2023 Climate Control Defugalty

[Solaryellow]

Apologizes right off the bat as I have seen this topic before, but many boards do not like reopening old topics.

I'm puzzled when it comes to using the heat in my truck and I have only felt this way for a good two or three weeks. Right off the bat, I don't use the auto feature. I keep the blower on one and possibly two and the right dial (with temp indicator) set to 70 degrees and the flow right in the middle so you feel it on your hands. After I remotely start the vehicle and let it run for a bit, I get in and the blower is definitely higher than when I set it at one. The cab is comfortable and upon inserting the key and turning it, the blower drops down to the first light. After driving for a while things get weird. It seems as if I have really hot heat or cool heat and nothing in between. 67-75 degrees feels not even warm but not cold. Once I get to 76 or more you really feel heat. This is a 10k mile vehicle and the oil looks great and the coolant is right in the middle of min/max when up to temp. Am I reading into things almost compulsively or does this sound normal for this vehicle?

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[oysterville]

I don't think that defugalty is covered under warranty.

 

[Milwrdfan]

If there's the traditional blend door which actually controls the flow of cabin air across the heater core, I wonder if that's not moving smoothly, and isn't adjusting properly?

It might be worth using a thermometer to actually measure the temperature and see if there is a huge difference between temperature settings on the dash and what's coming out, after things equalize?

 

[Glen Baker LLC]

John "Solaryellow",​

I wonder what would happen, if you used the auto feature and just set it to 70°

 

[MakinDoForNow]

I wonder what would happen, if you used the auto feature and just set it to 70°

It would switch back and forth heat/cool as needed to maintain 70°. Cool on at 70+? And heat on at 70-?.

 

[Solaryellow]

I may try the auto setting for the heck of it.

Clearly, we know what is supposed to happen when the controls are set to auto but what if you don't go that route. Let's say you forgo the auto setting and set the temp at 71 degrees with the blower on two, what exactly is happening? Is the air exiting the vents supposed to be 71 or close to it OR is that number the temp you want in the cabin?

 

[RideSolo]

I can't answer the question about what's happening as you described, but I will tell you that I've had a few vehicles over the years with an automatic HVAC system and as a rule I hated them. I think the earliest was a '99 Buick and it was completely useless. Up through the years they got better but in my opinion were only OK at best. The '20 Escape Titanium and '24 Maverick Lariat have been nothing short of fantastic. For us it's been "set it and forget it" although on a longer trip, after 30-35 miles, we need to lower the temp from 70 to 68. Your results may vary, but I highly recommend giving it a thorough try.

 

[RatherB.Fishin]

I just keep it on auto and use LO or HI until I'm no longer freezing or burning up then turn it to 70, +/- 2 degrees until I find the sweet spot

 

[commadorebob]

I almost never touch it. I keep it on 69 with Auto on 1. If very cold or hot, I will set auto to 3 until it gets comfortable and then move it back down to 1.

 

[Solaryellow]

Good answers so far. Thanks.

 

[CD_SM]

I can't answer the question about what's happening as you described, but I will tell you that I've had a few vehicles over the years with an automatic HVAC system and as a rule I hated them. I think the earliest was a '99 Buick and it was completely useless. Up through the years they got better but in my opinion were only OK at best. The '20 Escape Titanium and '24 Maverick Lariat have been nothing short of fantastic. For us it's been "set it and forget it" although on a longer trip, after 30-35 miles, we need to lower the temp from 70 to 68. Your results may vary, but I highly recommend giving it a thorough try.

Here in San Diego I rarely need the heat, and only occasionally the cool. (On the few desert-hot days the auto works well.)
But most of the time what I want is just ventilation: no fan, just a little fresh outside temp air in through the vents. On my other cars that was always possible, but if it is on the Mav I haven't figured it out.

 

[Glen Baker LLC]

It would switch back and forth heat/cool as needed to maintain 70°. Cool on at 70+? And heat on at 70-?.

Again a rhetorical question.
I was asking the op his opinion.
I use automatic all the time at 72°

 

[Solaryellow]

Again a rhetorical question.
I was asking the op his opinion.
I use automatic all the time at 72°

Good question. Now I don't normally use AUTO at all but when I clicked it today, the car was comfortable, but the air just seemed not warm enough for the temp. 70 degrees should be warm, right, and much more noticeable than say 65 degrees, yes?

Edit: Thanks Glenn. I did see 72 in the owner's manual but it still seems as if I have to get close to 80 before you feel a difference. Most people would not blink an eye, but it annoys me.

 

[Glen Baker LLC]

Good question. Now I don't normally use AUTO at all but when I clicked it today, the car was comfortable, but the air just seemed not warm enough for the temp. 70 degrees should be warm, right?

70° not for me.
Try 72°
My will be a little different because it a hybrid.
Say it's cool outside and it's in the 50s. You have your thermostat set to 72°. It's a cloudless day and the sun is out. The interior of the truck warms up. On automatic it will turn on the AC you may have to turn that off and let it use cool outside air. The Mavericks automatic climate control shines in the summertime here where it can be 112° regularly.
I never touch the thermostat and it does a great job of cooling down the interior and adjusting the fan speed.

 

[Tbone289]

Here in San Diego I rarely need the heat, and only occasionally the cool. (On the few desert-hot days the auto works well.)
But most of the time what I want is just ventilation: no fan, just a little fresh outside temp air in through the vents. On my other cars that was always possible, but if it is on the Mav I haven't figured it out.

Unfortunately you don't really have full control over this. However, if you don't use auto, and only push the button that shows the arrow pointing at the figure's face, that will set the fan to blow through the dash vents. Then, you set the temperature knob close to the temperature inside the cabin, and set the fan at whatever level you want. This will ensure that you won't be directing air through the heater core for heat, and the compressor won't be running for A/C. This will basically be "vent", but the fan even on the lowest setting does turn slowly. From that point, you can slowly adjust the temperature and you can tell when you're getting heated or cooled air when you go to far.

This works at least for the EB. I know the hybrid systems can work a bit differently, so this is my disclaimer that it may not work for you.

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