2019 CX-5 Climate control - want to downgrade to manual type

[Mafk187]

Just picked up a 2019 CX5-GT and love it... Except for the automatic climate control system. I never use automatic mode and I'm always having to take my eyes off the road to see which buttons to press and what setting everything is on. I would MUCH rather have a physical, manual type interface control (as seen on page 5-7 of the owner's manual).

I see lots of people asking how to upgrade but my question is the opposite...

How hard would it be to swap the automatic control interface with a manual type? I imagine there will be some extra plug-ins / functions that will no longer work (whch are related to the sensors that dictate automatic climate control).... Which is good. They can die in a fire for all I care... But will it affect other aspects of the vehicle or be overly complicated to do the swap?

Please let me know if you've encountered this kind of thing before.

Cheers!

 

[paris1]

This doesn't answer your question, but a large part of the problem is with Mazda's insistence on mounting the HVAC controls low on the dash year after year. Whatever you need from these controls forces you to take your eyes off the road for far too long. When I'm driving with my wife, I usually ask her to make the adjustments so I don't have to deal with it.

 

[hsdejong]

I never use automatic mode

The automatic mode is quite intelligent ;-)
Try it. Just choose your temperature and let the automatic mode do its thing.
The only time I choose an option myself is to demist the windscreen.

 

[Conrad 16.5]

I like the automatic HVAC in the CX.

" I never use automatic mode and I'm always having to take my eyes off the road to see which buttons to press and what setting everything is on."

I don't understand, you never use automatic mode? If you did, then you wouldn't have to take your eyes off the road to fiddle with the controls. Set the temp beforehand and off you go. What's to fiddle with then?

Are you saying that with a manual HVAC that you won't have to fiddle with anything?

You know that the automatic system can be used manually, right?

 

[RedBaron]

Exactly what Conrad^ said. Why on earth go through the hassle of trying to replace it?

 

[wlong01]

Doesn't the auto climate control revert to manual if you increase/decrease the fan setting? I'm always changing the fan setting, change from cabin to defrost, etc. It seems like it's in manual mode when you do this.
I never set one temp and leave it there, I'm always changing it.

 

[paris1]

Probably the best advise I"ve seen on a Mazda forum regarding climate control was shortly after I bought my '18 Mazda 3. The comment was simply "Quit trying to second guess the system; just set the temp and forget it." That's pretty much how I've come to use it on both the 3 and the CX-5.

 

[Odrapnew]

Doesn't the auto climate control revert to manual if you increase/decrease the fan setting? I'm always changing the fan setting, change from cabin to defrost, etc. It seems like it's in manual mode when you do this.
I never set one temp and leave it there, I'm always changing it.

Yeah, once you change fan setting, it goes into manual mode.
That's how every vehicle that I've owned with auto climate control works.

But, you can change temp and vent position and it will still automatically control the fan and temperature.

In the winter, I usually set my temp to ~70F and let the auto control the fan. I usually switch between floor and floor/defrost depending on the weather (mostly keep on just floor).

Summer I do more manual control of the HVAC because it ranges from windows down temps to pretty darn hot and humid.

 

[N7turbo]

Probably the best advise I"ve seen on a Mazda forum regarding climate control was shortly after I bought my '18 Mazda 3. The comment was simply "Quit trying to second guess the system; just set the temp and forget it." That's pretty much how I've come to use it on both the 3 and the CX-5.

It has been difficult adjusting to this, but the ND MX-5 has helped a lot. The system as laid out in that car is very easy to understand.

In the CX-5, it is a bit more daunting with all the buttons.

Also, in the CX-5 I have to switch between recirc and fresh air every few minutes because the inside of the car fogs up easily due to how well-sealed it is. Yes, A/C is on. Every reddit thread is full of people yelling at newbies to leave the A/C on like it's the panacea for this

 

[dunhillmc]

just don't push the Auto button and it will do what you're saying you want

 

[stickerbush]

Also, in the CX-5 I have to switch between recirc and fresh air every few minutes because the inside of the car fogs up easily due to how well-sealed it is.

The Front Defrost button takes care of this issue in my car.

