2006 SUBARU FORESTER air condition

4
Climate control
Ventilator .............................................................\
4-2
Air flow selection .................................................... 4-2
Center and side ventilators .................................... 4-3
Manual climate control system (if equipped) .. 4-3
Control panel .......................................................... 4-3
Heater operation ..................................................... 4-5
Air conditioner operation ....................................... 4-7
Automatic climate control system (if equipped) .................................................... 4-8
Control panel .......................................................... 4-8
To use as full-automatic climate control
system ................................................................... 4-8
To use as semi-automatic climate control
system ................................................................... 4-8
Fan speed control dial ........................................... 4-9
Temperature control dial ........................................ 4-9
Air flow control dial ................................................ 4-9
Air inlet selection button ........................................ 4-10
Air conditioner button ............................................ 4-10
Temperature sensors ............................................. 4-11
Operating tips for heater and air conditioner .. 4-11
Cleaning ventilation grille ...................................... 4-11
Efficient cooling after parking in direct
sunlight ................................................................. 4-11
Lubrication oil circulation in the refrigerant circuit .................................................................... 4-12
Checking air conditioning system before summer season .................................................... 4-12
Cooling and dehumidifying in high humidity and
low temperature weather conditions .................. 4-12 Air conditioner compressor shut-off when
engine is heavily loaded ...................................... 4-12
Refrigerant for your climate control system ........ 4-12
Air filtration system (if equipped) ..................... 4-12
Replacing an air filter ............................................. 4-13
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Climate control
4-3
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„Center and side ventilatorsT Center ventilators
Move the tab up and down or right and left
to adjust the flow direction. T
Side ventilators
1) Open
2) Close
3) Thumb-wheelMove the tab up and down or right and left
to adjust the flow direction.
To open or close the ventilator, turn the
thumb-wheel up or down.
Manual climate control sys-tem (if equipped)„Control panel1) Temperature control dial
2) Fan speed control dial
3) Air flow control dial
4) Rear window defogger button (Refer to
the “Rear window defogger button” in
chapter 3.)
5) Air conditioner button
6) Air inlet selection buttonT Temperature control dial
This dial regulates the temperature of air
flow from the air outlets over a range from
the blue side (cool) to red side (warm).
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4-4
Climate control
TFan speed control dial
The fan operates only when the ignition
switch is turned to the “ON” position. The
fan speed control dial is used to select four
fan speeds.
T Air flow control dial
This dial has the following five positions:
: Air flows through the instrument panel
outlets.
: Air flows through the instrument panel
outlets and the foot outlets.
: Air flows through the foot outlets and
some through the windshield defroster
outlets.
: Air flows through the windshield de-
froster outlets and foot outlets.
: Air flows through the windshield de-
froster outlets.NOTEWhen the dial is placed in the “ ”
or “ ” position, the air conditioner
compressor operates automatically re-
gardless of the position of the air con-
ditioner button to defog the windshield
quickly. However the indicator on the
air conditioner button will not come on. At the same time, the air inlet selection
is automatically set to “outside air”
mode.
In this state, you cannot select “recir-
culation” mode by manually pressing
the air inlet selection button.
Also, you cannot stop the air condi-
tioner compressor by pressing the air
conditioner button.
T
Air conditioner button
The air conditioner operates only when
the engine is running.
Push the air conditioner button while the
fan is in operation to turn on the air condi-
tioner. The indicator light will come on.
Push it again to turn off the air conditioner. T
Air inlet selection button
ON position (Recirculation): Interior air
is recirculated inside the vehicle. Push the
air inlet selection button to the ON posi-
tion. The indicator light will come on.
Place the air inlet selection button to the
ON position for fast cooling with the air
conditioner or when driving on a dusty
road.
OFF position (Outside air): Outside air is
drawn into the passenger compartment.
Push the air inlet selection button again to
the OFF position. The indicator light will
go off.
