Is the air conditioning supposed to run while the dial is set on chest and feet

[2drsrbtrrthn4]

On the air conditioning dial, I have the regular (clockwise from left) Max, A/C, ??, Off, Chest & feet, feet and defrost, and defrost only. I am confused as to why my A/C runs while on chest and feet only. I like to have fresh air enter the vehicle this way while I have the windows down or in the rain while windows are up on cool days, but I don't like the fact that I'm losing gas mileage due to this. Can anybody shed some light on this topic? I didn't see anything in the owner's manual that said anything about this questionable occurance.

PS I asked the Ford dealer who I purchased the truck from and they said that this is normal, but I really don't believe them.

PSS- the truck in question is an 01 Explorer Sport with 67k on it.

Thanks!

 

[Robb]

It is normal

 

[00XLS]

I believe it has to due with keeping the compressor oiled up during months you don't use i.e. winter, I'll admit I don't like it either but what can ya do.

 

[smutheop]

2drs, I noticed the same thing in my 95 xlt just as you described, and thank you, Robb and 00XLS for the good news I dont need to go buy a new ac relay switch or worse lol.

2drs I like the fresh air too and also resented the AC compressor running all the time, I have decided (Whether or not it works i dont know) that if you turn the temperature dial to the mid range (between the blue and red) that I would have just fresh air and would hopefully be getting better gas mileage.!! Just dont go into the red.... when its hot!!!

Smutheop

 

[therise21]

in my 97 it says in the book you can put it on the first setting to the right of "off" the compressor is not activated.

 

[TPLYNCH]

The compressor will not run when the setting is on Panel (chest) and Floor (feet), so if you want fresh air w/o the a/c running, put it in one of those to positions. This info is for '99+ Explorers. Up until the '97 or '98, the compressor will run in all positions except for Panel (chest)

 

[explorer72]

Yeah I wondered this same thing on my 97 but what I found out is that anything over 50 degrees outside the (chest/feet) setting will run the A/C, anything below that it doesn't. So from what I've read the only thing you can do without A/C is the (chest) setting. Which of course I think is kinda weak, where is a damn manual A/C button when you need it, lol.

 

[2drsrbtrrthn4]

Thanks for the responses. There is one thing that i will test out sometime, and that is to open the hood while the dial is on panel and floor. that way I can see what happens at various points on the dial. I guess Ford did have a good idea here, because the air gets to be so cold on 95+ days that on a 4 hour trip home I had to open the windows and turn off the air because my feet were absolutely frozen while wearing my climacool sneaks.

 

[blackbeauty]

I noticed this too. So this weekend I was changing my oil. Afterwards, I went for a drive around town with the dial on feet/chest and when I got home I popped the hood and there was condensation all over the a/c lines and stuff as if I had the a/c on. So I believe it does the same as actually having the a/c on.

 

[03ExplorerSPT]

If the selector is in the panel and floor setting but the temperature is set to full heat, does the A/C compressor still turn on or is it only on when the temperature is set to around the coldest?

 

[TPLYNCH]

It runs no matter where the temp control is set. Instead of cold dry air, you get hot dry air. In MAX A/C, you cannot control the temp of the air using the temp. control As for outside temperature, the compressor will not run in any setting if the temp fall belows a certain temp - somewhere in the 40 degree range I believe.

 

[2drsrbtrrthn4]

It runs no matter where the temp control is set. Instead of cold dry air, you get hot dry air. In MAX A/C, you cannot control the temp of the air using the temp. control As for outside temperature, the compressor will not run in any setting if the temp fall belows a certain temp - somewhere in the 40 degree range I believe.

The statement about the compressor not running on any setting if ambient air temp is less than 40 degrees is untrue. AC is needed to dry out the interior air to keep the windows defrosted at any temp- from a rainy 80 deg day to a clear sky -10 deg day. I don't know where you got this information, but I'd be wary of the source.

 

[TPLYNCH]

Check your owners manual....