Why does opening the frunk turn off HVAC?

[Kev12345]

I love that I can remotely cool the truck with the app on a hot day but why does opening the frunk shut the HVAC down? Is this a setting that can be changed?

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[RickLightning]

I love that I can remotely cool the truck with the app on a hot day but why does opening the frunk shut the HVAC down? Is this a setting that can be changed?

It shuts off the vehicle, which of course shuts off the HVAC. No, it cannot be overridden.

 

[JRDM2]

This was an annoyance that we found the hard way too.

 

[BhamDCam]

I love that I can remotely cool the truck with the app on a hot day but why does opening the frunk shut the HVAC down? Is this a setting that can be changed?

From what I understand this was copied from the ICE trucks. In that scenario it makes sense - you don’t want the truck to be remote started in case someone is working on the engine. But Ford either missed how that doesn’t matter for our trucks or they just haven’t prioritized changing it.

 

[Zprime29]

From what I understand this was copied from the ICE trucks. In that scenario it makes sense - you don’t want the truck to be remote started in case someone is working on the engine. But Ford either missed how that doesn’t matter for our trucks or they just haven’t prioritized changing it.

The latter seems more likely. Annoying for sure but I've learned to live with it. For a brief moment I contemplated if there's a FORScan option but given the safety reason for the ICE version, I can't imagine that setting would be available to modify.

 

[riggie]

I could see the vehicle shutting down when the frunk gets opened i.e. an emergency situation like an accident that pops the hood, but if the vehicle is in Park then surely they could adjust the programming to allow the a/c to continue to run

 

[mattbrac3]

I guess I just start cooling it ahead of time, jump in, start it, then do whatever I need to do in the frunk (load groceries, etc). Not the most convenient workaround but it works.

 

[mb0220]

From what I understand the frunk safety protocol is just copied from that of the rear hatch of an ICE vehicle. If the hatch opens while the vehicle is running the tailpipe exhaust can get pulled into the cabin and cause a carbon monoxide hazard. Thus the auto shut-off when it's opened. So like Bham said, either the engineers missed it or they didn't bother to program a Lightning-specific protocol for it.

 

[chl]

Another fluke - running PPOB bed outlets with truck off, hit app Climate button, shuts down PPOB.

 

[hturnerfamily]

yes, there are several overlapping software protocols whenever certain things 'happen'... such as what you just mentioned.

From my experience, the app cannot command Climate ON if the truck is already ON... those of us with earlier builds can only run PPOB with the truck already ON, and those in later builds may be able to run PPOB without the truck on, but, I can imagine this means 'Accessory Mode' is then in play.

And, on mine, if the truck is NOT ON, and you use the App to command the Climate ON, the truck will immediately LOCK ALL DOORS, before applying the Climate... in essence, though, the truck is not turning ON, but is using 'Accessory Mode' to run the Climate.
Why Lock all the doors beforehand? I guess that someone's idea of a security or safety measure, although without a fob/key/etc you'd still not be able to put the truck in Gear, regardless.

 

[chl]

yes, there are several overlapping software protocols whenever certain things 'happen'... such as what you just mentioned.

From my experience, the app cannot command Climate ON if the truck is already ON... those of us with earlier builds can only run PPOB with the truck already ON, and those in later builds may be able to run PPOB without the truck on, but, I can imagine this means 'Accessory Mode' is then in play.

And, on mine, if the truck is NOT ON, and you use the App to command the Climate ON, the truck will immediately LOCK ALL DOORS, before applying the Climate... in essence, though, the truck is not turning ON, but is using 'Accessory Mode' to run the Climate.
Why Lock all the doors beforehand? I guess that someone's idea of a security or safety measure, although without a fob/key/etc you'd still not be able to put the truck in Gear, regardless.

FORscan tweak for '22 and '23 models allows for PPOB On with truck OFF, which is what I did with my 2023 Pro.

 

[Jim Lewis]

Is the shutdown of HVAC, etc., when opening the frunk only when done remotely? I've gone grocery shopping lots in the summer time, gotten into the truck to start it and run the HVAC to cool things down for my wife, then gotten out to load the groceries into the frunk. I haven't noticed the AC going off or the truck shutting down after physically opening the frunk by pressing the frunk button on the hood.

 

[mb0220]

It's not actually the HVAC shutting down. It's the entire vehicle shutting down if it's still in remote start mode when the frunk is opened. If the vehicle is running from a standard start (dash button) , then opening the frunk does nothing.

 

[Zprime29]

Is the shutdown of HVAC, etc., when opening the frunk only when done remotely?

Yes. Remote start your climate, then open frunk (any method), truck turns off.

 

[K6CCC]

Another fluke - running PPOB bed outlets with truck off, hit app Climate button, shuts down PPOB.

Yea, I see that one regularly. I'm currently in an odd situation where I intentionally leave PPOB on essentially all the time. And in the current hot weather, almost always remotely turn on climate at least a few minutes before heading out to the truck. So I see PPOB off when I get out there.

From my experience, the app cannot command Climate ON if the truck is already ON...

What would be the point? If the truck is already on, the climate control would also already be on. The only thing different is you could not control temperature, or seat & steering wheel heating.

and those in later builds may be able to run PPOB without the truck on, but, I can imagine this means 'Accessory Mode' is then in play.

Nope. Accessory mode does not get turned on. Obviously some stuff is going on in the background. Also note that you can't turn PPOB on remotely via the app, only monitor what it's doing.

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