Is this normal - Hot air blowing in through vents? - Toyota GR86, 86, FR-S and Subaru BRZ Forum & Owners Community

Lebby83 · 05-07-2014, 10:02 AM

Not sure if this is normal or not for our cars. When I have the AC/Heat off completely there is a lot of hot air flowing out of the vents, mainly when in motion of course. I have never noticed this on any of my previous and current cars, but this is my first Subaru so I am not sure if this is common.

Any input??

Thanks!

Pistol · 05-07-2014, 10:14 AM

unfortunately yes

Lebby83 · 05-07-2014, 10:25 AM

Awesome. Guess I have to get used to closing the vents while the windows are down and at the track.

Thanks pistol

Prog · 05-07-2014, 10:29 AM

I have noticed this in all of my cars, but only when the heater was the last thing that was on. If you put on the AC and then turn off HVAC, it doesn't leak heat.

Lebby83 · 05-07-2014, 10:37 AM

It has been doing it after the AC has been running. I've only ran the system with the AC on.

codesplice · 05-07-2014, 11:23 AM

If you hit the Recirc button before you turn off the AC that should stop the airflow

00NissanNinja · 05-07-2014, 12:02 PM

+1 for turning on the recirc. All cars do this to varying levels, since they always let some amount of outside air into the car for ventilation purposes. Turning recirc on mostly stops outside air from coming through the HVAC system. It's maybe more noticeable in the BRZ due to the design of the cowl and the how close packed the car is.

BrrrRrrZ · 05-07-2014, 12:02 PM

I've read this a couple times now. Being from PA we have very similar weather so I'm surprised it'd be so different...

If you turn the dial to "low" and keep it to the first few fan clicks I find its nice, especially on the highway.

I have a sport tech (dual zone) so I'm not sure if maybe there is a difference?

tahdizzle · 05-07-2014, 12:13 PM

yup. just hit the recirc and no mo hot air.

Lebby83 · 05-07-2014, 01:38 PM

Thanks guys! Will give it a shot.

Sportsguy83 · 05-07-2014, 01:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lebby83

Thanks guys! Will give it a shot.

Yes, recirc button willl close the vent allowing outside air to go in.

qqzj · 05-07-2014, 03:38 PM

It is a design flaw on Subaru's part. You can do this. If you feel hot air blowing into cabin, turn on the AC, set temp to 62, then turn off AC. the air will blow cold from now on.

Basically if you want warm air, the car should open a channel for the air to enter heat core and then enter cabin. If you turn AC system off, the car should shut down that channel. Obviously, Subaru engineers forget to do this. So when you turn off AC, they still let that channel to heat core open. This will only happen when you turn on AC but set it to a warm temp in the morning. Then when you drive it during afternoon w/o AC on.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lebby83

Not sure if this is normal or not for our cars. When I have the AC/Heat off completely there is a lot of hot air flowing out of the vents, mainly when in motion of course. I have never noticed this on any of my previous and current cars, but this is my first Subaru so I am not sure if this is common.

Any input??

Thanks!

SirBrass · 05-07-2014, 04:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by codesplice

If you hit the Recirc button before you turn off the AC that should stop the airflow

Still doesn't help in my case. This is my first subie where this has been an issue.

When it was much cooler, no problem. I normally wanted some warmer air anyway even if I wasn't running the heat. Now, though, it gets annoying. Usually I have to run the temp up to just about where ambient is (set HVAC to auto, and roll the temp up till the fans drop to a low fan speed) and hit the A/C and recirc. If I have the windows down, I hit recirc and turn a/c off and drop the temps down. Still end up with way warmer air than what is coming in through the windows.

I think it's b/c our engine bay runs hotter than normal anyway, so wherever the cabin air is being pumped in from fresh (or even near the firewall), is where it gets heated up more than normal.

I bet if one is able to ventilate a good bit of the normal bay heat, the issue will decrease.

tahdizzle · 05-07-2014, 04:04 PM

If only the fender vents were functional from the factory.....

05-07-2014, 11:23 AM	#6
codesplice Elite Recognized Geek Join Date: Mar 2014 Drives: 2014 DGM BRZ Limited Location: Huntsville, AL Posts: 183 Thanks: 192 Thanked 67 Times in 48 Posts Mentioned: 3 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	If you hit the Recirc button before you turn off the AC that should stop the airflow __________________ This post is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are the product of the poster's imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events, or locales is entirely coincidental. G+

05-07-2014, 12:02 PM	#7
00NissanNinja The Thread Lurker Join Date: Jan 2012 Drives: '14 BRZ, '17 GTI, MT09 Location: SW OH Posts: 552 Thanks: 282 Thanked 213 Times in 135 Posts Mentioned: 6 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	+1 for turning on the recirc. All cars do this to varying levels, since they always let some amount of outside air into the car for ventilation purposes. Turning recirc on mostly stops outside air from coming through the HVAC system. It's maybe more noticeable in the BRZ due to the design of the cowl and the how close packed the car is. Last edited by 00NissanNinja; 05-07-2014 at 12:21 PM.

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05-07-2014, 10:14 AM	#2
Pistol Member Join Date: Jan 2014 Drives: 86 Location: Melbourne Posts: 94 Thanks: 180 Thanked 64 Times in 38 Posts Mentioned: 3 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	unfortunately yes

05-07-2014, 10:29 AM	#4
Prog Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2013 Drives: 2016 Cadillac CTS Location: North Carolina Posts: 497 Thanks: 177 Thanked 135 Times in 95 Posts Mentioned: 5 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	I have noticed this in all of my cars, but only when the heater was the last thing that was on. If you put on the AC and then turn off HVAC, it doesn't leak heat.

05-07-2014, 12:02 PM	#8
BrrrRrrZ Member Join Date: Mar 2014 Drives: 2014 BRZ 6MT Location: Canada Posts: 18 Thanks: 0 Thanked 8 Times in 5 Posts Mentioned: 1 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	I've read this a couple times now. Being from PA we have very similar weather so I'm surprised it'd be so different... If you turn the dial to "low" and keep it to the first few fan clicks I find its nice, especially on the highway. I have a sport tech (dual zone) so I'm not sure if maybe there is a difference?

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