Turn Off Climate Control Via FordPass App?

[HeyBales]

Mine smashed the hood with a remote start. Maybe they "upgraded" the 25's?

I've tested it in the 24XLT - due to others saying in prior years it did what I said.

Remote start via Fordpass - perhaps remote start with fob is different.
Fordpass remote turns on truck to one level, but not a driving or change stuff level.

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[Gaidheal]

I've got the telematics/spyware disabled so I can only remote start via the fob.

 

[BlackMav23]

Mine smashed the hood with a remote start. Maybe they "upgraded" the 25's?

Mine were both forgetting about it and getting in and pushing start (or turning the key in the case of my 23 xlt). Easy to forget and makes you feel stupid immediately.

 

[BlackMav23]

Nope, I do too. I wait till 3 bars on temp gauge.

I'm definitely ignorant in this regard, but it seems to me that cranking the heat immediately while the engine is ice cold (its a solid 10 Fahrenheit here today) would put undue strain on the vehicle while producing little to no heat in the cabin. Perhaps this doesn't impact the engine much but was always my assumption.

Mind you, I use remote start nearly every time I get in the vehicle. But in nearly every case it's literally right before I depart. I don't like to leave a vehicle idling but I figure even modern cars could benefit from ten to thirty seconds to get things moving before I throw it in drive and take off.

Now in this context... IT'S DAMN COLD OUT! So what I'd prefer to do is start the engine several minutes before my departure with the heat off and let the engine warm up and then turn the heat on and give it a few minutes before I enter the vehicle.

I remember on older vehicles on really cold days if I were to idle at a light before the engine was fully heated cold air would come out and I swear I could watch the temperature gauge fall until I started moving again with substantial RPMs.

 

[HeyBales]

I'm definitely ignorant in this regard, but it seems to me that cranking the heat immediately while the engine is ice cold (its a solid 10 Fahrenheit here today) would put undue strain on the vehicle while producing little to no heat in the cabin. Perhaps this doesn't impact the engine much but was always my assumption.

Mind you, I use remote start nearly every time I get in the vehicle. But in nearly every case it's literally right before I depart. I don't like to leave a vehicle idling but I figure even modern cars could benefit from ten to thirty seconds to get things moving before I throw it in drive and take off.

Now in this context... IT'S DAMN COLD OUT! So what I'd prefer to do is start the engine several minutes before my departure with the heat off and let the engine warm up and then turn the heat on and give it a few minutes before I enter the vehicle.

I remember on older vehicles on really cold days if I were to idle at a light before the engine was fully heated cold air would come out and I swear I could watch the temperature gauge fall until I started moving again with substantial RPMs.

Either my Rav4 heater core circuit, or prior Ford - while the engine thermostat was closed initially coolant routing was still to the heater core - so if that ended up robbing some heat the thermo would just be closed a tad longer. But considering that was bottom of engine, and that heater core circuit was top, really no effect, perhaps on when it was fully open.
If you got moving and air cooled the engine enough - still closed a tad longer.

So whether you had the fan to get that heat on or off didn't matter - the coolant is routing through the heater core - no undue strain.
But ya, no benefit to the humans until later. 20 F air still didn't feel better than the 10 F it actually was.

 

[Carlitos_92]

I'm definitely ignorant in this regard, but it seems to me that cranking the heat immediately while the engine is ice cold (its a solid 10 Fahrenheit here today) would put undue strain on the vehicle while producing little to no heat in the cabin. Perhaps this doesn't impact the engine much but was always my assumption.

Mind you, I use remote start nearly every time I get in the vehicle. But in nearly every case it's literally right before I depart. I don't like to leave a vehicle idling but I figure even modern cars could benefit from ten to thirty seconds to get things moving before I throw it in drive and take off.

Now in this context... IT'S DAMN COLD OUT! So what I'd prefer to do is start the engine several minutes before my departure with the heat off and let the engine warm up and then turn the heat on and give it a few minutes before I enter the vehicle.

I remember on older vehicles on really cold days if I were to idle at a light before the engine was fully heated cold air would come out and I swear I could watch the temperature gauge fall until I started moving again with substantial RPMs.

I know it's a hard sell given the way the Maverick owner group tilts, but if you use the "AUTO" setting, the fan doesn't ramp up during heating until there is warmth in the system. I've had other vehicle brands that did this better, but even my MY23 does a decent job of not blowing snow at my feet.

