Air Distribution and Filtering

Air Distribution and Filtering

NOTE: This vehicle is equipped from the factory with a cabin air filter. For filter maintenance intervals, refer to Maintenance Schedule.

There are 2 sources of air available to the air distribution system:

- Outside air
- Recirculated air

Recirculated air is always used when the HVAC module is set to the MAX A/C mode on vehicles equipped with Electronic Manual Temperature Control (EMTC). Vehicles equipped with Electronic Automatic Temperature Control (EATC) use recirculated air when the RECIRC function is selected in any mode other than DEFROST, or when required by the HVAC module in the AUTOMATIC mode. On hybrid vehicles only, the air inlet door may stop in a mid-position if required for increased cooling performance as determined by the HVAC module.

Air distribution within the vehicle is determined by the EMTC system settings or the EATC system in the AUTOMATIC mode. The air distribution mode on vehicles equipped with EATC can be overridden by the driver if desired. Airflow mode control doors are used to direct airflow within the heater core and evaporator core housing. Electric mode door actuators are used to position these airflow mode doors.

NOTE: For the passenger side temperature setting on hybrid vehicles equipped with a dual-zone Electronic Automatic Temperature Control (EATC) and a Front Controls Interface Module (FCIM) built on or after 4/08/2009 to be functional, a passenger must be seated in the front passenger seat. If the front passenger seat is not occupied, the HVAC module will control the system based only on the driver side temperature setting. The HVAC module receives a Medium Speed Controller Area Network (MS-CAN) signal from the FCIM to indicate if the front passenger seat is occupied.

Vehicles equipped with dual-zone EATC 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:

- instrument panel registers.
- floor duct.
- windshield defroster.
- side window demisters.
- rear footwell duct.

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