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Ford Freestyle climate control

32 messages,  Last post on Aug 17, 2012 at 9:00 PM

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What is this discussion about? Ford Freestyle, Heating / Cooling, SUV

Messages Page 1 of 4

#1 of 32 A/c in auto climate by merv692

Apr 07, 2006 (5:35 pm)

I have the 2006 Freestyle Limited AWD. With the auto climate system the a/c light will light above the external temp. This happens when it is cold out as well. If I hit the a/c button it will go out. Why is this on if it is cold outside? What function does it serve when it is on if ac is not needed?
Thanks,
Don.

#2 of 32 Re: A/c in auto climate [merv692] by tidester

Apr 07, 2006 (10:30 pm)

Replying to: merv692 (Apr 07, 2006 5:35 pm)
I recommend asking your question in Ford Freestyle or where other owners are more likely to see it.
 
tidester, host

#3 of 32 Re: A/c in auto climate [merv692] by barnstormer64

Apr 08, 2006 (8:21 am)

Replying to: merv692 (Apr 07, 2006 5:35 pm)
The A/C comes on (even in heating mode), as long as the outside temperature is above 32F.
 
You can, of course, elect to turn off the A/C manually after setting the auto-climate mode. You'll have to do this each time you start the car, though.

#4 of 32 Re: A/c in auto climate [merv692] by vicenac

Apr 10, 2006 (11:13 am)

Replying to: merv692 (Apr 07, 2006 5:35 pm)
The manual recommends keeping the air on to prevent moisture building up in the cabin.
The AC not only cools the air but also retains a lot of moisture and provides breathing air through the dash vents. The heat comes through the lower pipes.
The compressor will actually disengage if the CFC temperature reaches a certain low (not sure exactly how low).
In the beginning it bothered me too, but I noticed the air becomes more breathable (less stuffy) if I let it do it's own thing. You will notice that the dash vents put out a low quantity of cold air.

#5 of 32 Re: A/c in auto climate [merv692] by rick2456

Apr 11, 2006 (10:19 am)

Replying to: merv692 (Apr 07, 2006 5:35 pm)
The so called upgraded climate control (standard on the limited) is a piece of crap. To me, trying to get the unit to put out what you want is a major safety hazard as your attention is detracted from the road when trying to adjust it. This is the one thing I absolutely hate about the car. Just give me the standard temp/fan/ac controls instead of having to fiddle with inside/outside tempertures, etc to get the unit to put out what you want. If I had to do it over again, I would have waited until one was available with the same options, minus the climate control which is a $650 option. Stupid, stupid, stupid.

#6 of 32 Re: A/c in auto climate [rick2456] by stevedebi

Apr 11, 2006 (12:24 pm)

Replying to: rick2456 (Apr 11, 2006 10:19 am)
"If I had to do it over again, I would have waited until one was available with the same options, minus the climate control which is a $650 option. Stupid, stupid, stupid."
 
The $640 option is the Aux climate control, which is the one used for the rear passengers (my kids love it). Automatic dual-zone climate control on the front panel is standard on the Limited and SEL.
 
If you don't like it, why not just use the manual controls? Select where you want the air to come out, what fan setting you want, and how hot you want, then let it rip! If you want it to work like a fully manual system, you can set the unit such that the driver's side temperature sets both driver and passenger temp, over-riding the dual climate controls.
 
I often keep mine in vent (air out of the upper vents) with low fan... but I leave the dual controls on, as my wife likes a hotter vehicle than I do.
 
You do not have to use the automatic controls.

#7 of 32 Re: A/c in auto climate [rick2456] by mmccloskey

Apr 11, 2006 (4:31 pm)

Replying to: rick2456 (Apr 11, 2006 10:19 am)
Exactly as STEVEDEBI states:
 
Both my 2005 Freestyle Limited and other vehicle have auto climate controls. I don't like the auto mode so I use it in the manual sense; I set the temp, fan speed and recirculate/vent as I see fit when running the AC or heat. Works fine for me and I only adjust the temp as conditions warrant. Having the REAR/auxiliary climate controls helps to cool or heat the rear area of the Freestyle much quicker than just the front vents.
 
Making initial climate control settings before getting underway will certainly allow ones attention to remain on driving in a safe and prudent manner. Temp adjustments while driving can be made with very little distraction while in motion.
 
Driving comfortably and safely is the only way to travel!
 
Regards -
 
M. J. McCloskey - 2005 AWD Limited

#8 of 32 Re: A/c in auto climate [mmccloskey] by nibyak

Apr 12, 2006 (5:37 am)

Replying to: mmccloskey (Apr 11, 2006 4:31 pm)
I only have an SE but it came with dual front and rear control auto climate system. I agree a bit with everyone above. I Love the split zone front controls. I have an 85-mile commute (one way) with my wife and we always used to fight over the temperature setting. We have the rear controls also but I can't comment on how that works. For the most part I leave the rear set to off. I like the auto setting much more now that I'm in air conditioner season than I did in the winter. I always like cool air blowing in my face when I'm driving, even when it's 10 degrees outside. In the winter I use the manual control with the vent/floor setting because if you use auto, it blows the air on my feet. If I set the temp to 60 it blows air right around outside temperature (often a bit too cold). If I set it for 65 it blows screaming hot air at me while it's trying to get the interior temp up to 65 (too hot). There is no setting between 60 and 65 so I usually just go with the freezing cold. Like I said, I like it cool. Now that it's warmer I tend to use the auto setting more because it blows the cool air where I want it (in my face). The car also seems to cool down relatively quickly. I park outside during the day and usually start it with the remote starter (free if you bought the Freestyle it in Jan 06) and the car is usually on its way to being comfortable by the time I have all of my stuff loaded in the back. I do think that the manual control buttons are a bit on the small side and just about down on the floor. In my old Focus and Ranger, the manual knob allows me to set the temp it just right all of the time. I just have to wait for my wife to fall asleep before I can set it cool enough.

#9 of 32 climate control by bobw3

Apr 14, 2006 (5:43 am)

The only change on the climate control is that I wish I could have the outside vents open without the fan being on...just to let the outside air drift in without any fan. I wonder why they can't put a speed zero on the fan. When you turn the climate control system to OFF, all of the vents close up.

#10 of 32 Re: A/c in auto climate [stevedebi] by rick2456

Apr 17, 2006 (6:25 am)

Replying to: stevedebi (Apr 11, 2006 12:24 pm)
Thanks, I do use the manual controls. My primary complaint is getting the unit to put out hot or cold air by setting the temperture. At one setting the unit puts out cold air, but adjust it one degree, it puts out hot air. That is what I was complaining about. The temperature of the output air is dependent on the degree setting and the outside temperature, etc. I would much prefer a manual setting for air output temperature, not a degree setting as this is a car, not a house.

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