Curious to know how many people do this...

[pbnj22]

The reason they recommend not turning it to "off" or "recirc" is that these positions don't allow the evaporator to dry out, eventually giving you a moldy stale smell when running the ac and/or fogged windows on first start up on cool mornings. I'm not fussy so wherever it's left is how it stays.

I do, however, have issues when careless drivers in the household leave the wipers on before shutting the vehicle off. If it freezes or snows, first start in the morning is usually accompanied by four-letter epithets.

Bill

haha i used to work at a car dealership and as a prank we used to leave the wipers on if we KNEW a sales guy or another worker was going to be getting in next. and of course if it was going to snow! and hopefully they started the car BEFORE they shut the door!!

 

[Dave98XLT]

The manual says:

Under normal conditions, your vehicle’s climate control system should be
left in any position other than MAX A/C or OFF when the vehicle is
parked. This allows the vehicle to ‘‘breathe’’ through the outside air inlet
duct.

I think this means PARKED while Idling, as the engine vacuum controls the recirc flap in the passenger kick panel.

In Max or Off the the flap will close.

In the other vent control positions the flap will open from engine vacuum with the engine running. Fresh air will be sucked in by the blower in to the vent system.