How does the heater and air-conditioning system interact with the Auto Idle Stop feature?
When the heater or A/C is working in Normal mode, it disables the Auto Idle Stop feature. When the they are working in ECON (Economy) mode, the Auto Idle Stop feature can temporarily shut off the heater fan or air-conditioner at the same time it turns off the engine during a stop. According to the Owner’s Manual, the outside temperature must be at least 41 F (5C) for the Auto Idle Stop feature to recognize the ECON mode and shut off the heater. It mentions the same temperature threshold for shutting off the A/C in ECON mode, but I haven’t used the A/C much this winter and cannot confirm that number. It seems that no one would be using their A/C at temperatures below 41 F (5C), so the ECON mode would always work. I’m now in the habit of shutting off the heater before coming to a stop at a stoplight to enjoy the silence (and gas savings, of course) of the Auto Idle Stop feature.
