A/C Recirculating System Problem 2008 FJ Cruiser

[melvintorres]

Hi!

The recirculating system of the A/C on my 2008 FJ Cruiser stopped working. Outside air is coming in and I can smell the fumes from other cars while on the road. The dealership changed the recirculating button panel and it is still doing the same thing. This is new and it did not happened before.

The Service Area said that although the recirculating button is on by law air from the outside still needs to come in. I find this hard to beleive as with all other cars I have owned, I have never had this probem. In fact, the loaner car they gave me did not have this problem.

Any thoughts as to how to approach this? Anyone has a link to literature on this I can show the Service area so it is easier on them?

Thanks!

[RoverGGM]

The recirculate function will reset back to fresh after a period of time. I believe it (this feature) can be overrridden by holding the button down for about 5 seconds. It will revert back to normal at startup next time, so the hold-down procedure will have to be repeated..

What air distribution knob position are you using? By that I mean you aren't trying to have the recirc on while the knob is in one of the defrost postiions are you?

The best piece of literature you can find about this is your owner's manual. Have you seen it lately?

Air Circulate / Fresh button turns itself off
air vent button turns off

Toyota FJ Cruiser Forum - Search Results

[SonicFJ]

Vehicles do have to allow outside air (make up air) to be mixed with interior air in the recirculation mode. This causes a positive pressure on the vehicle's interior keeping exhaust fumes from YOUR vehicle from entering the cabin.

Watch how closely you follow other vehicles (especially those older hoopties that are making your eyes water), and stay back more at stoplights and you will eliminate most of the problem.

[melvintorres]

Thanks!

Yes I did activate the recirculation system by pressing it 5 seconds and not when on defrost. It used to work just fine until a month ago. Now fumes are coming in and the dealer does not find anytihng wrong but there has been a change since a month ago when it broke and the service dealer changed the whole panel.

I am driving a new corolla loaner while they try to figure out the problem and the car I am driving does not have this problem.

Does someone know what mix of recirculating air vs. outside air is the FJ programmed for?

[SupraTuRD]

I'm wondering if one of the linkages/actuators that allows the recirculation flap is malfunctioning? Check the FSM to see if that's easily accessible without ripping the whole dash apart. Keep us posted.