTO] [outside air]

Pressing the button switches between the 3 states. In the AUTO state one of the other 2 lights is also ON. When not in AUTO mode, the computer can decide to switch to inside air when the AC is in AUTO (the first button under the screen) and it needs to cool off quicker. When in AUTO mode, aside from the AC, the computer can decide to use inside air when it detects exhaust fumes coming from the outside. The manual calls this "EXHAUST GAS AUTOMATIC mode" and says that only 350 models have it, but not 250. I don't know if 250 doesn't have [AUTO] mode because it is always ON, or just doesn't have an exhaust gas sensor.

There are two AUTO labels (one for the AC and one for the exhaust mode), that's adding to the confusion. I hope my color coding helps clear things up a bit.

If you have the same setup on your 08 IS 350, then the enginer I talked to was wrong (not surprising).

Ivo

Yeah, my 08 layout is the same. The tech is wrong. The first auto mode can override the auto recirc/fresh mode by turning it off and on when the demand for cool air conflicts with the logic of the recirc/fresh mode. If you want the auto recirc.fresh mode to be on all the time, then don't use the first auto mode.

[Natroth]

YES YES YES I know exactly what you are talking about. I have an 08 IS250 Sportluxury and the auto recirculate drops out randomly. Trouble is you only notice it when the car fills with stink from outside!! I havent asked my Sydney dealer what is wrong yet but it absolutely has an intermittent problem.....

[Natroth]

Hey, all my previous posts have dropped off and I'm a newbie again, thanks !!

YES YES YES I know exactly what you are talking about. I have an 08 IS250 Sportluxury and the auto recirculate drops out randomly. Trouble is you only notice it when the car fills with stink from outside!! I havent asked my Sydney dealer what is wrong yet but it absolutely has an intermittent problem.....