[Northern Bu]

OK, I've been going over the new car and the manual.

For the air delivery mode control, why are there 13 individual positions but only five air control modes listed? I've set it to each setting and it seems as though most of the modes have a low, medium or high setting. Isn't the fan control suppose to change the level of output?

On my old car, I had five modes and five positions and it was easy to change without looking.

TIA.

 

[JasonZ34]

I don't think I understand what your saying. Is there a problem?

Turn the control knob to where/how you want the air to blow, turn the other knob till it blows as hard as you want.

 

[Northern Bu]

That's what I'm wondering about?

I turn the control knob to where/how I want the air to blow, for example defog. When I do, there are three different settings that I can set on the control knob for defog. I haven't even touched the other knob yet.

 

[Richard]

That's what I'm wondering about?

I turn the control knob to where/how I want the air to blow, for example defog. When I do, there are three different settings that I can set on the control knob for defog. I haven't even touched the other knob yet.

I don't know what you mean by 3 different settings for defog. You set the control to defog, then there are 4 fan speeds to control the amount of air you want it to blow out. There are actually 2 different types of windshield defrost / defogs. One will only blow air out of the windshield outlet, the other will blow air out of the windshield outlet and the floor outlet.

The knob that controls the air delivery mode has a little picture of where the air will blow out (Instrument Panel Ducts, Heater Duct on the Floor, Windshield, and combinations of both). Then, there's a fan knob with 4 levels of blower intensity. Then there are separate buttons that turn the air conditioner compressor off and on, recirculate the air, etc.

It's a very simple system to use. I think you're making it more complicated than it is.

 

[Silver LTZ]

it's a very simple system to use. I think you're making it more complicated than it is.

+100000000.

 

[Starship]

There are actually detente positions on the knob between the major ones with icons, like for more vent and less floor, etc. Northern Bu isn't imagining things. [Unless I'm ruining a joke?]

 

[Northern Bu]

Here, I made a video. It's not the greatest quality but it shows what I'm talking about. I'm basically stopping the knob at every position and you can hear the fan output change.

 

[DrivenDaily]

Here, I made a video. It's not the greatest quality but it shows what I'm talking about. I'm basically stopping the knob at every position and you can hear the fan output change.

You're not making too much of it, or imagining things! I have the same system.

There are 5 major modes identified. 3 of them (vent, floor, defog) push all the air to the selected mode. When the fan is on 3 or 4 it is pushing all that air through smallish openings. The other two major modes are a 50/50 split (vent/floor, floor/defog) and allow the air to exit through two paths, making it sound less loud since it the pressure is reduced.

The detents (detentes?) in between each major mode just give you a little more/less splitting.

Notice a couple of programmed peculiarities, too. When you put it in defog or floor/defog, or the two notches in between, the system will automatically switch from Recirc to Fresh air. If you move it back to any setting outside of those the Recirc selection is not restored.

Also, selecting any of those 4 settings (above) it automatically turns on the AC but does not turn on the AC indicator. This is a choice GM programmed into these types of systems years ago.

I'd like to see a very simple setup kinda like this:
A. One selector for each: Windshield, Floor, Vent (Face); with the ability to set each one independently to either Off, 1/2, Full.
B. One selector for Fresh or Recirc, with light for Recirc.
C. One selector for AC On/Off with indicator light.
D. Fan speed control.
E. Temperature control.

Refer to the design of the radio's volume control with a push button in the middle and volume on the rim for this: The Fresh/Recirc could be in the center of the Fan control, and AC On/Off could be in the center of the Temperature control. (Reduces complexity of layout.)

I imagine it could be laid out with round knob, 3 sliders, round knob
O | | | O

That layout would be symmetrical, very functional, and simple to understand what is on or not. (Currently you have to guess what's on and what's not.) And you would be able to set the air to go anywhere. It's a throw-back to the days of Graphic Equalizers, but it works for me. (Not everyone would appreciate the new design, but not everyone appreciates the current one - me for instance!)

 

[Northern Bu]

Thank you Starship and DrivenDaily!

It would be nice to possibly have these settings or detents on the steering wheel also, maybe be a toggle that switches between stereo and climate control. It's kind of annoying having to look over to make sure you are on the setting you want. It's going to be a fun beginning to winter trying to figure out what the optimal setting should be for getting rid of fogged up windows.

I also found that the 2011 model doesn't have the garage door opener option anymore.

 

[JasonZ34]

It's kind of annoying having to look over to make sure you are on the setting you want.

That is one thing I do like about the automatic system.

I also found that the 2011 model doesn't have the garage door opener option anymore.

Yeah, that's super weak.

 

[DrivenDaily]

Thank you Starship and DrivenDaily!

It would be nice to possibly have these settings or detents on the steering wheel also, maybe be a toggle that switches between stereo and climate control. It's kind of annoying having to look over to make sure you are on the setting you want. It's going to be a fun beginning to winter trying to figure out what the optimal setting should be for getting rid of fogged up windows.

I also found that the 2011 model doesn't have the garage door opener option anymore.

My pleasure.

I would not want heater controls on the steering wheel. I don't fiddle with them enough to warrant that.

Once you learn what knob does what you'll be much more adept (adepter? ) at making your selections.

If you need to get rid of a lot of fog as quickly as possible, turn the mode knob full right to full Defog and adjust heat as desired. Once cleared move it to one of the 3 settings below it to divert a little air to your feet. In the summer around here, with its high humidity, we get dew to settle on the outside and fog to form on the inside when it's 70 freakin' degrees outside! (Never, never had that in California or Oregon. Ever!) Once I get the fog cleared on those mornings with no heat being added, if I turn the mode to anything that doesn't keep AC air blowing on the windshield it'll fog up again. But also, if I don't add heat, the cold air on the inside will start to cause condensation on the OUTside and I'll need to run the wipers. So I add a little heat to keep that off the outside and to keep me from getting too warmed up on a very muggy morning. (If you've never experienced dew at 70 degrees you'll probably find this hard to believe.)

I have the 3-button garage thing but no garage. Hmmm, that gives me an idea: garage opener; front door - ........