Hi all,
Ready for a dopey question? It seems like sometimes the a/c goes on on settings other than a/c or a/c max. What are the settings that a/c goes on? Also, which settings circulate, and which draw in fresh air?
Thanks

 

Max recirculates and regular draws in fresh air.

I'll consult my manual in a moment to make 100% sure, but I believe that's how it is.

Here is an exact quote from my manual.

MAX A/C - Uses recirculated air to cool the vehicle. MAX A/C is noisier than A/C but more economical and will cool the inside of the vehicle faster. Airflow will be from the instrument panel registers. This m ode can also be used to prevent undesirable odors from entering the vehicle.

A/C - Uses outside air to cool the vehicle. It is quieter than MAS A/C but not as economical. Airflow will be from the instrument panel registers.

 

my a/c would blow out by the windsheild and it ended up being a broken vacuum line. not sure if thats what your talking about though.

 

Not a dopey question at all!
The ac will also come on in the defrogger setting. Some say this is to keep the pump from seizing from no usage during the winter.
I think it's to dry out the air to make easier work of frogs on the inside of the window. (LOL)
Hot dry air is best to defog....
Max AC will recirculate, it's the best setting when starting out, unless the inside is hotter than the outside.

 

In this area in the summer rains you need cold air to defrost,warm air will fog the windshield so bad you can't see

 

steve is right compressor kicks on in defrost mode to dehumidify air

 

You Florida boys don't fog up the windshield with your cold breath!

 

I believe the AC will cycle in every setting except vent, or off. That is my belief and experience.

 

The compressor will kick on in the obvious AC settings and defrost (including floor/defrost mix) as other's have said, but I believe it also kicks on in the floor/dash mixed setting. Basically the only settings that don't turn the compressor on are panel only and floor only.

Max AC is the only position that it will recirculate the cabin air. All others will draw in fresh air.

 

That's the first correct answer in this thread. But you do need to add that it also doesn't turn the compressor on when the system is set to OFF.

 

Which lessens our individual carbon footprint, thus saving our planet one (1) 7.3 PowerStroke Diesel (1999-2003), at a time.

 

................

 

Ok- thanks guys. I'm a bit of an efficiency freak, so I hate using the a/c unless I'll cook without it. I have vent-visors and a sliding rear window, so I've noticed that on the highway, if it's under like 85*, cracking the front windows and opening the rear half-way gets some really comfortable fresh-air flow anyway. But, I don't live in Arizona or anything, so I don't know the half of hot weather.

 

IMHO, Ford has a goofy climate control system. You should be able to have recirc or fresh air, compressor or not on any setting you want! My old Ranger & BroncoII were like that. That said, you can put in a manual switch to disable the compressor if you want, and by adding the "Cold A/C" kit from DieselSite.com, you can control the flow to the heater core manually as well. That way your vent is cooler (thus needing the A/C less), and if you want recirc air, but don't want it freezing you out when it's not THAT hot, you can have temperature control in Max A/C mode.

 

LOL. Thanks, Mark. I'll be sure to clarify about the Off position next time as well.

Surely there aren't those out there who think that the compressor would run with it in the Off positon....