Weird things I learned about the recirculating air feature

[Big Kahuna]

We had some serious wildfire smoke this morning so when I got in the car with the kids I put on the recirculating air (pressed the button). I turned on the AC as the car was a little stuffy.

After 8-10 minutes of driving I started smelling the wildfire smoke and looked down and the recirculating air was off - it turned off on its own. Thats weird I thought and turned it back on - at this point I turned off the AC. So no AC and just the recirculating air on and after a couple of minutes it turns itself off again and I smell smoke. I'm like WTF.

Then we're driving along and the kids are talking and the windshield starts fogging up a bit so I push the defrost button and that immediately turns off recirculating air.

In my old car if you put on recirculating air - it stayed on until you turned it off, no matter the other functions you were doing.

I am so confused. Maybe the defrost I could understand if there was some reasoning for that but why the hell does it turn itself off otherwise? Is it just my maverick? Does it have to do with the temp gauge or something?

I took videos of it turning itself off with nothing else selected after 5 mins and of it turning off immediately when I press defrost. I'll post later. Maybe someone can explain this to me.

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[jsus]

Relevant section of manual:

SWITCHING RECIRCULATED AIR ON AND OFF

Press the button to recirculate air currently in the passenger compartment.
Note: Recirculated air may turn off automatically, or prevent you from switching on in all air flow modes except MAX A/C to reduce the risk of fogging. Recirculation may also turn on and off automatically in various air distribution control combinations to improve heating or cooling efficiency.

https://www.fordservicecontent.com/...d=8431&vFilteringEnabled=False&userMarket=usa

 

[MerP]

My 2018 Focus also turns off the recirc when I use the defrost. Guess it's Ford thing?

 

[commadorebob]

As far as I was aware, the defroster and recirculator uses the same vent. So, you can't use them both at the same time.

 

[Big Kahuna]

Relevant section of manual:



https://www.fordservicecontent.com/...d=8431&vFilteringEnabled=False&userMarket=usa

Well there ya go. WTF though? Recirculated air may turn off automatically, or prevent you from switching on in all air flow modes except MAX A/C to reduce the risk of fogging.

So what criteria does the computer use to decide when to turn it on or off? It turned it off even when I didn't have the defrost on and AC on/off didn't matter.

My scenario this morning is exactly why someone might want it NOT to turn off by itself. Or if you're in 120 heat.

Well thank you for finding that info - guess in smokey unhealthy air conditions you have to keep the AC on MAX to prevent it from bringing in outside air.

Often in my old car in the summer I'd ran the recirculating, turn on the AC and then when the car was cool, I'd turn off the AC and the recirc would keep the cool air in the car. With this system you just have to leave the AC on all the time otherwise the car will turn off the recirc itself and bring in hot air.

This is the problem with trying to make the cars smarter than the drivers

 

[WannaMav]

Curious as to whether your climate control is set to Auto or to Manual within the options on the instrument cluster and if changing that setting results in any difference in recirc functionality.

 

[Big Kahuna]

Curious as to whether your climate control is set to Auto or to Manual within the options on the instrument cluster and if changing that setting results in any difference in recirc functionality.

I don't believe I have that option on mine as it's a XLT with single zone.

 

[WannaMav]

I don't believe I have that option on mine as it's a XLT with single zone.

Have it on my XL.

Root around in the options of the instruments cluster screen (the one you need to use the controls on the steering wheel to thumb through). Don't exactly recall precisely where it is located, but it is there.

 

[Timothyd]

We had some serious wildfire smoke this morning so when I got in the car with the kids I put on the recirculating air (pressed the button). I turned on the AC as the car was a little stuffy.

After 8-10 minutes of driving I started smelling the wildfire smoke and looked down and the recirculating air was off - it turned off on its own. Thats weird I thought and turned it back on - at this point I turned off the AC. So no AC and just the recirculating air on and after a couple of minutes it turns itself off again and I smell smoke. I'm like WTF.

Then we're driving along and the kids are talking and the windshield starts fogging up a bit so I push the defrost button and that immediately turns off recirculating air.

In my old car if you put on recirculating air - it stayed on until you turned it off, no matter the other functions you were doing.

I am so confused. Maybe the defrost I could understand if there was some reasoning for that but why the hell does it turn itself off otherwise? Is it just my maverick? Does it have to do with the temp gauge or something?

I took videos of it turning itself off with nothing else selected after 5 mins and of it turning off immediately when I press defrost. I'll post later. Maybe someone can explain this to me.

It's not a Ford thing they're all like that now. We have relinquished control to the machines.

 

[Big Kahuna]

Have it on my XL.

Root around in the options of the instruments cluster screen (the one you need to use the controls on the steering wheel to thumb through). Don't exactly recall precisely where it is located, but it is there.

I went though and didn't see any options for that function in the cluster.

My buddy has an 2018 Outback and he says his recirc doesn't turn off unless he turns it off.

 

[WannaMav]

I went though and didn't see any options for that function in the cluster.

My buddy has an 2018 Outback and he says his recirc doesn't turn off unless he turns it off.

Had a stray minute to bop on over to the garage.

On the instrument cluster screen:

Settings -- Vehicle -- Remote Start -- Climate Control

Options there to toggle between are Auto and Last Setting.

 

[respi133]

Had a stray minute to bop on over to the garage.

On the instrument cluster screen:

Settings -- Vehicle -- Remote Start -- Climate Control

Options there to toggle between are Auto and Last Setting.

That's for the Remote Start functionality, Auto makes it react to the outside/inside temps while last setting does just that - sets AC during RS to whatever you had it set to before turning the ignition off. I doubt this setting would help OP with his recirc issue but it's worth a shot? @WannaMav is your recirc still auto-shutting off with that setting toggled?

 

[Tbolt]

I'm also in WA but have the Lariat with Dual climate control. It will also randomly switch off the recirc to fresh. though with the A/C in it usually stays in recirc but not always. Like the OP, I usually notice it when I get that burst of smoke or a car that shouldn't be on the road is stinking everything up. I look down and see its off.

 

[Big Kahuna]

I'm also in WA but have the Lariat with Dual climate control. It will also randomly switch off the recirc to fresh. though with the A/C in it usually stays in recirc but not always. Like the OP, I usually notice it when I get that burst of smoke or a car that shouldn't be on the road is stinking everything up. I look down and see its off.

Ok glad I'm not the only one who noticed this. So weird that Ford gave the car the ability to override the operator for a climate control feature.

 

[WannaMav]

That's for the Remote Start functionality, Auto makes it react to the outside/inside temps while last setting does just that - sets AC during RS to whatever you had it set to before turning the ignition off. I doubt this setting would help OP with his recirc issue but it's worth a shot? @WannaMav is your recirc still auto-shutting off with that setting toggled?

As you say, worth a shot; ya never know.

As for your query, have never once yet had recirc shut itself off, but then again the longest stretch I generally drive, timewise, is maybe 15 or 20 minutes. I do prefer driving with the driver's window open an inch or so - whether or not that is a factor to take into consideration I don't know.

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