 

[N7turbo]

The Front Defrost button takes care of this issue in my car.

Yup, that's what I use. At least it remembers that I was using recirc when I switch back to >.

 

[Conrad 16.5]

It has been difficult adjusting to this, but the ND MX-5 has helped a lot. The system as laid out in that car is very easy to understand.

In the CX-5, it is a bit more daunting with all the buttons.

Also, in the CX-5 I have to switch between recirc and fresh air every few minutes because the inside of the car fogs up easily due to how well-sealed it is. Yes, A/C is on. Every reddit thread is full of people yelling at newbies to leave the A/C on like it's the panacea for this

My CX has auto HVAC my MX does not. I like auto MUCH better! Saying this, I almost never use the system in my MX cuz 99% of the time I have the top down. I occasionally use heat in that situation.

Why would you be changing the recirculation from inside to outside every few mins? The only time that the system should be set to inside only is when it's super-hot and you're trying to cool down the interior in a hurry, see your owner's manual, it's all spelled out. Other than this, the switch should be set to outside.

The only other time to keep the setting on inside, it's really stinking outside for some reason and you'd rather keep as much of the stink outside as possible.

 

[N7turbo]

Why would you be changing the recirculation from inside to outside every few mins? The only time that the system should be set to inside only is when it's super-hot and you're trying to cool down the interior in a hurry, see your owner's manual, it's all spelled out. Other than this, the switch should be set to outside.

The only other time to keep the setting on inside, it's really stinking outside for some reason and you're rather keep as much of the stink outside as possible.

This. I pass by a meat processing plant every morning. Other times, it's the discharge from the water treatment plant. It's either one of those, or I'm keeping someone's exhaust fumes out.

 

[ScottSt]

Can anyone point me to instructions for upgrading from manual to automatic? We've got a base/sport and I find the manual controls a bit annoying.

 

[chickdr]

My CX has auto HVAC my MX does not. I like auto MUCH better! Saying this, I almost never use the system in my MX cuz 99% of the time I have the top down. I occasionally use heat in that situation.

Why would you be changing the recirculation from inside to outside every few mins? The only time that the system should be set to inside only is when it's super-hot and you're trying to cool down the interior in a hurry, see your owner's manual, it's all spelled out. Other than this, the switch should be set to outside.

The only other time to keep the setting on inside, it's really stinking outside for some reason and you'd rather keep as much of the stink outside as possible.

My wife uses recirculate at all times. She doesn't want to smell exhaust fumes. She gets irritated when she sees recirculate is turned off (usually after passing a diesel...) and I explain it automatically changes to allow outside air when set to defrost.

 

[hsdejong]

My wife uses recirculate at all times. She doesn't want to smell exhaust fumes. She gets irritated when she sees recirculate is turned off (usually after passing a diesel...) and I explain it automatically changes to allow outside air when set to defrost.

Although it is probably useless to convince her otherwise , a car with recirculation mode will also fill up with outside air and exhaust fumes, albeit more slowly.
Then the dirty air in the car is replaced more slowly by clean air. Ultimately, it is more unhealthy with recirculation on than off.

Manually switching to recirculation is only useful for temporary use if you are driving behind a smelly car or driving past a manured field.

 

[dunhillmc]

I have A/C and recirculate on 98% of the time and just adjust the temp as needed. It only comes off when I turn it to defrost/defog

 

[chickdr]

Although it is probably useless to convince her otherwise , a car with recirculation mode will also fill up with outside air and exhaust fumes, albeit more slowly.
Then the dirty air in the car is replaced more slowly by clean air. Ultimately, it is more unhealthy with recirculation on than off.

Manually switching to recirculation is only useful for temporary use if you are driving behind a smelly car or driving past a manured field.

Yes, that would be a useless comment to her. On my Frontier, the recirc seems pretty worthless as either way lots of odors intrude into the cabin.

 

[minnesotaart]

This. I pass by a meat processing plant every morning. Other times, it's the discharge from the water treatment plant. It's either one of those, or I'm keeping someone's exhaust fumes out.

Have you tried a cabin air filter with charcoal?