[james]

"...Autostop will not engage with the HVAC up and running no matter the setting..."

That's not my experience. With heat at about 65, and fan on its lowest setting (my normal daytime settings), I see autostop quite often. The warmer it is outside, the more likely I am to see it, so maybe it only happens when inside temp is above the setting.

 

[james]

" I am sure when it warms up here in the Chicagoland area, it will work as advertised..."

I would expect so. We're usually a good bit warmer here, with sunshine most days, so cabin temps might easily be above the set level, where in your climate it would have to work a lot harder to keep the inside warm.