heat only when temp control on hi

[soulfly24]

2016 mhz hybrid heat only blows out when temp control is on hi. from lo to 85 blows cold outside air. control has to display hi in order to get heat to blow out. it’s the same for both sides. blower works fine 

[SHW1957]

When I took it in this morning the Service Mgr indicated that it could be the touch screen and scheduled an appointment for Tuesday.
I thought about it on my way home and remembered the fan wouldn't work until I restarted the car and the cold air became the next problem.
I also remember the last time something strange happened with the dash screen unit the concierge had me RESET THE UNIT...
Pressing the POWER button + the FORWARD SEEK buttons together for 5 seconds resets the entire unit. (see PIC) 
Presto!
All better -- for now.
Wish I had remembered this 2 days ago.

I also made sure the car was connected to the home WIFI to get the service updates automatically as they occur.
Its all about computer software anymore ... more-so than mechanical failure it's the program running the mechanics.

 

I JUST experienced this very same set of symptoms this weekend on my 2017 MKZ Hybrid.

It appears that the outside vent control only closes completely when the temp is set to "HI".

Anything below that is blowing cold air from the outside.

Taking the beast in tomorrow first thing as I was stuck with this all weekend and returning with my wife on a 3 hour trip complaining the entire time about my poor choice in cars.

 

Edited January 20, 2020 by SHW1957
Updated post service visit

[Takeshi]

Please tell me how this goes. I wanna see if I should attempt to complain too. I don't get hot air until I set it to 72 + but it has to be also and at least 14-15 degrees warmer then the outside temperature too to blow cold air. So if outside is 60 and I set my HVAC temperature to 72 it will still blow cold air until I push my 3.0 T engine semi hard then the air travels from the heat generated by the engine.

 

36 minutes ago, SHW1957 said:

I JUST experienced this very same set of symptoms this weekend on my 2017 MKZ Hybrid.

It appears that the outside vent control only closes completely when the temp is set to "HI".

Anything below that is blowing cold air from the outside.

Taking the beast in tomorrow first thing as I was stuck with this all weekend and returning with my wife on a 3 hour trip complaining the entire time about my poor choice in cars.

 

Edited January 20, 2020 by Takeshi

[bbf2530]

2 hours ago, Takeshi said:

Please tell me how this goes. I wanna see if I should attempt to complain too. I don't get hot air until I set it to 72 + but it has to be also and at least 14-15 degrees warmer then the outside temperature too to blow cold air. So if outside is 60 and I set my HVAC temperature to 72 it will still blow cold air until I push my 3.0 T engine semi hard then the air travels from the heat generated by the engine.

 

 

 

Hi Takeshi. You do not need to wait for a reply. What you are describing is an improperly operating HVAC system.

Assuming your 2017 is still within the 4 year/50,000 mile Bumper to Bumper Warranty? Make an appointment for service and a loaner, or make an appointment for Pickup and Delivery service and have your car fixed.

 

Let us know how you make out and good luck.

[Takeshi]

Hi bbf2530,

 

Oh Snap really is your HVAC System working properly say you set it to anywhere between 69-74 and it's like 60-67 outside does your system still blow hot air or cold air with AC on or without ac on (just fan)? I thought this was normal and it was a software issue I will ping my ford dealership next time I come in for my heated seats repair (both my driver and passenger heated seats blower are dead =<( 41,000 miles in and winter too boot) .

 

3 hours ago, bbf2530 said:

 

 

Hi Takeshi. You do not need to wait for a reply. What you are describing is an improperly operating HVAC system.

Assuming your 2017 is still within the 4 year/50,000 mile Bumper to Bumper Warranty? Make an appointment for service and a loaner, or make an appointment for Pickup and Delivery service and have your car fixed.

 

Let us know how you make out and good luck.

Edited January 20, 2020 by Takeshi

[bbf2530]

14 hours ago, SHW1957 said:

When I took it in this morning the Service Mgr indicated that it could be the touch screen and scheduled an appointment for Tuesday.
I thought about it on my way home and remembered the fan wouldn't work until I restarted the car and the cold air became the next problem.
I also remember the last time something strange happened with the dash screen unit the concierge had me RESET THE UNIT...
Pressing the POWER button + the FORWARD SEEK buttons together for 5 seconds resets the entire unit. (see PIC) 
Presto!
All better -- for now.
Wish I had remembered this 2 days ago.

I also made sure the car was connected to the home WIFI to get the service updates automatically as they occur.
Its all about computer software anymore ... more-so than mechanical failure it's the program running the mechanics.

 

I JUST experienced this very same set of symptoms this weekend on my 2017 MKZ Hybrid.

It appears that the outside vent control only closes completely when the temp is set to "HI".

Anything below that is blowing cold air from the outside.

