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Ford F-Series Climate Control

84 messages,  Last post on Oct 11, 2012 at 11:10 AM

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What is this discussion about? Ford F-150, Ford F-350, Ford F-250, Heating / Cooling, Truck

Messages Page 9 of 9

#75 of 84 Re: 2001 Ford F-150XLT heater doesn't work properly [obie100] by stevef250

Nov 24, 2011 (9:47 am)

Replying to: obie100 (Nov 08, 2010 8:51 pm)
I have the same exact problem as #68.. its gettin cold out and I need my heat! Heat for only 30 seconds just don't cut it..blend door if fine, so is radiator, accuator,heater core, blower motor... what the heck???? What is wrong with my truck??

#76 of 84 02 F-150 AC Climate Heater Control light by jonn58

Mar 10, 2012 (10:28 pm)

my climate control lights wont work but ever thing else does

#77 of 84 A/C Odor..FYI by wwest

Oct 11, 2012 (10:43 am)

[quote name= timestamp='1349462036' post='5070'] Not this odor. It's more like a ether smell [/quote]
 
For many years, more than 20, manufacturers have been experimenting with various methods for retarding or even eliminating the growth of the microbe colonies that result in the mould and mildew odor emanating for automotive A/C systems.
 
Some Lexus models currently incorporate a UV light source inside the A/C plenum. Another approach seems to be to lightly coat the evaporator cooling vanes with a fungicide. This latter seems to encounter 2 problems, the fungicide washes away within just a few weeks, or it is found that the fungicide chosen is adverse to human health.
 
It turned out that the evaporator in our new '92 LS400 was first coated with a thin porous nylon film and then dipped in the chosen fungicide to fill those pores. The problem came to be that once the fungicide (shortly) washed out of those pores the evaporator became a huge SPONGE for holding condensate until the exacting conditions arose for sudden, FULL, and virtually INSTANT evaporation.
 
BLAM!
 
The (cool/COLD) interior of the windshield suddenly fogs over to the point that all forward vision is lost. THEN you discover that Lexus relies SOLELY on the A/C for airflow dehumidification and interior windshield defogging in defrost/defog/demist mode...BUT...the A/C is automatically disabled (with NO indication to the driver of same) when the OAT declines to/below freezing.
 
Even were the A/C still enabled it's functionality for airflow dehumidification is significantly degraded as the OAT declines closer and closer to ~33F. Lexus at first admitted, full disclosure of this, but then subsequently discovered that no MSDS had been filed with the proper US agencies and began denying that a coating was/had been used.
 
Since ~'94 my LS400, and now my '01 RX300, and '01 Porsche C4 are all modified such that I can easily and indefinitely disable, FULLY disable, the A/C during the periods wherein it's only use would be for airflow dehumidification. The climate control in my '92 LS400 has an internal DIY electronic control modification that will automatically turn the HEAT to maximum the instant I switch into defrost/defog/demist mode, the blower speed rises to maximum accordingly. In my RX300 I always remember to quickly twist the temperature setpoint knob fully clockwise just prior to switching the system into defrost/defog/demist airflow routing mode. Luckily Porsche has not yet adopted the NipponDenso, Denso US, climate control design IDIOCY so it still automatically goes into HEATING mode whenever the windshield defogging function is activated.
 
During the period between purchasing the new '92 LS400 and coming up with the DIY modification, ~94, I alleviated the propensity for the sudden fogging of the windshield, and to a lesser extent the odor problem, via religiously lowering the windows slightly in the garage each and every night.
 
So, why is this important to you, an F150 owner...
 
ALL Asian models use, have always used, the horribly flawed NipponDenso climate control operation model, and with the establishment of Denso US (via merger/acquisition?) many US models are now subject to this problem.
 
 How to tell...??!!
 
Allow your automatic climate control to fully stabilize at your temperature setpoint comfort level. At this point many [most?] of "these" systems will automatically switch into cooling mode, face and upper body airflow routing. Once the system has stabilized then switch the system to defrost/defog/demist airflow routing, if you then do not get a significant level of HEATED airflow then your system is most likely modeled after the IDIOT Denso US design.
 
