You could try pressing and holding the top right defrost button until it shows a light that says "(something) OFF". I forget what the acronym is, but it helps me keep the recirc off in the summer when the car starts pouring hot air randomly. Might, help.

 

If your sunroof is open, why have the air system on? Isn't that the point of a sunroof?

The purpose of recirc is to prevent outside air from coming into the car, and eases the strain on an air conditioning system in hot summer months. My guess is the system is smart enough that it essentially says "sunroof open, no need to recirculate air with plenty of fresh air coming in."

While I live in Michigan, I generally use outside air when the car is hot for the first few minutes it takes to cool the air ducts and air inside the vehicle down. Once that air is cooled, I turn to recirc to reduce the strain on the system. In my experience, the air coming out in recirc is much cooler than when it has to fight against hot outside air coming in. I haven't experienced hot air coming out on recirc at all in our Sorento.

I guess to me it seems counter intuitive to use recirc when the sunroof is open, you're essentially just recirculating outside air.

Hopefully someone has an answer that helps you out!

 

Thanks for the reply. C-Trink but no luck.


@WifesSorento I have no intentions of having the recirc system run, I simply want the vents closed while the sun roof is open. To your point, I want to prevent outside air from coming in the vehicle through the vents.

The sun roof provides cool air while I drive, if the vents are open, hot air fills the car. As far as strain on the system... the Air/AC is not on. I simply want the vents closed (recirc) while I drive with the sun roof open.

On the older cars you simply slid the lever to close the vents to prevent outside air from coming in

 

Aren't sunroofs designed to suck air out? You need to make up that air from somewhere. That's how all HVAC systems operate.

 

No Glen. Per the World Wide Web... A sunroof is a panel on the roof of a car that either slides back or can be taken out to allow light, air or both to come into a vehicle, according to USNews.com.