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Defroster set to recirculating air

Discussion in '2.5 Gen Tundras (2014-2021)' started by Racer839, Dec 8, 2018.

  1. Dec 8, 2018 at 12:45 PM
    #1
    Racer839

    Racer839 [OP] New Member

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    I've tried searching and didn't find what I was looking for. I have a 2018 and when I have it set to the defroster setting, I can't turn on recirculating air. Is there a way to change this? I get that it's better to have it off but in all my past Toyotas or other brands, I was able to have the defroster set the recirculating air. Any help would be appreciated.
     
  2. Dec 8, 2018 at 1:12 PM
    #2
    DJFaninTN

    DJFaninTN New Member

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    don't think you can do that. at least on my 18 you can't.
     
  3. Dec 8, 2018 at 1:29 PM
    #3
    easleycrawler

    easleycrawler TOYOTA ADDICT- SSEM #78

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    My 17 is the same way, and the 14 was the same way.
     
  4. Dec 8, 2018 at 1:37 PM
    #4
    Max Power

    Max Power Groovy Member

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    I don't think you can, either. My 16 Tacoma was the same way. Makes for a miserable drive on a cold morning when your windshield is frosted up and you're stuck behind a diesel.
     
    15whtrd likes this.
  5. Dec 8, 2018 at 1:46 PM
    #5
    Spitfire

    Spitfire New Member

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    Which defroster makes the side mirrors work? I'm being lazy and dont want to read manual
     
  6. Dec 8, 2018 at 1:50 PM
    #6
    easleycrawler

    easleycrawler TOYOTA ADDICT- SSEM #78

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    There is a little square button around the AC/heat controls, it's got wavy lines on it.
     
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  7. Dec 9, 2018 at 3:11 AM
    #7
    rsgt

    rsgt New Member

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    Having front defrost on engages the air. If you could have the the recycle on would have humid cabin air this would defeat the purpose of the front defrost. Don't think I got my point across but tried lol
     
    Durania, rodm1, fliberto38 and 3 others like this.
  8. Dec 9, 2018 at 4:51 AM
    #8
    Stumpjumper

    Stumpjumper New Member

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    With recirc on you would just fog up your windshield with humid cabin air. Never owned a vehicle that would allow recirc with defrost setting. In fact I don't think it would work on any setting except panel and ac on. I rarely use recirc
     
    14burrito, Black Wolf and classiccat like this.
  9. Dec 9, 2018 at 4:57 AM
    #9
    wigsplitter

    wigsplitter New Member

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    No cars defrost will work with recirc on. If recirc is on it will automatically shut off when defrost is selected. That is the way every car I have ever driven has worked. If I'm not mistaken, when recirc is on it actually draws air down through the defrost vents on dash to put back through the blower. When defrost is selected, it blows out those vents in the dash so it cant draw air down where it is supposed to blow out.
     
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  10. Dec 9, 2018 at 5:48 AM
    #10
    Black Wolf

    Black Wolf Bigfoot Hunter, Sasquatch too, but not Yeti

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    Yep^^^
     
  11. Dec 9, 2018 at 9:00 AM
    #11
    Racer839

    Racer839 [OP] New Member

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    Thanks for the replies. I understand why it's best not use recirculation but here in a really dry climate it isn't as big an issue to use it. I'll say it again, I have or have had several vehicles that will allow it. My wife's 2012 Honda CRV, my son's 2009 Honda Civic, my 2018 Ford F150 (sold for the Tundra), my 2017 Ford Mustang, my 2015 Ford Mustang, my 2009 Tacoma, etc. I just wasn't sure if there was a way to get the 2018 Tundra to do it and I was missing it.
     
  12. Dec 9, 2018 at 9:15 AM
    #12
    shlunky

    shlunky New Member

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    I have to agree, this drives me nuts as well.
    In fact, just an hour ago I was cussing the truck for almost the same thing.
    When you have the truck set to recirculate and a few minutes later it auto changes to fresh air, it chaps my cheeks. If I wanted fresh air on, I would turn it on. I would sooner ask that you let me sufficate than to try and dictate or do things for me.

    I hate having recirculated air on then it swapping over to fresh air automatically right about the time I pass a skunk on the road or driving behind a clunker/diesel.
    I don't want all of my minerals in one breath.