Place the air inlet selection button to the
OFF position when the interior has cooled
to a comfortable temperature and the road
is no longer dusty.
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Climate control
4-5
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„Heater operationT Defrosting or defogging the wind-
shield
To direct warm air to the windshield and
front door windows:
1. Set the air flow control dial to the
“ ” position.
2. Turn the temperature control dial all the way to the right.
3. Set the fan speed control dial to the
highest speed.
If your vehicle is equipped with an air con-
ditioner, when the “ ” or “ ” posi-
tion is selected, the air conditioner com-
pressor automatically operates regardless
of the position of the air conditioner button
to defog the windshield quickly.
However, the air conditioner indicator light
does not come on at this time.
NOTEWarm air also comes out from the right
and left air outlets. To stop warm air
flow from these outlets, turn the corre-
sponding thumb-wheel down.
T
Heating and defrosting To direct warm air toward the floor and the
windshield:
1. Set the air flow control dial to the “ ”
position.
2. Set the temperature control dial to the
most comfortable level.
3. Set the fan speed control dial to the de-
sired speed.
If your vehicle is equipped with an air con-
ditioner, when the “ ” or “ ” posi-
tion is selected, the air conditioner com-
pressor automatically operates regardless
of the position of the air conditioner button
to defog the windshield quickly.
However, the air conditioner indicator light
does not come on at this time.
NOTEWarm air also comes out from the right
and left air outlets. To stop warm air
flow from these outlets, turn the corre-
sponding thumb-wheel down.
Continued operation with the air in-
let selection button in the ON posi-
tion may fog up the windows.
Switch to the OFF position as soon
as the outside dusty condition
clears.
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Climate control
4-7
„Air conditioner operationT Cooling or dehumidifying1) ON positionFor cooling and dehumidification of the
passenger compartment, performing the
following steps will allow air to flow
through the instrument panel outlets:
1. Set the air inlet selection button to the OFF position.
2. Set the air flow control dial to the “ ”
position.
3. Set the air conditioner button to the
“ON” position.
4. Set the temperature control dial to the
blue side.
5. Set the fan speed control dial at the
highest speed.
T
Defrosting or defogging
To direct warm air to the windshield and
front door windows:
1. Set the air flow control dial to the
“ ” position.
2. Set the temperature control dial to the
red side.
3. Set the fan speed control dial at the
highest speed. The air conditioner compressor automati-
cally operates when the air flow control
dial set in the “ ” or “ ” position to
provide better defogging performance.
However, the air conditioner indicator light
does not come on at this time.Continued operation with the air in-
let selection button in the ON posi-
tion may fog up the windows.
Switch to the OFF position as soon
as the outside dusty condition
clears.
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4-8
Climate control
Automatic climate control system (if equipped)Although this climate control system can
be used as a full-automatic climate control
system, it can also, if desired, be used as
a semi-automatic climate control system.
When it is used as a full-automatic climate
control system, the outlet air temperature,
fan speed, air flow distribution, air inlet
control, and air conditioner compressor
operation are all automatically controlled
to maintain a constant, comfortable tem-
perature inside the vehicle.NOTEyOperate the automatic climate con-
trol system when the engine is run-
ning.
y When the engine coolant is cold, the
blower does not run.
y In the “AUTO” mode, when the air
temperature in the passenger compart-
ment is sufficiently cool, the air condi-
tioner compressor does not operate.
For efficient defogging or dehumidify-
ing in cold weather, press the “A/C”
button to operate the air conditioner
compressor.
y Even when cooling is not necessary,
setting the temperature much lower
than the current outlet air temperature turns on the air conditioner compres-
sor automatically and the “A/C” indica-
tor light on the control panel comes on.
„
Control panel1) Temperature control dial
2) Fan speed control dial
3) Air flow control dial
4) Rear window defogger button (Refer to
the “Rear window defogger button” in
chapter 3.)
