I also prefer to have outside air mixed in with my refrigerated air. It just smells fresher. I have not been able to switch the preference to air mix and my dealer is clueless.

 

Recirc is the only way to go in LA. I don't want to breathe in the exhaust of the hundreds of other cars next to me. I get enough of it outside of my car. I'm jealous of any streets with few cars but in any city, small or big, if you have a car in front of you why would you want so inhale their trails?

 

Out here, where no one wants to live, we don't have that problem. We have clean air and sunshine! Sometimes -30f, but clean and sunshine. :>)

And why do I want to keep re-breathing the air me and my passengers have expelled? I have a very old wife who expels volumes! I DID NOT JUST SAY THAT!

 

If you turn the right knob all the way to Cold....then recirculate is on all the time. But turn it to toward hot one click - you can then turn off recirculate.

 

All I have to do is press the recirculate button. It turns the light off and, I assume, the recirculation.

 

I think I saw something in the maual about for temps above 75 it automatically goes into the recirculation mode. So you will have to play around with it and see if it changes with cooler temps. It will eventually switch to outside by itself if the inside cabin is cool enough and again if the outside temp is below 75. There is nothing to stop you from switching it to outside air yourself though by pressing the button for it.

 

We really only need air conditioning for three months here. Otherwise, my left arm is out the window. The Highlander does prefer its windows are closed, however. I lose gas mileage (not much) with windows down at highway speeds. And the buffeting of the air around the cabin is real annoying if smooth airflow is not applied.

 

I know Toyota has supplied us with a cabin air filter. I have not seen it. Is it a paper filter like the engine air filter?

 

Yes, about 6" square and an inch thick. It's located behind the glove compartment

 

Yes, it appears that the recirculate mode is on all the time during airc conditioning and the only way to deactivate it is by pressing the recirculate button. I too prefer to have fresh air coming into the cabin. I used to drive a Sienna Limited with the auto HVAC and while the recirulate mode was activated when the car was first started, it turned itself off after a few minutes. It is frustrating to have to remember to turn this function off. I would have preferred that the default mode was "off" and the driver could activiate it as needed. Ahh..I miss the days of the mechanical recirculate lever!!!!!

 

how to keep turned on Outside Air Mode by default while engine starts up for every time?

 

Does the recirculated filter have charcoal in it? I have not pulled mine out yet.