    My previous 3 cars would allow recirculated air on defrost, and now this 19 Tundra won't. It is irritating. The most frustrating part, is it is nothing more than a couple of simple variable changes in some code to allow it.
    I wish all manufacturers would understand giving people these simple little options would greatly increase customers overall opinion of their vehicles.
    This crap isn't hard to implement nor is hard to understand It is simply lazy/oblivious decision makers at work.

    Just my personal opinion ....
    Good day to you all!
     
    Trooper2 likes this.
  13. Dec 10, 2018 at 10:52 AM
    #13
    Stumpjumper

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    It is more than simply lazy/oblivious decision makers. In humid climates it is a safety concern. I suggest that if you don't like it then mod it so you can have it on any time.
     
  14. Dec 10, 2018 at 11:53 AM
    #14
    rsgt

    rsgt New Member

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    My Honda accord has it set where the air conditioning comes on automatically anytime you put on the climate control. If you put it on heat the air comes on ridiculous you have to manually shut off the air conditioning if you don’t want it on. Talk about a waste of energy and work on the air compressor for not needed
     
  15. Dec 10, 2018 at 12:06 PM
    #15
    easleycrawler

    easleycrawler TOYOTA ADDICT- SSEM #78

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    And the loss of MPG
     
  16. Dec 10, 2018 at 12:12 PM
    #16
    rsgt

    rsgt New Member

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    Yes waste of fuel. I always turn it off. But my wife never remembers and it’s her car so the air is always on summer and winter!
     
  17. Dec 11, 2018 at 6:48 AM
    #17
    marinakorp

    marinakorp New Member

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    which 3 previous cars allowed for that?
     
  18. Dec 11, 2018 at 7:05 AM
    #18
    ninjajay

    ninjajay Posting from the toilet

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    Change the mode to defrost plus air blowing in the footwell vents, it'll allow recirc

    I've never seen the defrost-only setting allow recirc in the 10+ years I've had yotas in the family
     
    15whtrd likes this.
  19. Dec 14, 2018 at 4:53 PM
    #19
    shlunky

    shlunky New Member

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    This is my first Toyota that hasn't allowed it.

    I also had a 2003 Saturn LS200. it wouldn't allow it and it drove me nuts. It was actually worse. If you had the fan off, no matter what the settings were, it would go to fresh air. It really sucked when you were on a long trip and you turned everything off, it would automatically go to fresh air at your feet. It would either be hot or cold. Nothing in between. Oh how I hated that!!

    lol
    §
     
  20. Dec 20, 2018 at 4:56 PM
    #20
    rodm1

    rodm1 New Member

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    A long shot but hold the recirculate button for like 10sec and see if it stays on.
     
    Last edited: Jan 23, 2019
  21. Dec 26, 2018 at 6:10 PM
    #21
    tnchrisc

    tnchrisc New Member

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    I can't remember if my FJ allowed me or not, but I do remember my 1995 Tacoma that I drove for 13 years allowed me to use the recirculated air for defrost. As long as I ran the AC simultaneously, I never had humidity issues from inside the cab.
     
  22. Dec 26, 2018 at 6:40 PM
    #22
    Kn4x2

    Kn4x2 Common sense is not so common!

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    Checked the manual on my 2010 and if you have the automatic climate control, it will switch from recirculated air to fresh air if you select the defogger. Does not say that this feature can be overridden
     
  23. Dec 27, 2018 at 7:30 AM
    #23
    LT75

    LT75 Seasoned Pro

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    I thought if you turn auto off and adjust how you want it stays like that.
     
  24. Jan 21, 2019 at 5:53 AM
    #24
    Mark843

    Mark843 New Member

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    I had issues driving into work today in 0*. The windshield would not fully defrost/get warm. I was fine when I started out, but getting some blowing snow off a truck in front of me and it would melt on the front of the windshield, then freeze when I went to use the wipers. This was with the hvac set to full heat, no AC, front defrost and blower turned all the way up. My commute is about 25 minutes, but even letting the truck warm up for 10 to 15 minutes before hand my truck was cold.

    My 2000 Camry would let me recirc the air on defrost if I turned on recirc after it was set to front defrost. After a while I would have to crack the side window as the car would get hot. I don't think this will happen in my Tundra.

    I'm pretty disappointed with some of these basic things with my Tundra. I would think a 2018 anything should have great hvac.
     

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