dfc350

Another couple was riding with us last week and said the AC wasn't blowing out of the rear vents like it was from the front. They and I both made sure they were open, and I couldn't find much about it in the owner's manual. Does anyone know if there's a setting that needs changing? I'll mention it during my 5K service which is coming up, unless I can figure it out.

RXOwner

Have you looked in the climate menu? I never use the back seat but I think there is a setting that turn the rear ac off and on.

darkoozy

The A/C system for the rear is dumb. It defaults with the fan motors to off. There is button on the cluster you have to press to enable air to make it to the back vents. I actually hate this feature.

dfc350

The only climate settings there were for front seat heaters, smog control, and setting AC to automatic. I noticed that I probably didn't have that set to ON so that may be it. I'll need to test it out.

darkoozy

Its probably it...I ran into the same issue. Automatic setting will still default the back seat fans to off.

dchar

Definitely make sure S-flow is turned off. It is the button that darkoozy highlighted above. S-flow turns off the vents in the back.

winsalem

From page 496 of RX owner's manual:

■ S-FLOW mode

In S-FLOW mode, priority for the airflow is given to the front seats, reducing the airflow and air conditioning effect on the rear seats.

If a passenger is not detected in the front passenger seat, priority for the air- flow will be given to the driver's seat only.

In this case, the temperature indicator for the front passenger side will turn off. S-FLOW mode will be activated automatically according to the set temperature, outside temperature, etc. (P. 502)

The indicator comes on when S-FLOW mode is on.

From page 502:

■ Operation of S-FLOW mode

In automatic mode, S-FLOW mode will be turned off if a rear door has been opened and closed. To activate S-FLOW mode again, press [the button Darkoozy highlighted above].
_____________

If I am reading it correctly, it seems that S-FLOW is always on [if climate control is in automatic mode] unless someone sits in the passenger seat, or if a rear door has been opened and closed. But dfc350's rear seat passengers had to have opened a rear door to get there...which should have turned off S-FLOW and directed air to the rear vents. Unless climate control was not in auto mode...?

As for why Lexus did this, I wonder if the default of keeping JUST the driver cool (unless there's a passenger in front or in back) helps with MPG (cuts down on A/C load?). Oh well, it will take a bigger brain than mine to explain it.

RXOwner

The default turning the back AC off is a feature in my opinion. I am betting the most rear 4RX seats are empty on average and AC is not required.

darkoozy

My observation is the rear fans are OFF even with a passenger in the front seat (no one in the back, doors never opened). I have on several occasions had to disable s-flow to get rear fans going if no one is in the back. In my mind it helps cool the entire vehicle faster with full circulation even if no one is in back. I still think its a dumb feature and should be optional.

winsalem

I agree...dumb feature. I might have $200 worth of Co$tco steaks in the cargo net. Might like for them to share the air. And how about folks who travel with a dog in the cargo area?

[I'll add this to my dumb feature list, along with the "Radar Cruise Control" switch which you hafta hold down until the "regular" cruise control is enabled. The "radar" version has nearly gotten me rear-ended when a driver cuts in front of me, RX hits the "auto-brake" and the car(s) behind me don't stop as quickly as I do.]

JDR76

If it's like S Flow in my GS, you can just turn it off. You don't have to use it.

dfc350

This did it.

darkoozy

You can only turn it off every time you get in the vehicle. Its not a permanent setting to disable. If its different on the GS you are lucky.

darkoozy

Awesome! Glad it worked!

JDR76

Then I agree that it's silly. In the GS I can just always leave it off (though I always leave it on).

Perhaps it's in the LPS (Lexus Personalized Settings) options and can be reconfigured?