Two unusual problems

[Scott U]

Has any else experienced this?
The heater does not direct enough warm/hot air to the driver side floor.Even though the heater control points toward having all air directed toward the floor, it seems to still be sending air towards the windshield in the same way as it does for the “mix” position between the full floor and the full windshield.

For some reason the dome light fails to come on when the passenger front door is opened but this occurs only when the key is in the ignition and car is running. The light comes on for the other 3 doors under that condition. All of the doors activate the light before the key is put into the ignition.

The car is a little over two weeks old, runs wery well.

[Sponsor]

[PratoN]

Originally Posted by Scott U

The heater does not direct enough warm/hot air to the driver side floor.Even though the heater control points toward having all air directed toward the floor, it seems to still be sending air towards the windshield in the same way as it does for the “mix” position between the full floor and the full windshield.

Mine does this as well. I assumed it was to prevent the windshield from fogging up - I like my feet warm, but my face cold and so it bothers me that it still heats the windshield when I have it on *feet only*

Originally Posted by Scott U

For some reason the dome light fails to come on when the passenger front door is opened but this occurs only when the key is in the ignition and car is running. The light comes on for the other 3 doors under that condition. All of the doors activate the light before the key is put into the ignition.

Never noticed or never tried.

[ibinubu12]

Originally Posted by Scott U

Has any else experienced this?
The heater does not direct enough warm/hot air to the driver side floor.Even though the heater control points toward having all air directed toward the floor, it seems to still be sending air towards the windshield in the same way as it does for the “mix” position between the full floor and the full windshield.

Ford does this deliberately. For floor mode, they may ask for 90% of the air go to the floor, the balance to the defrost registers. This is to prevent fogging of the windshield, as floor, mix, and defrost are generally considered to be "heating" modes.

[misfire]

silly question, but have you tried pushing the lamp button when the door is open and then close and open the door to see if it works after?

[cobie56]

Originally Posted by ibinubu12

Ford does this deliberately. For floor mode, they may ask for 90% of the air go to the floor, the balance to the defrost registers. This is to prevent fogging of the windshield, as floor, mix, and defrost are generally considered to be "heating" modes.

It's really annoying when systems are engineered like this... If i want heat to my feet i'll direct the heat that way.... if my windshield is fogging up, i'll put on the defrost/defoger. It's not so complicated (ford, et al). We don't need the HVAC system to think for us... we are perfectly capable of working the HVAC on our own and deciding what needs doing when.
Frankly, once the car is warmed up reasonable well, usually w/in a few minutes, i've rarely had the windows fog/frost up, except in extremely cold weather (temps hovering either side of zero F).
The next time i purchase a vehicle i will go for one w/o auto wipers, auto lights, and auto HVAC.... I much prefer to the driving and associated tasks by myself.

[PratoN]

Originally Posted by cobie56

The next time i purchase a vehicle i will go for one w/o auto wipers, auto lights, and auto HVAC.... I much prefer to the driving and associated tasks by myself.

Me too - if those aren't already standard features by 2020. (I'm hoping this car will last me a while...)

[raptor1956]

I actually like the auto features most of the time...

The auto AC is particularly nice in my view and I've used auto lights for years now beginning with the 2004 Toyota Matrix XR I traded in when I got my 2012 FF. The auto wipers is less of a big deal but I can't say it's a problem either.


Brian

[lewisra]

Originally Posted by cobie56

The next time i purchase a vehicle i will go for one w/o auto wipers, auto lights, and auto HVAC.... I much prefer to the driving and associated tasks by myself.

I believe you can turn those features off.

[Scott U]

Just to clarify, I have a 2007 mustang, when the dial is pointed toward the floor position very little air goes toward the windshield, most goes to the floor. There is no difference between the mix position and the floor position in the Focus at all.