So, the Chevy truck I got rid of in order to get the HHR had the same characteristic:

the fan WITHOUT the AC running is about as cold as the AC.

Is this typical?

 

Will depend on what setting you have it on. If it's set to the floor/defrost mix or full defrost, it will be cool air because the a/c compressor is engaged in these modes. If it's on panel, then no, it should be the same temp as the outside air or the interior air (if set on recirculate).

 

My HHR has the same characteristics as the OP's. I rarely have it set to anything other than the upper vents and the temp of the air doesn't differ wheter the light is on on the fan or not.

 

it's set on the upper setting, the coldest temp setting and recirrculate no defrost. It's very weird because my silverado did the exact same thing, the AC is off, just the fan, but it's super cold.

 

If by "upper" you're referring to the defrost vents, then the a/c compressor is on regardless of whether the AC button is pushed/lit or not. I think I read somewhere that the a/c compressor comes on when the system is set to recirculate, but I can't be sure.

 

Sorry ... reread your last post and see that you say "no defrost." It may be the recirc setting. I know mine stays on outside air, panel vents, and the air is not cool unless the a/c is turned on (speaking for the weather as it is now, in the 80s-90s).

 

Sorry, yeah I meant the upper vents. On the outside air it's definitely warmer and does not blow as hard, but once I put it on recirrculate, it's nice and chilly.

i've always wondered if it was really using the AC regardless if the AC light was on or not.

 

Found it! The a/c comes on in the recirc mode!
https://www.chevyhhr.net/forums/show...ght=compressor

 

good find, i was just going to look for that.

but yeah, regardless if you have the AC turned on manually, if you have recirculate on, the AC pumps comes on on it's own. SO that would explain your "phenomenon"

 

LOL
Cool, thanks for providing me that link.
Weird that Gm set it up that way.