In response to the thread: http://www.subaruforester.org/vbulletin/f77/air-conditioning-always-2010-forester-82090/, I have made this guide to show how to disable the feature that turns the air conditioner on, and fresh air vents when you turn the control knob to either of the window defrost settings.
This should work for a 2009+ Forester.
Once disabled, you can always manually enable the A/C and outside vent to accelerate defrosting. I live in Texas, so I need this feature about three out of the year.
---------------------------------------------------
1: Remove the glovebox.
-Open the glovebox
-Remove contents
-Remove the small damper arm at the right
-Pry in the top edges until the stops allow you to open the box fully
-The box will simply pull away after that.
---------------------------------------------------
2: Remove the small side panel at the far right of the dash.
-This is done by simply prying it away, or pushing from the back once you have the glove box removed.
---------------------------------------------------
3: Remove the gauge surround.
-This just pulls away
---------------------------------------------------
4: Disconnect the Vent control cable.
-This is located to the left of the A/C controls, behind the steering column.
-Take care NOT to bend the wire past the yellow plastic as it will make changing the vent position difficult.
-There is a small tab holding the loop onto the white plastic arm
-There is a spring tab holding the yellow plastic cable surround in place.
---------------------------------------------------
5: Remove the temperature control cable.
-This is located on the right hand side of the A/C control,s behind the glovebox.
---------------------------------------------------
6: Carefully Remove the silver trim.
-Remove the single screw at the far right
-Starting from the right carefully pull the plastic away from the dash, there are many snaps to deal with on this piece.
-I also removed the radio trim so I didn't scratch it.
---------------------------------------------------
7: Disconnect the A/C control wires.
---------------------------------------------------
8: Turn the A/C controls over and look at the back/bottom
-Here's your problem. A small control arm that presses on a button when you turn the knob to the to defrost.
---------------------------------------------------
9: Remove the small control arm.
-Simply push the two small tabs together and lift.
---------------------------------------------------
10: Flip the control arm over, and re-attach.
-This way you don't loose it if you ever want to reverse this modification.
-Then put everything back together the way you found it.
This should work for a 2009+ Forester.
Once disabled, you can always manually enable the A/C and outside vent to accelerate defrosting. I live in Texas, so I need this feature about three out of the year.
---------------------------------------------------
1: Remove the glovebox.
-Open the glovebox
-Remove contents
-Remove the small damper arm at the right
-Pry in the top edges until the stops allow you to open the box fully
-The box will simply pull away after that.
---------------------------------------------------
2: Remove the small side panel at the far right of the dash.
-This is done by simply prying it away, or pushing from the back once you have the glove box removed.
---------------------------------------------------
3: Remove the gauge surround.
-This just pulls away
---------------------------------------------------
4: Disconnect the Vent control cable.
-This is located to the left of the A/C controls, behind the steering column.
-Take care NOT to bend the wire past the yellow plastic as it will make changing the vent position difficult.
-There is a small tab holding the loop onto the white plastic arm
-There is a spring tab holding the yellow plastic cable surround in place.
---------------------------------------------------
5: Remove the temperature control cable.
-This is located on the right hand side of the A/C control,s behind the glovebox.
---------------------------------------------------
6: Carefully Remove the silver trim.
-Remove the single screw at the far right
-Starting from the right carefully pull the plastic away from the dash, there are many snaps to deal with on this piece.
-I also removed the radio trim so I didn't scratch it.
---------------------------------------------------
7: Disconnect the A/C control wires.
---------------------------------------------------
8: Turn the A/C controls over and look at the back/bottom
-Here's your problem. A small control arm that presses on a button when you turn the knob to the to defrost.
---------------------------------------------------
9: Remove the small control arm.
-Simply push the two small tabs together and lift.
---------------------------------------------------
10: Flip the control arm over, and re-attach.
-This way you don't loose it if you ever want to reverse this modification.
-Then put everything back together the way you found it.