Defrost is badly designed, any mods to fix this?

[5thranger]

I'm in New Hampshire, so nowhere near the arctic circle (but I was born in Quebec and lived there on and off over the years - but I'm sure it's not anywhere as cold as your secret spot - wait, are you Santa?). =p

I set my truck settings to use the last climate control for remote start and then use remote start (when I'm not in a crazy hurry) to start my Ranger. I hate chipping ice and would rather have the truck do it (and it sometimes takes 10 minutes to clear it, depending on temp and thickness of ice and snow). I occasionally use denatured alcohol to clear the windshield if I'm in a rush.

I set it to full heat, full fan, and defrost only. Air comes out the defroster vents at the windshield and the tiny, non-adjustable demister vents. No air comes out of the 4 dash vents or the foot vents.

Once I get in, I'll adjust as needed to the feet or dash and/or defroster. I will set to dash and defroster if lots of ice is on the side windows. I have an XL scab and don't have a rear defroster, don't have heated mirrors, no heated steering wheel, and no heated seats ...

Thankfully, along with this horribly designed defroster, my equally terrible bed rake helps the melted windshield ice drip off faster. Of course, that means spark plug #4 is hosed and my engine cover mice complain about getting wet.

Bah, my bad bed rake issue seems to have doubled! ! =p
And fancy pants 1.5 litre spray bottle and denatured alcohol for deicing before take off!

my sourpuss face is because the OP seemed pedantic and mysterious about locale and I had to come outside, as an ever-loving-5G-forum member, to support all Rangers and I'm in flip flops (my daughter knitted the hat and it's nearly the warmest one I have) =D

by the way, while I'm nowhere in as severe a winter locale as the OP, this is my actual neighbour saying hello to Cheech from across our ice chasm fence (late summer pic)

You look like a mean MO FO in that hat.

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[5thranger]

I thought it was implied but i was hoping someone who has a ranger could test and get back to me. I don't know what that tangent was about but i'm really just going to stop responding at this point.

this is the ONLY vehicle i've ever been in that has defrosting issues at -10, most can have difficulty around -30.

This should help with your weather related defrost issues.

Perhaps some Midol as well.

 

[Motorpsychology]

Current conditions at Resolute, Nunavut, Canada, F displayed. -29ºC. I believe it is the most remote place in North America. Not much there other than a really cold thermometer and uh, defense stuff.
Thanks up there, folks.

 

[Frenchy]

I know who you're speaking of. You do realize that person did own the truck at one point right? Perhaps you missed that detail.... ? With that said I have already answered your question and you clearly did not want to listen. That's your own problem

 

[5thranger]

There you go again, Dude!

 

[Motorpsychology]

I won't argue that the fan will reach Max speed no matter what. If I'm not mistaken it kind of changes a little bit when research does get activated. But Max heat with defrost might be a little bit different story

Just to clarify, The Max Heat button automatically turns the L&R temps up to high at the same time the fan is kicked up.

I read that in the manual.

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[Motorpsychology]

 

[subquark]

Just to clarify, The Max Heat button automatically turns the L&R temps up to high at the same time the fan is kicked up.

I read that in the manual.

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All kidding aside, with the base XL and only 101A added, my temp controls are really basic.

BUT ... I really like the ability to have the truck remotely start heating or cooling the interior (my last car was a 2005 Scion, so I know not of these fancy things most have).

Maybe cuz mine's a scab with a very crammed-chock-full-of-stuff back seat, but it cools and heats very quickly. Last year we had some wicked pissah cold days and it heated up in under 10 minutes (February pic below).

That said, when I crank the temp all the way to hot, it'll move the last little bit under a tiny bit more resistance and automatically go to full blast on the fan speed. Same for cool, crank hard to coldest and it goes to max fan - I really like that bit (even though I sometimes accidentally do that while driving).

All that to say, my AC action makes up for the bed rake, gas in oil, and potential future tranny troubles - not like Hugh Grant's tranny troubles I hope). =D

 

[Jhbryaniv]

So it is decided the ranger is a piece of shit truck.

Stupid engineering all around from bed height, to tailgate dampers and engine covers and finally the horrible defrost function that doesn't work in a climate where probably <0.1% of ranger owners live.

Ford is a bunch of clowns, we should all take the trucks out back and shoot them or blow them up in protest.

 

[Rp930]

Thank you for that. You just scored a spot on my ignore list.

 

[mtbikernate]

So it is decided the ranger is a piece of shit truck.

Stupid engineering all around from bed height, to tailgate dampers and engine covers and finally the horrible defrost function that doesn't work in a climate where probably <0.1% of ranger owners live.

Ford is a bunch of clowns, we should all take the trucks out back and shoot them or blow them up in protest.

 

[airline tech]

To clarify the system some:
Note: The Owners / Service Manual is a little lax on in-depth description of operation for the Climate Control.
Mainly the Recirculation Door (Air Inlet Door), one thing they NEVER state is how long the door will stay open / close.
By testing the system, it is 5-Minutes, via a Timer in the control circuit.
No manual states anything about the Recirculation Door, driving open after YOU select it to Close.
Best guess it ties to Fresh Air, they do not want a buildup of Harmful Carbons in the Cab, so the door is forced to open to prevent it.

In-Auto Mode, The Recert Door - Will open & close on its own, depending on temp / humidity of the cab, however when it closes (it will only close for 5-Minutes) then it opens back up.

In Max-AC - Reciert Door - Is Disabled, no control over it and it stays CLOSED.
The Temp is automatically driven to LO and the Blower will go to Max

In Max-Defrost - Recert Door - Is Disabled, no control over it and it stays OPEN.
The Temp is automatically driven to HI and the Blower will go to Max.

Ref: The Max settings above, I recall some members stating the Recert Door would still Open / Close on its own after 5-Minutes
I can't remember when I tested the system what mine did (if it actually stayed (Closed) or (Open)

In any defrost mode, the AC Compressor will activate and run, to help in removing humidity if the OAT is above 32 deg F, It will not run below 32 deg F.

In any manual mode, Not in Auto or Max AC or Max Defrost

The Recert Door is Enabled and can be controlled (Normally Open) by default.
You can select the button to close it, but it will automatically open after 5-minutes.

This is a big issue for some that live in Fire Country, that is a big opening and every obscene smell known to man will enter the cab and note.
Even when CLOSED it is not actually (100%) closed, it will always stay open (10%) so a fully closed Recert Door is only closed 90%
I will say that although I do not have to deal with smoke entering the cab, I do notice that exhaust from others in front of me and skunks etc are way MORE prevalent in the Ranger over any vehicle I have ever driven.

 

[mtbikernate]

This is a big issue for some that live in Fire Country, that is a big opening and every obscene smell known to man will enter the cab and note.
Even when CLOSED it is not actually (100%) closed, it will always stay open (10%) so a fully closed Recert Door is only closed 90%
I will say that although I do not have to deal with smoke entering the cab, I do notice that exhaust from others in front of me and skunks etc are way MORE prevalent in the Ranger over any vehicle I have ever driven.

definitely my biggest complaint about the Ranger's HVAC system right here. vehicles with smelly exhaust. people smoking in traffic ahead of you. bad air from fires. hell, I don't even live in "fire country" really, and my area occasionally gets hit with really bad air from extremely distant fires. we've had ash fall from fires happening thousands of miles away and it's almost an annual thing.

that said, skunks don't bother me nearly as much as they used to, after the wildlife research I did as a master's student. smoke and bad exhaust are my particular frustrations.

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