Ford Focus: Unique A/C quirk, or common problem with common fix?

On Sat, 26 Feb 2005 14:49:25 GMT, Scott Thomas
<rose-hulman.edu> wrote:
 

imho:

Actually in many cars it's a feature. By having the a/c come one, it
dries the air by removing mosture. Now the air is directed upward to
your winsheild drying it out. This helps to defog thewindows when the
car is both warm andcold.

So, I'm guessing this isn't a bug in your car, but I'm not a focus
expert, so rely on your owner's manual for information.

later,

tom @ www.CarFleaMarket.com

On Sat, 26 Feb 2005 14:49:25 GMT, Scott Thomas wrote:
 

I remember reading somewhere that the behaviour is by design. I guess Ford
are thinking that your screen will be demisted faster by air dried by the
aircon.

LJ

In message <V%%Td.8969$news.prodigy.com>, Scott
Thomas <rose-hulman.edu> wrote 

It's designed to work this way.

<Quote from page 37 of the UK owners manual circa 2001)

Front screen defrosting/demisting
Set the air distribution control to (icon = the windscreen position).
Outside air will flow into the vehicle.. As long as the air distribution
control is set to (icon = the windscreen position) re-circulated air
cannot be selected and the air conditioning will be turned on
automatically. Make sure that the blower is on.

"The A/C extracts humidity from the air and the windows are demisted
faster."
--
Alan
mailto:clara.co.uk

"Scott Thomas" <rose-hulman.edu> wrote
 

Most, if not all, modern cars with A/C are like this. It helps to dry the
air going over the windshield.

I remember a few years ago I had a Dodge Shadow with this feature, and the
A/C broke one hot foggy night during the height of summer and all of a
sudden I had a hard time seeing . I had to crank the heat way up to get the
windshield to clear, which was not fun.

"Scott Thomas" <rose-hulman.edu> wrote in message
news:V%%Td.8969$news.prodigy.com... 
 

I believe this is a design feature to have the a/c pump turning once in a
while during the winter months. This may help keep the unit from seizing
from lack of use during the winter months. 

In alt.autos.ford.focus Scott Thomas <rose-hulman.edu>:
 
 

You can be lucky it turns on the A/C LED at all, mine (1999)
doesn't, while switching the A/C on. It's true that windscreens
defrost faster with A/C turned on. The problem, never had any car
which tended to fog inside as fast, as the Focus (wagon).

There were some enhancements in production. Ordered the improved
parts and mounted them, but it didn't helped much. Luckily, my
Focus has the heated windscreen, which is of great help.

--
Michael Heiming (X-PGP-Sig > GPG-Key ID: EDD27B94)
mail: echo qr | perl -pe 'y/a-z/n-za-m/'
#bofh excuse 438: sticky bit has come loose

'spostadothat.

Rob