Taking the beast in tomorrow first thing as I was stuck with this all weekend and returning with my wife on a 3 hour trip complaining the entire time about my poor choice in cars.

 

 

Hi SHW. Just addressing your statement that, "I also made sure the car was connected to the home WIFI to get the service updates automatically as they occur."

 

Our cars do not have the ability to download "service updates". The only updates which can be auto downloaded via WiFi are the SYNC 3 infotainment system updates. And even that function is spotty for most SYNC 3 vehicle owners.

 

The ability to download service updates may eventually see limited availability with the introduction of SYNC 4 on new vehicles later this year. But that will not filter down to SYNC 3 equipped cars.

 

Good luck.

[bbf2530]

12 hours ago, Takeshi said:

Hi bbf2530,

 

Oh Snap really is your HVAC System working properly say you set it to anywhere between 69-74 and it's like 60-67 outside does your system still blow hot air or cold air with AC on or without ac on (just fan)? I thought this was normal and it was a software issue I will ping my ford dealership next time I come in for my heated seats repair (both my driver and passenger heated seats blower are dead =<( 41,000 miles in and winter too boot) .

 

 

Hi Takeshi. I am not sure what your question is? My Climate Control system works as it should and as described in the Owners Manual. If yours is not working as described in the Owners Manual, then you should have it checked.

Let me ask a few questions to try and understand better: Does your fan speed control work? Do the controls to choose defroster vents, dash vents and floor vents work? Do your AC and Auto controls work?

 

Below, is a brief explanation of how the system works. Sorry if you already know a lot of this, but I am not sure where to start:

-When not set to "AC" or "AUTO" (called "VENT" in the old days), the system will be able to heat air to settings above ambient air temperature, but can not cool air below ambient air temperature. The AC condenser and compressor are not being used and it is essentially a manual system at that point. Setting a system air temperature close to ambient (outside) air temperature can be tricky in this setting, since it can only blow air at the ambient temperature or heat it.

So using your example above when not set to "AC" or "AUTO" (if I understand it correctly): On manual settings (Non AC/AUTO)...Yes, if the outside air temperature is 60-67 and I set the temperature somewhere between 69-74, it will blow slightly warmed air at the temperature you set. However, it can not blow air that is colder than the ambient/outside temperature. It an only do that when set to AC or AUTO. And the higher you set the temperature, the warmer the air will be. Fan speed and vents/registers used will remain wherever you have them set.

 

-When set to "AC", the climate control system can cool and/or heat air being blown through the vents/registers to the temperature that is set by the driver. It can cool/heat air to temperatures both below and above ambient air temperature.

 

-When set to AUTO, the system will cool or heat the entire cabin to the temperature set by the driver. It will adjust the air temperature, fan speed and which vents/registers are used, according to what the systems interior and exterior sensors feel are necessary,

 

-On "AC", it is a "dumb" HVAC system and will only blow air at the set temperature, but it will not necessarily measure or maintain the cabin at the set temperature. The fan speed and air ducts/registers can be chosen by the driver.

 

-When set to "AUTO", it becomes a "smart" system that will measure and maintain the cabin temperature at the driver chosen temperature. Again,, it will vary the fan speed, momentary air temperature, air ducts/registers utilized, etc, according to what the interior and exterior sensors determine necessary at that particular moment, to maintain the chosen cabin temperature. And it can do that for both the driver and front passenger independently, since it is a DATC, (Dual Automatic Temperature Control) system.

 

Hope this is relevant to your questions and somewhat understandable. Again, if you check the Owners Manual instructions for your system and it is not working properly, have it inspected and repaired if necessary.  Let us know how you make out and good luck.

Edited January 20, 2020 by bbf2530

[Takeshi]

Hi BBF2530,

 

Yes you understood perfectly! Thank you so much for clarifying! It was funky when I was in cold weather and the blower is not working correctly to raise the Ambient temperature from the dashboard reading. I will take it in for service again ? I've seen them too many times in the past month they're totally gonna hate me lol. 

 

 

2 hours ago, bbf2530 said:

So using your example above when not set to "AC" or "AUTO" (if I understand it correctly): On manual settings (Non AC/AUTO)...Yes, if the outside air temperature is 60-67 and I set the temperature somewhere between 69-74, it will blow slightly warmed air at the temperature you set. However, it can not blow air that is colder than the ambient/outside temperature. It an only do that when set to AC or AUTO. And the higher you set the temperature, the warmer the air will be. Fan speed and vents/registers used will remain wherever you have them set.

 

[TomV]

Your other post about keeping the MKZ stated you hear a "gurgling noise" in the center vent. Check your anti-freeze coolant level. I would think the low coolant light would have come on first, but still worth a check because low coolant or air bubble in the system could affect heat.