RLM

2016 Lexus RX 450H

"When any switch is pressed, the system
is set to automatic mode and the
“AUTO” indicator (green) lights up.
Each time the switch is pressed, the
operation condition changes as follows.
Hi (3 segments lit)"

What does the Auto setting do for front seat heating and cooling.

The above is from the Manual and makes no sense to me.

Does not explain why and what the Auto setting does.

Comments

coolsaber

Auto means it links the seat temperature setting to your climate control/HVAC setting.

EX:
Its a hot day, you set the temperature for your HVAC at 70, if the auto setting is selected, then it should auto adjust the seat cooling to match that temp.

mcomer

coolsaber is right,
Seat controls have three (3) heat levels and three (3) ventilating levels
The seventh light is Auto and when selected the seat will follow the efforts
of the main HVAC system. It is all relative to the outside temp so if you are
comfortable at 70 degrees and it is freezing outside the main system is
heating and the seats will kick in (likely at 3 lights!) When it is 100 degrees
ambient then the main will be cooling and the seats will be blowing full
blast.
To demonstrate it to your self just run each of the temp settings up and down
while the A/C and the seats are both is Auto and watch the seat lights ramp
up and down. My bride pointed out that you can always override this and
turn on the heated seats for sore back relief even when the A/C is on.

mjeds

if it is anything like the auto in the RCF it sucks.

manual control works better, though the heated seats in general suck and don't actually 'heat' IMO. on high I can barely feel them, in my Camaro high used to burn my ****.

cool works ok. but damn the fans are noisy.

DNC

Can someone please explain the AUTO function of the heated/ventilated seats in the 2016 RX? In our owner's manual I can only find where it mentions the option, not any explanation or use of it. Thank you.

dchar

Placing the seats in AUTO causes the seats to turn on heat or ventilation at varying levels depending on the temperature the climate control is set at and the temperature in the car. This helps you feel closer to the climate control temperature as the car heats up or cools down.

mcomer

Easy demonstration tip, turn on Auto A/C. Set any temp you like. If the outside
temp is not too extreme, touch the Auto Seat buttons until only the single Auto
light is on. Now adjust your regular A/C temp upward and watch the Auto seats
come on to heat...higher you turn up the main the hotter the seats will get. Now
try lowering the main A/C temp to 65 or LOW...watch the ventilated seats join in
to help! Auto the Main, Auto the Recirculation damper and Auto the Seats.

My wife found that you can easily override this by pressing the Heat button even
with the A/C on Cryogenic to heat a sore backside...

Gibster

You can also adjust the default seat temp settings higher or lower depending on your preferences. This is done through the Vehicle setup menu on the navigation screen.

You can only adjust the passenger seat setting if someone is sitting in the seat OR, you are fast enough to access the passenger setting before the sensor has a chance to turn of the seat. Navigate to the seat settings and then change the passenger temp control to manual and then back to auto. It will take the sensor a few seconds to sense that someone isn't sitting in the seat before it disables the passenger setting in the setup menu. Just click the passenger setting before the sensor disables it.

joe311

one of the best features i like in the rx. I never knew any auto makers had such a feature. I love not having to push buttons or turning up the warmers or coolers. There are actual settings you can fine tune the automatic warmers / vents to your liking. Go to menu > settings > vehicle customization > climate. From there you can set the auto for driver and passenger. Car must be on to go to climate settings.

satnav

I like this feature too, but I wonder why lexus did not tie this into the heating steering wheel...

Gibster

I agree. This would be a nice addition to the remote start features in the winter. Everything would be toasty warm including the steering wheel.
I can't imagine someone 'missed' this in the design meetings so there must be a reason.

BarryShu

I have a 2018 RX450h; How do I get the ventilated seats to turn on? How do I turn on the S-FLOW mode of AC?

jim256

Did you get a manual with the car? Both topics are covered and require a little reading for all the options and variables.

Nail34

And if you don't have a manual, like jim256 asked, it's available online with an alphabetical index on the bottom
https://drivers.lexus.com/t3Portal/d...f/OM0E022U.pdf
Just look up seats and s-flow.

mcomer

2016 and 2017 RX's had a hard button on the climate panel for the Split-Flow "S-Flow" function.
This has been moved to the submenu to join the heated wiper bed button. Touch the center
console "menu" button and then tap on the main screen tab "Climate" (Both Nav and non-Nav)
Find and select the submenu "..." and open it to find S-Flow.
S-Flow cuts off the rear A/C vent to save energy. When the passenger gets out and the Federally
Mandated airbag sensor turns off the passenger side SIR, S-Flow turns off the right side A/C also!