# A/C & heat recirculate

**URL:** <https://community.cartalk.com/t/a-c-heat-recirculate/53128>\
**Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\
**Tags:** hyundai, elantra\
**Created:** [August 7, 2010, 5:58pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/a-c-heat-recirculate/53128 "2010-08-07T17:58:41Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 5\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![johnmcqueen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/2acd7d/32.png) [@johnmcqueen](https://community.cartalk.com/u/johnmcqueen)\
**Post date:** [August 7, 2010, 5:58pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/a-c-heat-recirculate/53128/1 "2010-08-07T17:58:41Z")

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Is there any pratical way to change the default setting on my 2002 Elantra from “outside air” to “recirculate?”

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**Author:** ![missileman](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/missileman/32/1366_2.png) [@missileman](https://community.cartalk.com/u/missileman)\
**Post date:** [August 7, 2010, 7:48pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/a-c-heat-recirculate/53128/2 "2010-08-07T19:48:55Z")

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Why do you want the AC to recirculate? If your vehicle is not equipped with the “recirculate” feature then I don’t see a “practical” way to change the AC system. The vehicle was engineered with an AC system that only allows outside air when operating. I think it’s healthier to run the outside air rather than recirculating the inside air anyway.

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**Author:** ![tardis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/f0a364/32.png) [@tardis](https://community.cartalk.com/u/tardis)\
**Post date:** [August 7, 2010, 7:58pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/a-c-heat-recirculate/53128/3 "2010-08-07T19:58:35Z")

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The OP’s car has a recirculate feature. The OP is complaining that they have to press the recirculate button each time they start the car, because it resets to the fresh air setting.

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**Author:** ![mcparadise](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/mcparadise/32/32_2.png) [@mcparadise](https://community.cartalk.com/u/mcparadise)\
**Post date:** [August 7, 2010, 8:42pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/a-c-heat-recirculate/53128/4 "2010-08-07T20:42:12Z")

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If the owner’s manual doesn’t tell you how to change the default, then you can’t change it.

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**Author:** ![missileman](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/missileman/32/1366_2.png) [@missileman](https://community.cartalk.com/u/missileman)\
**Post date:** [August 7, 2010, 8:44pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/a-c-heat-recirculate/53128/5 "2010-08-07T20:44:29Z")

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Thanks for the insight. The fresh air mode is best anyway. That’s why the engineers designed it that way.