Hello,
I have a 2004 4runner SR5, v6.
I do not have the auto climate control, it is manual.
I understand that the recirculated air button turns on and off automaticly based on temperature settings.

Is there a way to disable this feature.
I want to CONTROL if it is fresh or recycled air coming in!!!

It is really frustrating always having to turn it off everytime a start the car. I like fresh air and dont use the AC.

My old 4runners and 2003 Highlander would allow you to control it.

If anyone knows if/ how to disable this feature please let me know.
The owners manual has nothing about it.
I have heard that there are many things the manual does not have that can be done.
thanks,
Chuck

 

Oh I know, it's frustrating. Sorry, I don't have any solutions, but I so agree.

 

TruckMike26,
Hopefully someone in this, or other forums can see this and find a solution.
It really is odd the 4runner does this.
I have had many Toyotas, Hondas, Mercedes, etc.
All of them have the option to manually adjust the recirculate air button and have it stay where you set it after shutoff.
Even if you have the fully automatic system.
I'll just cross my fingers someone has an answer.
Chuck

 

Keeping the thing on defrost defaults a fresh-air setting, but I think the A/C compressor cycles on/off without the A/C light illuminated, wasting fuel. WTF.

 

I have been calling around to different Toyota dealers and asking them for solutions.
Oddly enough i get different answers at each place...lol, go figure.
So far i have gotten:
-Cant fix it.
-Bring it in so we can hook it up to the computer and see if there is a code for it. may be a small charge or may not??
-After startup, Hold the recirculate air button for 5 seconds and that will disable it.(didnt work on my 2004 4runner)
-Hold the button down for 30 seconds after startup. (didnt work on my 4runner.)
-On the 2005/ 2006 and newer 4runners there is an option to disable it but I(service advisor) dont know what it is...LMAO..

Anyway since you have a newer 4runner you might want to try the "hold the button for 5 or 30 seconds after startup" and see if that works.
Maybe call some dealers in your area, they might have a better answer.

If you find anything out please let me know,
Chuck

 

Hello Superchuck... welcome to the family... I deleted your thread in newbie tech since that was not the correct section to ask that specific a question in... Please try not to "spam" a bunch of sections in the hopes of netting an answer it just gets annoying to everyone else... try to get your ? into the right section as you did here. You will get better answers faster that way without getting a lot of razzing for not knowing how to search and so forth...

Actually you pose an interesting question here that I've never seen before... I don't own one of these myself but I'm going to try and research it... I want to know now too... Good luck
Aviator

 

Ok, thanks for the update.
I am just learing the ropes here.
I also put it in the electrical forum since it is an electrical question.
Thanks for the help.
Chuck

 

Did'nt see that one there I'll grab it later...
I just took a look at the fsm link over in general tech...
there is an online factory shop manual (fsm) link from ncttora there for the 03 runner... it only seemed to cover the automatic type controller with manual function option... it seems the recirc may be selected based on the info the ac computer gets from a whole bunch of sensors and it switches back and forth to maintain set temp without causing window fog...
I'm guessing here but if you were to manually turn the recirc on then off again you might reset the computer to outside air... but I'm just taking a shot in the dark here... depends how smart the toy 'puter is...

 

You missed the 4 other sections I just had to delete

 

Hi Aviator,
I have tried to turn the recirc button on then off. it works for that cycle, but once the car is turned off it resets to recirc on again. (unless the outside and inside temps match. then it will be fresh)..The system trys to give you what it thinks is best for the temp.
i would rather do the thinking...lol

Could you leave the 2nd post in the electrical section just in case someone who does not have a 03 or newer 4runner might see it and have an answer?

 

Sorry....Wont happen again.

 

I fixes what I finds mano lol...

 

I would love to find a solution for this also. I have an '06 SR5 4R w/ the Auto climate control. And that is probably the one 'feature' that has annoyed me the most about the truck since I bought it. I find myself constantly turning off the Recirc button.

Oh and awesome site, btw. Just registered here.

 

I've tried holding the button down for various amounts. Didn't do anything. Also annoying is selecting Defrost nets a level 4 blast of air, having to turn the fan speed down manually.

 

Gotta love those electronic enviro controls... too dang smart for their own good...

 

Hmm...inline resistor on the sensors?

 

I hate this feature as well. What I have found is if you set your temp one degree off of low, which is 64 degrees when you start the truck the recirculation isn't on anymore. It seems to always come on when the temp setting in on low.

Give that a shot and see if it works for you.

 

X2. I was frustrated at first by the "sticky" recirc button as well because I would set the temp to minimum. Here's what I discovered: it's a thermostat control rather than a temperature control.

What's the difference? Well, in an older manual system, turning the temperature control just a little above minimum will add just a little heat to the cool air, which you don't want when it's hot inside. But in the Runner if the temp in the car is higher than the setting on the thermostatic control (say 95 when you've set the control to 68) no heat will be added to the air until and unless the interior temp drops to 68. So there's no need to set the control to minimum -- just set it at a level that's comfortable for you and let it do its thing.

Setting the temp. to minimum is like the older setting of MAX, so it automatically turns on the recirc.

 

My system seems to have a mind of its own. I tried a half degree C and that seemed to work for a while but, as mentioned before, the system seems to calculate its own decision and, surprise, the recirc. button light shawn brighter than ever, even with a few degrees up.