[gasman]

I like my Honda Element. Fun SUV to drive. Discovered that the air conditioning unit turns on whenever you adjust the circulating air dial to windshild. You can not turn off the A/C when the dial is on windshield, nor does the A/C button light illuminate to indicate the A/C unit is operating.
I find this unbelievable. Actually, the service manager at Groppone Honda in Concord, NH didn't believe me initially. Then one of his technicians found a service report explaining exactly what I wanted the dealership to correct.
The dealership can not correct the problem because this is a factory preset.
I'm shocked that Honda engineers thought this was a smart thing to do. So now I have to run my air contitioner all winter long in New Hamphsire.

 

[Sheniferous]

[quote:15ff43eb6b="gasman"]I like my Honda Element. Fun SUV to drive. Discovered that the air conditioning unit turns on whenever you adjust the circulating air dial to windshild. You can not turn off the A/C when the dial is on windshield, nor does the A/C button light illuminate to indicate the A/C unit is operating.
I find this unbelievable. Actually, the service manager at Groppone Honda in Concord, NH didn't believe me initially. Then one of his technicians found a service report explaining exactly what I wanted the dealership to correct.
The dealership can not correct the problem because this is a factory preset.
I'm shocked that Honda engineers thought this was a smart thing to do. So now I have to run my air contitioner all winter long in New Hamphsire.[/quote:15ff43eb6b]

having the air conditioner on while defrosting gets rid of condensation better... but i believe if you search the boards, there is a solution that involves pressing buttons in a sequence and turning the key a certain way... or something

 

[Sheniferous]

here, i found it:


To deactivate automatic a/c feature on 2003 Element:

1) Turn vehicle off.
2) Turn fan knob off.
3) Turn temperature knob all the way to the left (blue area).
4) Turn vent knob to panel only setting (next to max a/c).
5) Hold down both air recirculation button and a/c button while turning the key to the "run" position (one short of starting).
6) Continue holding for 7 seconds until air recirculation button stops flashing.
7) Anytime you engage the defrost or defrost/heat positions, the A/C will automatically turn on. Press the A/C button to turn the A/C compressor OFF, the light will go out.

NOTE: If the climate control computer is disconnected from battery power, it will likely revert to factory settings.

To reactivate automatic a/c feature on 2003 Element:

1) Turn vehicle off.
2) Turn fan knob off.
3) Turn temperature knob all the way to the left (blue area).
4) Turn vent knob all the way to the right (defrost position).
5) Hold down both air recirculation button and a/c button while turning the key to the "run" position (one short of starting).
6) Continue holding for 7 seconds until air recirculation button stops flashing.
7) After the 7 seconds described in step 6, the recirculation button will start to flash. Continue to hold the button for another 7 seconds. After this, the a/c light will turn to green and it's finished!

 

[gasman]

Wow, where did this information come from?

Thankyou very much for finding this. I'll try it out tomorrow.

I had initiated a complaint with Honda corporate. It will be interesting to see if corporate tell me this same information.

Sheniferous, thanks again.

 

[Sheniferous]

i saw this info posted by Einstein on another site awhile back... so you should thank him!

 

[Staggie]

It is also posted on the Honda Canada site.

 

[gasman]

The instructions work. I can live with the A/C automatically turning on so long as I can turn it off.

Thanks.

 

[aristoBrat]

[quote:53c938bccc="gasman"]I'm shocked that Honda engineers thought this was a smart thing to do. So now I have to run my air contitioner all winter long in New Hamphsire.[/quote:53c938bccc]
Maybe they took a hint from the Jeep folks? Wranglers have been doing this since '97, AFAIK, there is NO way to get around it.

 

[Sushi Bob]

[quote:26bcad0c43="Sheniferous"][quote:26bcad0c43="gasman"]I like my Honda Element. Fun SUV to drive. Discovered that the air conditioning unit turns on whenever you adjust the circulating air dial to windshild. You can not turn off the A/C when the dial is on windshield, nor does the A/C button light illuminate to indicate the A/C unit is operating.
I find this unbelievable. Actually, the service manager at Groppone Honda in Concord, NH didn't believe me initially. Then one of his technicians found a service report explaining exactly what I wanted the dealership to correct.
The dealership can not correct the problem because this is a factory preset.
I'm shocked that Honda engineers thought this was a smart thing to do. So now I have to run my air contitioner all winter long in New Hamphsire.[/quote:26bcad0c43]

having the air conditioner on while defrosting gets rid of condensation better... but i believe if you search the boards, there is a solution that involves pressing buttons in a sequence and turning the key a certain way... or something[/quote:26bcad0c43]

 

[dougola]

It would be nice if we could all active the accessory outlet to an "always on" status by simply pushing a couple of buttons. LOL

 

[gasman]

Yes, scroll back to August 23 on this thread to see the post by Sheniferous which recites exactly how to "program" the Element computer to return control over the A/C to the driver.
I can verify that it works. Now when I set the fan/vent control to the windshield, the A/C light illuminates. Then, I can turn the A/C off.

 

[sspiller]

How funny... after reading the directions I thought the next step would be "now place one finger on your nose and with your other hand turn on the lights!"...

I think the default should be control not the other way around... going to try this tonight... explains why mileage did not improve when the summer heat went away, I leave the control on DEF!

Lots of little things to these E's to get them just right...