I noticed a couple of times this summer that my A/C button got hot - yes, hot - more than warm (not from sitting in the sun, either)- and reported it to the dealer when I took it in for its first oil-change. The service guy said he'd note it but had never heard such a thing. Though I haven't run the A/C since, as the weather turned cool, I had occasion to switch from outside air to recirculate the other day, to keep nasty exhaust from the vehicle in front of us from filling the car, and a little while later, when I went to switch back, noted that the A/C button, which sits directly above that lever's position, was warmer than it should be... not hot this time, but noticeably warm, and not even on. Anybody got a clue what's up??

Thanks for any input!
annie

 

the eletrical parts behind it heat it up?

 

I noticed this same thing but by putting my hand on the temperature selector knob. Let me know if you find anything.

 

That's what I'm thinking, but don't see why they would be involved in just the vent switch-over. I wonder what exactly is under there, and if there might be a short or something.

Did yours get hot, or just warm?

 

Yep, I too have noticed the temperature knob gets a bit warmer than I expected. I don't think it's a big deal folks..

 

Mine got hot. It wasn't just warm but when I put my hand on it I was like woah. I was curious if something was not right either.

 

Yeah, a switch or knob getting warm usually just indicates that something electrical is getting a bit warmer than it should, but having the switch or knob actually get HOT indicates it's getting a LOT warmer than it should, and it makes me nervous.

 

your AC tubes run just behind the dash in that area. do you have the heat on at the time?

 

It gets hot because the indicator bulb behind it is incandescent, thus heating up the entire knob.

The dealer had to replace my entire switch a while back because it kept flickering on and off while the A/C was running. Every time the light flickered, it would activate/deactivate my compressor clutch. The replacement switch corrected the flicker issue, but it behaves exactly like the original in terms of how hot it gets. Short of replacing the indicator bulb behind it with and LED, there is no "fix".