Automatic temperature control...

[tunersteve]

Anyone else use this a lot? I used to hate it, but with the temps dropping in MI, I gave it a chance. I usually set it to 80*, then drop it down as I get warm, and it works great. It does run with the A/C on, but it warms up faster inside than if I just crank it up full blast, and isn't as harsh.

What are your thoughts on the ATC?

 

[ms6acton]

i didnt even kno we had this haha. ill give it a try after worker today

 

[tunersteve]

i didnt even kno we had this haha. ill give it a try after worker today

Yep, just push the center of the right knob and dial in a temp. If you change anything though, it kicks it out of auto.

 

[GoFast]

I use it constantly. There really isn't much I have to say about it. I leave it on auto and it does what it has to do to achieve the temps I want. I love it

 

[Evolved]

I don't use it because for some reason when it's crazy cold, it still feels a need to use the A/C compressor......confusing.

 

[thewheelman]

I use mine pretty much all the time. My main gripe is that it doesn't wait long enough for the car to warm up when it's cold outside, and starts blowing cold air on my feet.

 

[kylefire5]

Other cars I have hated this feature. But Mazda seems to have it right here. It waits to let the car warm up before blasting heat and turns on the defrosters for you. One thing I love about it is if it is in auto you can still switch back and forth from inside and outside air without it going to manual mode.

 

[keymaster]

I usually let the auto system set things up for me, and then I turn the AC off (which cancels the automatic features). I don't really like the idea of using the AC when it's 40 degrees outside; if the system only use the AC when it was necessary instead of all the time I'd leave it in auto. When I need the AC, I leave it on automatic and the system works pretty well.

 

[pmh67]

I thought if you start in AUTO and say set the temp to 75 then push the AC button to OFF that it will still stay in AUTO and maintain the temp to 75 and not use the AC at all.

But if you change the directional flow to defrost and feet then the AC will turn on because of the defrost setting.

 

[keymaster]

No, the auto setting shuts off. The temperature display still works, so if you set the temperature it will change in the display, but that's just the set point. If you set it low, it won't get there without the AC, and it doesn't turn the AC back on .

 

[tunersteve]

I thought if you start in AUTO and say set the temp to 75 then push the AC button to OFF that it will still stay in AUTO and maintain the temp to 75 and not use the AC at all.

But if you change the directional flow to defrost and feet then the AC will turn on because of the defrost setting.

Nope, just tried this, it kicks it right out of auto when you do this.

I set mine at 80 at night so when I start it, the defrosters kick on, then after about 5 min it's pretty habitable in there.

 

[keymaster]

Actually, pmh is right. Yesterday, when I got into the car, I turned on the auto, set the temp high and then killed the AC. That shut the auto light off as usual, but this time I didn't mess with the fan settings or anything. A bit later, I noticed that the fan speed had increased, and the fan was not just blowing onto the windshield anymore. So, the auto settings do still work if you turn the AC off, even though the light has gone out. Obviously, it won't cool the interior, or turn the AC on if you want to defrost the windshield, but if it's just cold out you really just need the heater anyways, so you can just set a temperature and always leave it there and it will work apparently.

Smart move by Mazda to have it run that way, actually. Adding to this, yesterday I noticed that the windshield wiper speed slows down if you're in variable speed mode and stop the car. I'm wondering what other neat features there are in the car I haven't figured out yet...the wiper thing isn't in the owners manual.

 

[tunersteve]

Actually, pmh is right. Yesterday, when I got into the car, I turned on the auto, set the temp high and then killed the AC. That shut the auto light off as usual, but this time I didn't mess with the fan settings or anything. A bit later, I noticed that the fan speed had increased, and the fan was not just blowing onto the windshield anymore. So, the auto settings do still work if you turn the AC off, even though the light has gone out. Obviously, it won't cool the interior, or turn the AC on if you want to defrost the windshield, but if it's just cold out you really just need the heater anyways, so you can just set a temperature and always leave it there and it will work apparently.

Smart move by Mazda to have it run that way, actually. Adding to this, yesterday I noticed that the windshield wiper speed slows down if you're in variable speed mode and stop the car. I'm wondering what other neat features there are in the car I haven't figured out yet...the wiper thing isn't in the owners manual.

I'm not sure if it was originally designed to be like this, or if the programming just happens to respond accordingly. I would think that the A/C and recirc air buttons shouldn't affect the ATC modes, but if the auto light goes out, it's not as responsive to adjusting the temps as it is when it's on. I re-tested this theory today by kicking it out of AC after setting the temp. It did adjust, but when switched back into auto, it responded quicker and by more drastic adjustment (vent selection and fan speed vs. simply a minor adj. in fan speed).

 

[pmh67]

I thought if you start in AUTO and say set the temp to 75 then push the AC button to OFF that it will still stay in AUTO and maintain the temp to 75 and not use the AC at all.

But if you change the directional flow to defrost and feet then the AC will turn on because of the defrost setting.

When I said 75 I was meaning getting up to 75 (winter). To get down to 75 (summer) the fans will try to get there but won't unless the AC unit is on...

 

[uthemang31]

I'm not sure if it was originally designed to be like this, or if the programming just happens to respond accordingly. I would think that the A/C and recirc air buttons shouldn't affect the ATC modes, but if the auto light goes out, it's not as responsive to adjusting the temps as it is when it's on. I re-tested this theory today by kicking it out of AC after setting the temp. It did adjust, but when switched back into auto, it responded quicker and by more drastic adjustment (vent selection and fan speed vs. simply a minor adj. in fan speed).

I have a 09 MS3 with similar auto functions. My questions when I turn on the car in auto mode it goes directly to the front windshield and not the upper or lower vents. Why is this? Does it automatically switch back to the head and leg vents when the car is at operating conditions? I hardly use the heating and cooling until the now when cold weather has set in.

Sunny

 

[keymaster]

Mine goes to the windshield first as well...probably to keep from blowing hot/cold air directly on the passengers at first. And, in the winter, to defog the windshield. Mine automatically shifts to the other vents as appropriate once the car has run for a bit.