Auto Climate Control. 3 mins to turn on

I recently noticed that when I’m in AUTO for climate control it takes three minutes to start up. Meaning it will be set to 75. 50 degrees outside and the fan will be at zero speed. Obviously colder than 75 so the fan should be running. After three minutes a relay clicks and the fan starts. At speed one. A minute or so later it goes up to 2. Another minute three. It takes about 10 minutes for the auto mode to actually start trying to attempt at changing the temperature.

 

It’s always been like that to me. if I press auto on a cold morning the fan is going to be at the lowest and directed towards the feet. After a few minutes, when the air coming out is actually warmer, the fan will get higher and eventually be directed to the face

 

The fan is at 0 for three minutes with nothing be blown out at the feet? Is it waiting for the heating elements to warm up before it blows air over them or something?

 

I’m assuming this is being noted as an issue when the engine temp is indicated as being warm and not cold?

 

Cold start after sitting for hours or overnight.

 

This is a feature not a bug. It's so you're not blasted with cold air while the engine is heating up to provide warm air to the cabin via the auto climate system.

 

Yep, my 2014 Ford Exploder does the same when set to auto.

I never thought it was a timed thing but rather the system monitoring engine/coolant temps and engaging the heater when the source is able to minimally emit heat. It makes sense to not blast cold air throughout the cabin before trying to warm it.

 

There are no heating elements. Coolant flows through the heater core, which is why it can't provide any heat until the engine warms up.

 

That's how my 2000 Audi worked (only starts blowing after it has some warm air to blow), so I'm guessing that's what yours is doing.

 

Mine does it as well. What I don't like about it is, if I get into very cold car(winter) all the windows fog up really fast as there is 0 air movement.