Help with Heating/HVAC/E-Heat...using it correctly?

[Mcalc55]

I'm bringing my truck in for service tomorrow, I have a Pro model but I'm having a lot of difficulty figuring out if there's some sort of user error going on or if my truck isn't functioning properly.

When I adjust the climate control temperature, and move it to 'high' (i.e., 80+ degrees) without e-heat selected in the menu screen, I don't seem to get any increase in temperature. Ok makes sense. I guess to get ANY hot air, e-heat needs to be enabled? But when e-heat is on, I'm having trouble getting cold air conditioned air to work.

So are you telling me that if I want to get a temperate 70 degrees, I have to dig through the menu to turn e-heat on or off depending if the cabin needs to go up or down? that surely can't be the 'proper' functionality ford was aiming for. can someone explain how it SHOULD work so I can set my expectations tomorrow with the dealer since they will likely have no idea how a lightning should function yet...

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[Pioneer74]

Doesn't the Pro have an "Auto" setting? Why are you attempting to get cold "conditioned" air with heat on?

If you have an Auto setting, just set it to 70 and let the truck figure it out.

 

[Mcalc55]

My question is more about if I should just leave the e-heat button on all the time then I guess? Unless I’m at low mileage.
The e-heat button is burried in the settings and in NC this time of year I can wake up to 30 degree weather at 70 by mid day so it’s a bit Crazy. If e heat is on then the a/c and cold air doesn’t seem to be functioning right

 

[TaxmanHog]

I leave mine on auto, with E-heat & air-con enabled, the system will moderate the comfort levels automatically, warming and drying the interior air as needed especially in damp/cool/humid conditions aka foggy.

ICE vehicles do this as well, though with less detriment to range than an EV's SOC & range, if you need the extra energy, manually moderating the E-heat and Air-con certainly works, IMHO just let the system do the work for you and lower the set point to much cooler, that should tell the system to adjust as needed, less heat generation and even less AC action if the outside air is reasonably comfortable.

 

[Pioneer74]

I leave mine on Auto. E-heat may be a new thing, but Ford has been building auto temp controlled systems for decades. I can't imagine, unless something is wrong, that it is introducing heat into the system when it's not needed.

If you don't think it is functioning correctly, then keep your appointment with the dealer.

 

[Mcalc55]

Ok I think this might be entirely user error then. I typically don’t like auto function but now that it has a “low” setting I find it less obtrusive. Older vehicles I’ve had seemed to only have one high blast setting that made it uncomfortable.
Is there value to keeping the air conditioning enabled as well then? Just to allow the humidity to be removed if appropriate? Will the system disengage the compressor and save energy if it’s not needed?

ill be keeping my appointment anyway as they’re installing a raptor steering wheel

 

[Pioneer74]

The air conditioning compressor will want to turn on any time there is air directed to the defrost vents. If you turn it off, I think it stays off, but it doesn't defrost as well.

 

[chillaban]

FWIW the manual says that e-heat is the ONLY source of cabin heat. So indeed if you turn that off, it’s not going to blow hot air. It’s a way when you’re desperate for range to make sure that the resistive heater isn’t on at all.

 

[Mcalc55]

FWIW the manual says that e-heat is the ONLY source of cabin heat. So indeed if you turn that off, it’s not going to blow hot air. It’s a way when you’re desperate for range to make sure that the resistive heater isn’t on at all.

Ok awesome that’s helpful too. Sounds like it’s more a “only touch when I’m desperate for range” button and auto with A/C enabled the rest of the time using the thermostat as I see fit

 

[chillaban]

Ok awesome that’s helpful too. Sounds like it’s more a “only touch when I’m desperate for range” button and auto with A/C enabled the rest of the time using the thermostat as I see fit

Yep that’s how I interpreted it.

 

[RickLightning]

"Auto with A/C enabled" should not be a thing. Select Auto and a temp. Period.

And just because EHeat is on, doesn't mean it is doing anything more than providing a tiny amount of heat to dry the air.

 

[TaxmanHog]

"Auto with A/C enabled" should not be a thing. Select Auto and a temp. Period.

And just because EHeat is on, doesn't mean it is doing anything more than providing a tiny amount of heat to dry the air.

Auto operation never cycles the AC compressor in winter on your Mach-E??????

IIRC ICE vehicles do for periodic lubrication of the pump and the side benefit of dehydration of cabin air.

 

[RickLightning]

Auto operation never cycles the AC compressor in winter on your Mach-E??????

IIRC ICE vehicles do for periodic lubrication of the pump and the side benefit of dehydration of cabin air.

I didn't say that.

@Mcalc55 said "Auto with A/C enabled" was the setting to pick. I am saying you simply hit the Auto button. You don't do anything else.

 

[Mcalc55]

I didn't say that.

@Mcalc55 said "Auto with A/C enabled" was the setting to pick. I am saying you simply hit the Auto button. You don't do anything else.

Got it. Sorry to be dense here but we’re basically saying that the auto enables the computer to decide if the compressor should be activated or not then? I guess I always assumed if I didn’t hit the AC button I was prohibiting the computer from having that option.

 

[RickLightning]

Got it. Sorry to be dense here but we’re basically saying that the auto enables the computer to decide if the compressor should be activated or not then? I guess I always assumed if I didn’t hit the AC button I was prohibiting the computer from having that option.

Correct. Explained in the manual.

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