In about 2005 I stumbled across the fact that Lexus was secretly addressing the problems, my '01 RX300 had dealer set options that would allow me to turn off the A/C function indefinitely by simply turning it off manually one time. The system would then not activate the A/C compressor clutch, not even in defrost/defog/demist mode, until I switched it on, enabled it, again.
 
RX models newer than my '01 have additional dealer set options that could be used to prevent the automatic switch into cooling mode on the darkest, blackest COLD wintertime night. Plus 1 or 2 other options, differing actions with defrost/defog/demist mode with the OAT below 33F, for instance.
 
So here we are well into 2012 and it may well be that many other models, US especially, have adopted a few of these dealer set options in order to alleviate some of the IDIOCY of the NipponDenso, Denso US, design. Probably worth checking, DRILLING DOWN, with your factory rep about this matter.
 
Why drilling down..?
 
Even to this day Lexus does not allow dealers to willing/openly disclose the existence of these highly desirable A/C operational modification capabilities.

#78 of 84 Re: A/C Control Issue [supercrewzer] by wwest

Oct 11, 2012 (10:48 am)

Replying to: supercrewzer (Apr 07, 2010 2:54 pm)
These days manufacturers are relying so heavily for the A/C cabin dehumidification (Alleviates/prevents inadvertent windshield fogging on a coolish/COLD day) that the only way to prevent the A/C from operating is to open the compressor clutch circuit.
 
The Lexus line now have a few C-BEST options that pertain to this, maybe Ford...

#79 of 84 Re: F-150 Climate controls [jflowers35] by wwest

Oct 11, 2012 (10:51 am)

Replying to: jflowers35 (Jul 21, 2010 4:03 pm)
Sounds as if you have vapor lock, air bubble, in the one of the hoses to/from the heater core.

#80 of 84 Re: 1989 F350 AC [aharvell94] by wwest

Oct 11, 2012 (10:53 am)

Replying to: aharvell94 (Jul 24, 2010 6:34 pm)
Overcharging R134a will often have that result. R134a operates at higher pressure than your original refrigerant so lower charge is used. 24 ounces vs 32....typical ratio.

#81 of 84 Re: 2001 Ford F-150XLT heater doesn't work properly [obie100] by wwest

Oct 11, 2012 (11:02 am)

Replying to: obie100 (Nov 08, 2010 8:51 pm)
SOP.
 
Almost all modern day automotive climate control systems will automatically switch into "comfort mode" (should be referred to as "less discomfort mode" IMMHO). Once your cabin temperature setpoint is reached, or closely nearby, these new system will switch airflow routing to the dash, face and upper body, and provide somewhat coolish/DRY (A/C dehumification) airflow, only warm enough to "just" sustain the cabin at/near your temperature setpoint.
 
Manually turning off the A/C during the non-cooling months will always help. With some systems you may have to disconnect the electrical connection to the A/C compressor clutch to accomplish an A/C function shutoff.

#82 of 84 Re: 2003 F150 CLIMATE CONTROL MODULE [gmj0311] by wwest

Oct 11, 2012 (11:06 am)

Replying to: gmj0311 (Mar 15, 2011 9:19 pm)
Some previous owner may have installed an Airsept(.com) EED, Ford dealers were for a time, maybe still, doing this if the owner complained LOUD enough about A/C odors or/and instances of inadvertent sudden windshield fogging.

#83 of 84 Re: F150 climate control problem [wilski] by wwest

Oct 11, 2012 (11:08 am)

Replying to: wilski (Jun 18, 2011 4:23 pm)
Heater hose vapor lock...

#84 of 84 Re: Can't control interior temp [alaskaford] by wwest

Oct 11, 2012 (11:10 am)

Replying to: alaskaford (Oct 30, 2011 11:23 am)
"..air conditioning isn't used.."
 
Wanna bet...?
 
Unless you find a way to disable it then it will run 24/7 unless the OAT is near or below 32F.

Messages Page 9 of 9

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