In my IS350 it seems the temp controls are deactivated when the fan is off. This is very frustrating since I prefer having gentle incoming fresh air at adjustable temperatures. Have I overlooked something or is anyone aware of a bypass?

 

Wow, I'm the only one crazy enough to be bothered by this? I must need more help than I originally thought :P

So, I'd like to to simply adjust the temp of incoming air a bit. On all my old cars, this was a simple task -- just turn the temp ****. The Lexus has temp buttons, so logically you'd think you could simply press up or down. But for some reason you can't when the fan is off! You have to press CLIMATE, FAN-ON, Temp buttons, FAN-OFF, and CLIMATE again or some other screen.

Luxury to me doesn't mean pressing 5 buttons instead of 1 to do a simple task. There must be a way to accomplish this? A softward override maybe or a hardware hack? Has anyone discovered anything?

 

I hear ya. I feel the same way as you. I have not found another way.

 

With the blower at its slowest speed, the airflow isn't gentle enough for you?

I find that the car gets way too stuffy with the fan off.

 

Or you could just press AUTO and not worry about it!

 

I have the fan at its lowest setting at all times with the AC off. You can still change the temperature settings. However, you pretty much feel outside temperature flowing into the cabin.

If I want to "feel" more air flow, I just tilt the sunshield.

 

I just set it to auto...my days of no air or just "vent" settings are long gone. Then again is gets hot and stuffy here in Florida about 10 months out of the year. To me the "auto" setting is "luxury". I love getting in the car and just driving with the car temp set just the way I like it. But I am sorry if you find it to be a pain in da butt.

 

i hear you. last night i had it set to HI to blow as hot as it could. that's where i left it. when i got up this morning to go to work with sunshine out, the blower was off but this hot air was coming in thru the vents. how do i cool that air WITHOUT first turning on the blower...to "auto." don't think you can.

 

no you are not the only one. I hate that also. You have to have the fan on to change the temp, unlike my isuzu axiom i had previously. On it, you could change the temp while it was off and it would actually change the temp of the air flowing thru. Itwas nice.

 

Sometimes I'll just turn my seat on cool w/the air off and that cools the air nicely without the fan on.

 

Yeah it seems the temp you dial in, is still active when the fan blower motor is off. Usually, its cooler here in the mountains in the evening, so cool air coming in the vents is nice. You don't need that compressor cycling off and on, waste of power. Check to see what the temp is outside. Then turn your fan on, set the temp to or a couple degrees below the outside temperature, then turn the fan off. Natural air comes in lightly through the vents. No compressor needed. If you want more air through the vents, crack the sun roof. Works very well with no compressor. don't need it in the fall.

If you don't want any air, select inside air recirculation. But close that sun roof first because the air coming through those vents and exiting through the sunroof has some velocity. It can pop the control valve in your dash and jam. Then you can't stop air from comming in. I have seen that on a couple cars before. I did it once, I learned not to do it again, spending a couple days taking a dash apart in January is not fun. I can imagine how complicated it is inside our IS.

Usually in the winter I don't like a lot of heat. In the IS I select a warm temp, turn the fan off and set vent air at your feet, cause warm air rises. Then the vent air is warmed, enters low, and makes it comfortable.

If you don't want that compressor running on defrost all the time, set it to come out at the windshield and feet. I think the dial-o-temp is overly complicated, but my wifee likes it.

I think my old Montero has the best setup. You can turn the fan motor off, set the fresh vent air coming in as heat through the floor vents. Then the dash vents can be selected to bring in unheated fresh air by selecting vent intake.
You get the best of worlds, warm feet and cool fresh air at your face/upper body. It will keep you awake if you’re driving late and watching out for deer.

 

Oh right... The vent controls are functional when the fan is off -- just not the temperature controls. I'll name my first born after whoever finds a bypass!

 

greyhound you have it figured out.

I don't want my compressor running all the time either. I just want to change the temp without the fans going on.

I miss my isuzu you could control it with it on or off..

I also do what you do with the warm air to the feet and then just let that come up thru the cabin mellow style.