5) Air inlet selection button
6) Air conditioner button„ To use as full-automatic cli-
mate control systemPlace the temperature control dial in the
position for your desired temperature, then set the other dials and buttons as de-
scribed in the following. The system’s
functions will then switch to AUTO mode
and be controlled automatically.
y
Air flow control dial: AUTO position
y Fan speed control dial: AUTO position
y Air inlet selection button: Press for at
least 1 second. (Indicator will flash twice.)
y Air conditioner button: Press for at least
1 second. (Indicator will flash twice.)
„ To use as semi-automatic cli-
mate control systemEach function can be individually set to
AUTO mode independently of the others.
Any function set to AUTO mode is con-
trolled automatically. Any function not set
to AUTO mode can be manually adjusted
as desired.
The temperature can be set within a range
of 65 to 85 °F (20 to 30 °C).
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4-10
Climate control
defroster outlets): Windshield defroster outlets and foot
outlets
: Windshield defroster outletsNOTEWhen the dial is placed in the “ ”
or “ ” position, the air conditioner
compressor operates automatically to
defog the windshield quickly. At the
same time, the air inlet selection is au-
tomatically set to “outside air” mode.„Air inlet selection buttonON position (Recirculation): Interior air
is recirculated inside the vehicle. Push the
air inlet selection button to the ON position
for fast cooling with the air conditioner or when driving on a dusty road. The indica-
tor light will come on.
OFF position (Outside Air):
Outside air
is drawn into the passenger compartment.
Push the air inlet selection button to the
OFF position when the interior has cooled
to a comfortable temperature and the road
is no longer dusty. The indicator light will
go off.
AUTO: When the air inlet selection button
is pressed for at least 1 second, the indi-
cator flashes twice. The air inlet control is
then adjusted automatically in accordance
with the air temperature inside and out-
side the passenger compartment, the in-
tensity of sunlight, and other factors.
Pressing the air inlet selection button can-
cels the “AUTO” mode. SUBARU recom-
mends using the AUTO position.
„ Air conditioner buttonThe button’s positions and their functions
are as follows:
ON: The air conditioner operates while the
fan is running.
Push the button to select this position. The
indicator light will come on.
OFF: The air conditioner does not oper-
ate.
Push the button again to select this posi-
tion. The indicator light will go off.
AUTO: When the button is pressed for at
least 1 second, the indicator flashes twice.
The air conditioner compressor operation
is then adjusted automatically in accor-
dance with the air temperature inside and
outside the passenger compartment, the
intensity of sunlight, and other factors.
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Continued operation in the ON posi-
tion may fog up the windows.
Switch to the OFF position as soon
as the outside dusty condition
clears.
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Climate control
4-11
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Pressing the button cancels the “AUTO”
mode. SUBARU recommends using the
AUTO position.NOTEThe air conditioner’s compressor does
not operate with an outside tempera-
ture of 32°F (0 °C) or lower.„ Temperature sensors1) Interior air temperature sensor
2) Solar sensorThe automatic climate control system em-
ploys several sensors. These sensors are
delicate. If they are not treated properly
and become damaged, the system may
not be able to control the interior tempera-
ture correctly. To avoid damaging the sen- sors, observe the following precautions:
– Do not subject the sensors to impact.
– Keep water away from the sensors.
– Do not cover the sensors.
The sensors are located as follows:
– Solar sensor: beside the windshield de-
froster grille.
– Interior air temperature sensor: near the
ignition switch.
– Outside temperature sensor: behind the
front grille.
Operating tips for heater and air conditioner„
Cleaning ventilation grilleAlways keep the front ventilation inlet
grille free of snow, leaves, or other ob-
structions to ensure efficient heating and
defrosting. Since the condenser is located
in front of the radiator, this area should be
kept clean because cooling performance
is impaired by any accumulation of insects
and leaves on the condenser.„Efficient cooling after parking
in direct sunlightAfter parking in direct sunlight, drive with
the windows open for a few minutes to al-
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