Heater is terrible
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Logistics Pro
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 4,411
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From: Central KY
Heater is terrible
Ok so this morning it finally got cold here. Around 10F degrees outside. Had a light coat of frost on the truck…just enough to make it hard to see out the windshield. I had the defrost on, fan speed set to high, temp. control set to high. After 20 minutes of driving it still wasn’t getting hot in the truck. I had made a clear spot on the windshield so I could see to drive but the rest of it never cleared. Took the cabin of the truck forever to warm up at all. The fan doesn’t seem to blow very hard on the highest setting on this truck. Air doesn’t get very hot either. What’s the issue here? Is this normal for these trucks? You’d think that on a truck that’s commonly used in fleets and for work crews that they’d have designed these things with awesome heaters. Dang it’s gonna’ freeze me to death this winter. 
Post Fiend
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 14,541
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From: Dallas-Ft. Worth
Multiple issues here, it seems to me. Cold outlet temps can be a blend door issue (somewhat common, from what I hear), or a stuck open thermostat, or a plugged heater core. Do you have visibility of the ACTUAL coolant temp? Gauge in the dash isn't really much help, unless it stays low.
The fan speed thing is usually related to the resistor block. Usually, it's in the fan housing under the hood, but I never looked for it on this truck.
The fan speed thing is usually related to the resistor block. Usually, it's in the fan housing under the hood, but I never looked for it on this truck.
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Logistics Pro
Joined: Sep 2002
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From: Central KY
I don't have remote start. And, it's not that it's blowing cold air...it just doesn't get nearly as hot as my previous trucks. Fan speeds all work fine...up and down...but the highest setting doesn't blow nearly as hard as previous trucks. It just seems odd to me. It shouldn't take a half hour to clear the windshield of frost.
I found a thread on another site that talked about the A/C system being grossly undersized for these trucks and very inefficient. I wonder if that has anything to do with the heat issue also?
I thought maybe the cabin filter was plugged up, but these trucks apparently don't use a filter.
I found a thread on another site that talked about the A/C system being grossly undersized for these trucks and very inefficient. I wonder if that has anything to do with the heat issue also?
I thought maybe the cabin filter was plugged up, but these trucks apparently don't use a filter.
Post Fiend
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 14,541
Likes: 2
From: Dallas-Ft. Worth
No filter on these. I live in North Texas, and it gets well into the 100s here. I have NO problems with the AC cooling off quickly. And I have an SCT X4 connected used as gauges, so I can see my coolant temp rise pretty quickly. I would say that within a mile of leaving my house, it's up to the 'stat temp, even when fairly cold (it was about 30 F here this morning). And it definitely blows hot enough air. Between that & the seat heaters, I'm pretty comfortable in a few mins. I would check your coolant temp and have the blend door looked at if I were in your shoes.
Official Ford Rep
Joined: Oct 2010
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Ok so this morning it finally got cold here. Around 10F degrees outside. Had a light coat of frost on the truck…just enough to make it hard to see out the windshield. I had the defrost on, fan speed set to high, temp. control set to high. After 20 minutes of driving it still wasn’t getting hot in the truck. I had made a clear spot on the windshield so I could see to drive but the rest of it never cleared. Took the cabin of the truck forever to warm up at all. The fan doesn’t seem to blow very hard on the highest setting on this truck. Air doesn’t get very hot either. What’s the issue here? Is this normal for these trucks? You’d think that on a truck that’s commonly used in fleets and for work crews that they’d have designed these things with awesome heaters. Dang it’s gonna’ freeze me to death this winter.
I'd recommend making an appointment for diagnosis at your dealership; they'll make sure you're warm and toasty inside your truck. How many miles are on the truck currently?
Crystal
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Logistics Pro
Joined: Sep 2002
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From: Central KY
No filter on these. I live in North Texas, and it gets well into the 100s here. I have NO problems with the AC cooling off quickly. And I have an SCT X4 connected used as gauges, so I can see my coolant temp rise pretty quickly. I would say that within a mile of leaving my house, it's up to the 'stat temp, even when fairly cold (it was about 30 F here this morning). And it definitely blows hot enough air. Between that & the seat heaters, I'm pretty comfortable in a few mins. I would check your coolant temp and have the blend door looked at if I were in your shoes.
I'm at 96,500 miles. From doing a Google search, it seems that HVAC issues and blend door failures are rampant on these trucks. Perhaps I'll have it checked out and get the coolant system flushed at my local dealership and see if that helps.
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Crystal
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Joined: Jan 2015
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From: Louisville, KY
FWIW, in temps like this morning (11 degrees) my truck does take a while (10 min or so of driving to even begin to make heat) to warm up (if I don't start it up and let it warm up in the driveway). I try not to turn the heat on until I see the needle moving up a bit on the temp gauge. However, once the engine is up to operating temp, the heater is super hot!
I don't have remote start either; but I'm going to get it installed. For now, I start the truck and lock it with the extra key to warm it up. Not ideal, but it's better than freezing my tookis off on the way to work. I only work 2.8 miles from home; on a day like today, my truck will never warm up in 2.8 miles.
I don't have remote start either; but I'm going to get it installed. For now, I start the truck and lock it with the extra key to warm it up. Not ideal, but it's better than freezing my tookis off on the way to work. I only work 2.8 miles from home; on a day like today, my truck will never warm up in 2.8 miles.
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Joined: Aug 2003
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From: Isanti, MN
The HVAC in my '13 functioned very similar to my '15, and they both do an excellent job. It was -18° F here this morning and I had to turn the heat down after about fifteen minutes. I aim my dash vents to blow hot air onto my hands while driving, and once warmed up it's too hot for my hand to stay in front of the vent.
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Joined: Jan 2008
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From: Maine, Virginia
The blend door actuators do seem to be an issue. Mine was just replaced at 57K but, if it fails, it won't do it quietly. It'll make a very loud popping noise like plastic hitting plastic , which is essentially what is happening. And if it fails, you will have no control over which direction the air is flowing. The way it failed is where the air goes.
My '04 Expedition heats up like no one's business, my 2011 truck is a little slower to get hot in the winter and to get cold in the summer. But, when it does heat up like it should or cool down like it should, it performs flawlessly. It's just a little slower than my previous Fords.
My '04 Expedition heats up like no one's business, my 2011 truck is a little slower to get hot in the winter and to get cold in the summer. But, when it does heat up like it should or cool down like it should, it performs flawlessly. It's just a little slower than my previous Fords.
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Logistics Pro
Joined: Sep 2002
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From: Central KY
Well my vents blow air out properly depending on setting. Feet, face, defrost, it always blows from where it's supposed to. No odd noises with the doors cycling either. It's just that the air doesn't come out fast enough on high...at least not what I would expect judging by previous trucks. And it doesn't get as hot as I'd expect. It gives me the feeling of a WEAK system, not a malfunctioning system.
But like I said...I'll have the coolant flushed and see how it goes. It's due to have the cooling system serviced anyway according to the owners manual.
But like I said...I'll have the coolant flushed and see how it goes. It's due to have the cooling system serviced anyway according to the owners manual.