Air Distribution and Filtering

Air Distribution and Filtering

Air Distribution

Outside air and recirculated air are the 2 sources of air available to the air distribution system.

Recirculated air is always used when the climate control mode is set to MAX A/C, and can be selected in any mode except DEFROST. Vehicles equipped with dual-zone Electronic Automatic Temperature Control (EATC) may use recirculated air when required by the HVAC module while operating in the AUTOMATIC mode.

RECIRC is a timed function when selected while operating in FLOOR or FLOOR/DEFROST mode, and automatically defaults back to fresh air inlet after 5 minutes if operating with the A/C on at an ambient temperature below 10°C (50°F). When operating with the A/C off, the RECIRC function always defaults back to fresh air inlet after 5 minutes regardless of ambient temperature.

Air distribution within the vehicle is determined by the airflow mode selected, or by the dual-zone EATC (Electronic Automatic Temperature Control) system in the AUTOMATIC mode. The automatically determined air distribution mode on vehicles equipped with dual-zone EATC (Electronic Automatic Temperature Control) can be overridden by the driver if desired. Airflow mode control doors are used to direct air-flow within the heater core and evaporator core housing. Electric mode door actuators position these airflow mode doors.

Vehicles equipped with dual-zone EATC (Electronic Automatic Temperature Control) use 2 separate temperature blend doors. This allows individual temperature settings to be selected for the RH and LH air outlets. The airflow mode doors are not partitioned for separate RH and LH airflow positions. Therefore, the airflow mode will always remain similar for the RH and LH sides of the vehicle regardless of the temperatures selected.

Air enters the passenger compartment from the following outlets:

- Instrument panel registers

- Floor duct outlets

- Windshield defroster

- Side window demisters

- Rear footwell duct

- Center console registers

Passenger compartment air is exhausted from the vehicle through open windows or body air vents.

Cabin Air Filter

A cabin air filter is standard equipment on dual-zone EATC (Electronic Automatic Temperature Control) vehicles. Electronic Manual Temperature Control (EMTC) vehicles are not equipped from the factory with a cabin air filter, but are equipped with a screen to prevent any large foreign material from entering the heater core and evaporator core housing. Access the cabin air filter or screen by removing the glove compartment and the cabin air filter access cover.

A cabin air filter can be installed as a dealer accessory on vehicles not originally equipped with a filter, but only a screen or a filter should be installed, never both.