Nice find. Can you do the same to revert to factory settings?

 

I don't know, because I never want to go back, but I would assume so. Worst case I bet pulling the battery for a while will do the trick.

 

repost

 

I was just posting so all Canadian users (people who really need this) can find it.

I did reference the original thread after all.

 

i'm confused

 

When you turn your defrost on, the car automatically fires up the AC. The only way to get around this is to do the posted procedure.

Now when I turn the defrost on, the AC lights up. I can then turn the AC off.

 

Scott,

Great find and thanks! I did it w/out turning the car on. Just turn the key to the on position instead. Ye it's good not 2 turn on AC when all we need sometimes it's only heat.

 

I cant turn this option off by repeating the steps

 

Do you want to turn it off?

If so you could probably call your local dealership for the procedure. You could also PM dentrecords to see where he got the procedure, maybe there is a reversal. If neither of those works I believe that pulling the battery resets the ECU.

Scott

 

I guess it's good to have but theres the uneasy feeling that ive turned something else off

 

Has anyone figured out how to return to the default setting of AC on when in defrost mode? I have been reading about this for a while both here and on other forums but no one seems to know how to revert back to the factory setting should the need arise.

Edit:

I found instructions in a Honda Element forum explaining how to return to the factory setting. I have modified them to apply to the Civic. I have also tested them and it works!

View attachment 4765


To deactivate automatic a/c feature:


1. Select dash vent button
2. Turn fan knob to off position.
3. Turn temperature knob all the way to coldest setting
4. Turn vehicle off.
5. Hold down both air re-circulation button and a/c button while starting the vehicle.
6. Continue holding for 7 seconds until air re-circulation button stops flashing.
7. Now when you select defrost mode the a/c compressor will turn on but so will the a/c light on the a/c button. You can now press the a/c button and turn the compressor on or off. Even when you turn the car off the setting will be stored.

To reactivate automatic a/c feature:

1. (Select defrost mode button)
2. Turn fan knob to off position.
3. Turn temperature knob all the way to the coldest setting.
4. Turn vehicle off.
5. Hold down both air re-circulation button and a/c button while starting the vehicle.
6. Continue holding for 7 seconds until air re-circulation button stops flashing.
7. After this, the a/c light will turn to green and it's back to factory setting!

 

.....

 

I bought my '07 sedan new on 7/31.

When I use the defroster, the A/C light never comes on. I know I did not deactivate the auto A/C, so I'm wondering if it came from the factory this way. I'll have to try depressing the a/c button with the defroster to see if both lights illuminate.

Also A/C compressor related... in summer, my A/C works good, but at idle, when I stop for a traffic light, it seems the A/C stops and just the fan runs. Then when the light turns green and I accelerate, cold air starts blowing again. If I use max a/c, I get cold air all the time. I can never tell when the compressor starts or stops. Could this be related to the auto A/C feature?

this is because non-max ac takes air from the outside, and its taking in hot air from your engine, and altho it should still be able to cool it, its probably not doing a very good job.. max ac recirculates the air in the car

 

With the stock civics, although the AC light does not come on when you activate your defrost, the AC compressor does. There is no way to change this unless you do the said modification.

I will try and observe your second question next time I drive.

Scott

 

Sweet! How the hell does someone figure these things out..??? heheh!

 

Cheat codes FTMFW!!!!!

 

thanks for the tip, no need for a/c in winterpeg!

 

Hi All,

I found the steps to do this in this thread (posted by dentrecords):
Why is my A/C always on? - 8th Generation Honda Civic Forum

1. Turn car on.
2. Turn temperature knob all the way cold and turn the fan knob to off.
3. Put vent location to "face"
4. Turn car off
5. Hold down the Recirculation Button and the A/C Button.
6. Hold down both buttons and turn the key all the way to the on position.
7. Keep both buttons depressed until one of the lights blink a few times, then you get a solid green light once the change has been made. Then let go.
8. See if it works by putting the fan on in Defrost. You should see the A/C light turn on and you should be able to turn it off.

The steps worked like a charm. I can now defrost my frozen windows without waisting money (and slowing things down) with AC.

Good luck!
Scott

awesome. thanks for the directions.

 

Now guys (and girls) remember, this was done for a reason. I'm not telling you not to do the hack, I did it myself a few weeks ago. The reason your A/C comes on when you hit the defrost is that the A/C takes moisture from the air and your windows will clear much faster with the A/C on.

So, in the past Hondas used to be the way ours will be "after the hack", that is, you hit defrost and the A/C light comes on and gives you the choice to turn it back off (Some still are this way, my mom's Accord is) but people would turn it off thinking they didn't want the air on and then complain that the defrost didn't work well (duh! why do you think it came on in the first place?!?)

So, long story short, don't be hasty to hit the button of you need the window cleared. Once it's clean, if you like to leave your fan on the defrost setting then you can turn the A/C off so that the compressor isn't running all the time, that's why I did it...

 

I did the mod back in December and noticed that my average fuel mileage increased. But at the same time I noticed that my windows take a bit more time to defog.

Strangely, when I turn on the window defrost, I don't have to turn off the AC compressor.. although I can turn it on if I wish.

 

Better gas mileage FTW:yeahthat:

 

does this actually mean if i ever try to defrost my windshield, i should never turn the temperature knob to the heat section????

i mean having ac + heat on at the same time doesnt make sense, but that's what i have been doing...... hnoes:

 

Turn the temperature knob wherever you please, but the AC will be on, sucking down your expensive fuel.

It does seem stupid, and I don't understand why Honda felt the need to change from there previous system.

 

but its blowing hot air when i defrost using heat and now thinkin ac is on..... doesnt really make any sense

i used to always feel worse mileage whenever i use defrost, i always wondered why :thumb:

 

AC chills and dehumidifies the air. So in summer, you sweat less because the air is not only colder, it's drier. In winter, the defrost pulls the moisture from the inside of the windshield and/or windows if there's condensation and/or prevents condensation from forming on the windows while it's defrosting. I followed the steps and turned off the auto AC. When I need it, I simply just press the button to turn it on. It helped my fuel economy quite a bit! :thumb:

 

After seeing this thread and doing this 'mod' to my Si, my mileage for the past 3 months or so has been near summer levels!

Just thought I'd give it another bump.

 

So in my FA5 I noticed the A/C light comes on after i did this. Before when I would use the defrost, I could hear and feel the A/C come on but the actual green light would not illuminate. Now, after i did this, it lights up but I can now turn it off.

I wish it would stay off each time I used the defroster instead of each time having to turn the A/C off.

 

hmm would this work in a rsx as well?

 

Steps probably aren't the same but the theory should hold true for most honda cars.

 

Ah, this is awesome. I've always preferred to leave the air vents on 'defrost' in all my cars (just the right amount of airflow into the cabin without it blowing right in my face). Now I can turn off the AC and get my 25hp back

 

holy **** dude where ya been? How many km's on your car since we all last saw each other?

I hope u are coming to the whislter run with us this year or atleast one meet.

 

i checked this on my car today, somehow mine is set to the modded setting already. my ac doesn't come on with the defrost...:dance: