I've noticed that even with ZERO green bars lit up on the AC/heat unit. I can still feel warm or cool air coming out of the vents depending on what the temperature dial is set to. There is no "off" setting, to my knowledge, other than having zero green bars lit up. Is something wrong with my AC system or is this normal or is there a switch/setting I don't know about? Thanks!

 

Its normal. It pisses me off sometimes but oh well.

 

It's normal. If you want to prevent the flow of air from coming in the vents, then push the recirculate button and turn the fan off.

 

Thanks guys.

 

My observations: It's the ram-effect of the airflow over the car pushing through the system. Hot air is provided by (usually, not sure on this car) routing some coolant from the engine into a radiator of sorts in the cabin air system. It then heads off to the main radiator. Thus you can still get heating with even ram flow. My friend who has an old 300Z had a heating coil leak for the climate control, and whenever he'd take a corner, some coolant fluid would leak all over your feet if you were in the passenger side

Cooling is merely the ambient outside air temperature, plus whatever cooling effect you get from air blowing over you. My experience is that the A/C is only on when the A/C light is on, thus with no bars on the fan indicator, I've never seen the AC on.

Ludedude nailed it, IMO. Recirculation cuts off the supply of air from the outside of the car, thus no more ram effect.

I, personally, like this design, because you can get some airflow from the outside with absolutely no drain on the electrical and motor system (thus you get max power available to beat that punk next to you <G>).

 

It is actually required by US law that all cars have flow-through ventilation by default. This is to prevent unsuspecting idiots from suffocating themselves when the windows are closed and there is a leak in the exhaust system into the passenger cabin. Note that such leaks into the passenger compartment was not uncommon with cars in the '50/'60s (especially in the rust-belt regions of the country), and so the law was written that all cars must have flow-through ventilation to keep the air moving.