Our frustrations with the Honda's jerky Autostop feature have been well documented in this blog, however my irritation with the system is a different one. While most have complained about the roughness in which the Honda's V6 starts and stops and with the abrupt slow speed throttle response that can make parking a bit stressful, my problem with Autostop is that the air conditioning backs off when the V6 shuts down. On an 80+ degree day I find this to be a problem.
But I have found a solution...
If you pull the Honda's shifter back into the 2nd gear position it disables Autostop. Sure the car now starts in 2nd gear. And sure it's now getting essentially the same mileage as any other V6 Accord, defeating the social and environmental benefits of the Hybrid drivetrain. But atleast I'm not sweating.
Inside Line Executive Editor Scott Oldham, 20,158 miles
rsholland says:
12:18 PM, 08/15/06
Interesting... Do other hybrids operate the same way? When the engine shuts down, the A/C also backs off?
eriches says:
12:54 PM, 08/15/06
That definitely happens in the Escape Hybrid, unless you leave it on Max A/C, in which case the gas engine never shuts off.
joepublic says:
02:00 PM, 08/15/06
The AC in my Prius doesn't back off when the engine is off, but if you're running it at full blast in a traffic jam, you'll start draining the battery. The car will automatically start the engine to charge the battery once it falls below a certain level.
ahightower says:
07:10 PM, 08/15/06
It can't handle 80 degrees?... The damn thing would probably blow up here in Dallas.
jerrywimer says:
12:32 PM, 08/16/06
The Prius sounds like it operates the way I'd expect (and want) a hybrid to work- keep the A/C at the level you set it at, even if it results in the battery draining and the gas engine coming back on eventually. By doing it this way you stay cool, and if the stops are short enough the battery still gets charged back up in time to avoid the gas engine running when it wouldn't normally.
snickers1 says:
07:59 PM, 08/19/06
IF HE TURNED THE SEAT HEATER DOWN, OR EVEN OFF IF HE USED HIS HEAD, MABEY HE WOULDN'T BE SO HOT IN 80 DEGREE +++ WEATHER (check it out in the picture, his seat heater is on high). While the a/c may shut partially off with the engine off (which only makes sense as part of it's power source is disconnected) (in the Civic, the a/c is partially controlled by the gas engine, and partially by the electric motor, when one's off, the other is on) I'm sure he wouldn't have a problem keeping cool if he used COMMON SENSE and turned off the heater. What is it with STUPID PEOPLE these days?......
snickers1 says:
08:01 PM, 08/19/06
How does a guy like this come to be an "Executive Editor" if he can't shut the seat heater off?
dderosa says:
11:49 PM, 08/19/06
I love to drive with the seat heaters and the A/C on at the same time.
banditone says:
11:43 AM, 08/21/06
The seat heater is not on, I promise. The flash from the camera just made it look like the indicator light is lit. Notice that the switch is not pushed and sits level just like the passenger's seat heater switch, which is clearly in the off position.
xoquixxoqafxo says:
04:20 PM, 07/21/08
THE PRIUS A/C DOES NOT SHUT OFF WHEN THE GAS ENGINE SHUTS DOWN B/C IT HAS AN ELECTRIC AC COMPRESSOR WHILE THE OTHER HYBRIDS HAVE A BELT DRIVEN SYSTEM. THEREFORE, THE THE GAS ENGINE SHUTS OFF IT IS NO LONGER RUNNING THE COMPRESSOR THEREFORE SHUTTING THE AC DOWN. BOTH THE CAMRY HYBRID AND PRUIS AND LEXUS HYBRIDS GET AROUND THAT PROBLEM BY HAVING AN ELECTRIC AC COMPRESSOR.