Air Distribution and Filtering

Air Distribution and Filtering

Air Distribution

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) and can be selected in any mode except DEFROST. Vehicles equipped with dual-zone Electronic Automatic Temperature Control (EATC) use recirculated air only 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 to blend outside air and recirculated air if required for increased cooling performance as determined by the HVAC module.

Air distribution within the vehicle is determined by the airflow mode selected, or by the dual-zone EATC system in the AUTO mode. The air distribution mode on vehicles equipped with dual-zone 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 the airflow mode doors and air inlet mode door.

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 following outlets:

- Instrument panel registers
- Floor duct outlets
- Windshield defroster
- Side window demisters
- Rear footwell duct
- Center console registers

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

Cabin Air Filter

A cabin air filter is available for this vehicle as a dealer installed accessory. The accessory cabin air filter will be located in the air inlet under the RH side of the cowl panel grille, if installed.