Does AC Always Run With Auto Temp Selection?

[vfral1]

I always keep the A/C on "Auto" and just adjust the temp to what's comfortable. In my case, the A/C light has always been on since I picked up the vehicle in late April. However we just started getting colder, dry air here in Atlanta, and now the A/C light is off during the morning commute. That tells me that the light is an indicator of the status of the compressor.

 

[JFUSION]

I always keep the A/C on "Auto" and just adjust the temp to what's comfortable. In my case, the A/C light has always been on since I picked up the vehicle in late April. However we just started getting colder, dry air here in Atlanta, and now the A/C light is off during the morning commute. That tells me that the light is an indicator of the status of the compressor.

yup I also think that is the case. It seems that if the temp difference between ambient outside temp and my auto temp setting is 10 degrees or more then the a/c button won't come on when calling for heat. If the temp difference narrows less than 10 degrees it might come on to mix cool air with hot air, but on a sunny day the temp in the vehicle has some effect it as the temperature in the vehicle can differ from outside ambient tempby quite a bit.

 

[peterk9]

I've always assumed (and hoped) that the light simply means that the a/c is enabled, meaning that it will switch on automatically when needed. I'd like to know for sure that this is the case.

I expect the light in your Fusion behaved the same way. I know it did in my 2002 Explorer, my wife's 2004 Freestyle and my 2009 Explorer too.

I have mine set to AUTO and it seemed like the A/C light was always on. A couple of days ago I thought it was off when I started it up in the morning to go to an appointment. On the way back the light was on so I thought I may have been wrong initially. This morning when I started the EX, the A/C light was OFF. The outside temp was 8C or 46F and the humidity out side was 58%. I guess this means that even though the climate control is set to AUTO, the A/C light does NOT always remain on.

 

[JFUSION]

I have mine set to AUTO and it seemed like the A/C light was always on. A couple of days ago I thought it was off when I started it up in the morning to go to an appointment. On the way back the light was on so I thought I may have been wrong initially. This morning when I started the EX, the A/C light was OFF. The outside temp was 8C or 46F and the humidity out side was 58%. I guess this means that even though the climate control is set to AUTO, the A/C light does NOT always remain on.

That is correct , based on what I've seen thusfar.

 

[sdm9465]

That is correct , based on what I've seen thusfar.

Yes, I agree too. The light does seem to be indicating actual status of the A/C. The first few times I saw the light off I assumed someone had bumped the button and turned it off. Then I happened to notice it off in my 2009 last week and have paid close attention to it since. I was clearly wrong in my earlier posts. Can't believe I never noticed that before after owning Ford vehicles with automatic climate control systems for about 10 years now. (In my defense, the light is positioned in a much more conspicuous place in the 2011!)