 

[BlackMav23]

I know it's a hard sell given the way the Maverick owner group tilts, but if you use the "AUTO" setting, the fan doesn't ramp up during heating until there is warmth in the system. I've had other vehicle brands that did this better, but even my MY23 does a decent job of not blowing snow at my feet.

I ALWAYS use auto and cannot fathom why everyone doesn't if you have that option. Why shouldn't the thermostat in the car work more like that in our homes?

I find myself constantly arguing with people in my life with the way they set the thermostats in their cars. It's usually women, though I'm making no inferences about sex. Perhaps more the women I surround myself with... but that's hardly a discussion for here. Anyway they are constantly turning up and down the temp (often to ridiculous levels) rather than just setting a comfortable ambient temp and letting the system control when it ramps up or down. Like... turning the heat to 85 isn't going to make the cold car feel comfortable any faster, but it is going to run full blast until it reaches that level and by that point I'm suffering serious hangover symptoms.

 

[HeyBales]

I think some of that is based on misunderstanding too - which I've seen plenty of guys have too.
Thinking the higher you set it the faster it'll go. Instead of realizing it's only an on/off switch basically.

Well - until more 2-stage units started getting installed, but I'm talking way before that, and still with people that have no idea if they have 2-stage even available, and they don't.

 

[BlackMav23]

So back to my initial problem here...

Are y'all implying I should just set it to my preferred ambient temperature and be patient... and that in having the heat come on immediately while the vehicle is ice cold it won't in fact actually take longer to heat the cabin to a comfortable level?

Or... And I haven't tried this but it makes sense in my head... Set the vehicle to turn climate control off (as opposed to last setting) when remote starting (in theory I can just get back in and hit auto and it will remember my previous settings) and, on those really cold days only, then turn it on via the app after a few minutes when the vehicle has warmed up somewhat?

 

[BlackMav23]

I think some of that is based on misunderstanding too - which I've seen plenty of guys have too.
Thinking the higher you set it the faster it'll go. Instead of realizing it's only an on/off switch basically.

Well - until more 2-stage units started getting installed, but I'm talking way before that, and still with people that have no idea if they have 2-stage even available, and they don't.

Also I don't feel like asking AI so maybe you can tell me... Why can't I select the vents the air comes out of when I set my climate control to auto?

I've observed this on every vehicle of mine, not just Fords.

Now first of all I refuse to believe that there are multiple thermostats in the vehicle cabin constantly checking the temp. I'd assume one for each "zone" and I also seriously question the effectiveness of dual zone in such a small cabin but hey if it saves a few marriages.

Personally, I'd prefer warm air to hit my frozen toes. I don't need it blasting at my face drying up my sinuses. I figure hot air rises anyway. Additionally there are obvious times when you want the defrost vents on as well, but I've never wanted hot air anywhere near my upper body. That's what heated seats and steering wheels are for!

Now conversely... I want the A/C pointed right at my head and torso (sadly no air cooled seats on Ford's most "affordable" vehicle in 2026). I would imagine that would be pretty universal given the way our bodies' circulatory system works.

How does the vehicle decide, if at all, which vents to send air through when automatic climate control is engaged?

 

[HeyBales]

Also I don't feel like asking AI so maybe you can tell me... Why can't I select the vents the air comes out of when I set my climate control to auto?

I've observed this on every vehicle of mine, not just Fords.

Now first of all I refuse to believe that there are multiple thermostats in the vehicle cabin constantly checking the temp. I'd assume one for each "zone" and I also seriously question the effectiveness of dual zone in such a small cabin but hey if it saves a few marriages.

Personally, I'd prefer warm air to hit my frozen toes. I don't need it blasting at my face drying up my sinuses. I figure hot air rises anyway. Additionally there are obvious times when you want the defrost vents on as well, but I've never wanted hot air anywhere near my upper body. That's what heated seats and steering wheels are for!

Now conversely... I want the A/C pointed right at my head and torso (sadly no air cooled seats on Ford's most "affordable" vehicle in 2026). I would imagine that would be pretty universal given the way our bodies' circulatory system works.

How does the vehicle decide, if at all, which vents to send air through when automatic climate control is engaged?

I wonder too - because I don't use the Auto setting.

But I have noticed that sometimes when I finally turn the HVAC system on (usually in colder temps) - it has no vent option selected - though I left it with head & feet. But sometimes it will have the same selected.
It sounds like the defrost vents are on with none selected, maybe a touch on the feet.
Or that's the sound with fan and all 3 being used.

But I'm turning it on later with heat available - so this isn't the system being kind, unless it's only reading the temp in the vents instead of what's about to come thru.

I'll have to feel all the vents better to see what it's really using - but usually I'm driving and just after getting on the highway - my minds not on where is the air coming from, it's where are the other drivers going to.

ETA:
Maybe the system is doing a bit of Auto mode when it's cold and I first turn it on - not realizing I'm about to have hot air and my fan speed is 1.

ETA - Despite not being on Auto, so my own fan speed - the no vents selected is doing a little to the floor, and mainly defrost vents. Since I'm only turning it on when I have heat, that's actually fine. Had to change to face/feet this morning though to warmup fingers after window scraping. Not everyone has remote start with deep sleep mode!


Automatic Climate Control

• Adjusting the settings when your vehicle interior is extremely hot or cold is not necessary. Automatic mode is best recommended to maintain set temperature.
• The system adjusts to heat or cool the interior to the temperature you select as quickly as possible.
• For the system to function efficiently, the instrument panel and side air vents should be fully open.
• If you press AUTO during cold outside temperatures, the system directs air flow to the windshield and side window air vents.In addition, the blower motor may run at a slower speed until the engine warms up.
• If you press AUTO during hot temperatures and the inside of the vehicle is hot, the system uses recirculated air to maximize interior cooling. Blower motor speed may also reduce until the air cools.

 

[Carlitos_92]

So back to my initial problem here...

Are y'all implying I should just set it to my preferred ambient temperature and be patient... and that in having the heat come on immediately while the vehicle is ice cold it won't in fact actually take longer to heat the cabin to a comfortable level?

Or... And I haven't tried this but it makes sense in my head... Set the vehicle to turn climate control off (as opposed to last setting) when remote starting (in theory I can just get back in and hit auto and it will remember my previous settings) and, on those really cold days only, then turn it on via the app after a few minutes when the vehicle has warmed up somewhat?

If you’re in AUTO mode on the HVAC, and the temp setting requires heating, the fan isn’t going to blow full speed until there is heat to blow. There isn’t any impact to how long the engine takes to warm up.

Also I don't feel like asking AI so maybe you can tell me... Why can't I select the vents the air comes out of when I set my climate control to auto?

I've observed this on every vehicle of mine, not just Fords.

Now first of all I refuse to believe that there are multiple thermostats in the vehicle cabin constantly checking the temp. I'd assume one for each "zone" and I also seriously question the effectiveness of dual zone in such a small cabin but hey if it saves a few marriages.

Personally, I'd prefer warm air to hit my frozen toes. I don't need it blasting at my face drying up my sinuses. I figure hot air rises anyway. Additionally there are obvious times when you want the defrost vents on as well, but I've never wanted hot air anywhere near my upper body. That's what heated seats and steering wheels are for!

Now conversely... I want the A/C pointed right at my head and torso (sadly no air cooled seats on Ford's most "affordable" vehicle in 2026). I would imagine that would be pretty universal given the way our bodies' circulatory system works.

How does the vehicle decide, if at all, which vents to send air through when automatic climate control is engaged?

The system sends air to the floor and/or dash-top defrost vents when it decides heating is necessary, and through the dash front vents when cooling is necessary. It isn’t that complicated.

 

[Darryl]

Am I the only one that thinks it's silly to turn the heat on while the vehicle is still ice cold?

I don't know if you're the only one. But I don't think it matters one bit. You're not hurting anything. Why wouldn't you, especially with a remote start. That's the only reason I do a remote start -- to turn the heat or AC on. Why would I cut it off then have to remember to cut it back on or end up getting into a cold truck?

 

[Darryl]

Not really, it works for me. To me there are only two reasons to use remote start in the first place. 1) Clear frost from the vehicle. 2) Turn on AC when it's stupid hot out. If you don't want/need either of those, there is no point.

My feelings also.

 

[Darryl]

Seems like some are just overcomplicating things. I just set my desired Temp for remote start and let the truck do its thing. When I get in the truck and press the start button, it blows on my feet if it's heating and in my face if it's cooling. The windshield is usually defrosted by the time I get into the truck. So I don't really care how it cleared it. I don't understand the overcomplicating of it.

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