Out of curiosity yesterday I set my A/C on (re-circulate air) to see how long it would stay in that mode. I have EATC. It ran approximately 25 min before the re-circulate air disengaged. The cab got a lot colder than I normally keep it; usually I turn the re-circulate air off manually, this was the first time the EATC cycled automatically for me. Five minutes or so later I engaged the re-circulate air button again and it stayed on this time too. The bottom line for me is, my A/C works great! Everyone who is unhappy with their A/C’s performance needs to have it checked out and corrected, because it’s not working properly if it doesn’t freeze your ba**s off on demand. It was 91° and humid yesterday here in FL.

 

Make sure to let the dealer know there is a TSB out for this. Maybe someone with more time can dig them up for you. I have the manual control and had horrible A/C performance and took it in. They replaced the HVAC control head and re-flashed the PCM. It was a simple diagnostic pin test done then they had to order the control. It will now blow me out of the cab and I use this truck in 110 to 120 degrees with no complaints anymore.

The recirc cutting out in less that 20 minutes is the symptom for trucks needing this. Take the numbers with you to show your service advisor. Makes it easier for them to pull up the TSB to give the tech something to work with.

 

I have ETAC on my Lariet too, and always just hit 'Auto' and go. Pretty much let it figure everything out.

But I have never noticed the recirc buttong being lit, or the recirc symbol on the controls. I just shows the temp and A/C.

How do you know the recirc is on?
Are you pressing the recirc button after you press 'Auto'?
Or does it not show when you are in 'Auto' mode?

 

Yea Threadhead, just hit the re-circulate button after you turn the A/C to auto. It takes less time to cool off because it not pulling in outside air.

 

Ok, I just ran out to the truck, started her up, hit 'Auto'... listened for a few seconds, then hit the recirc button... I can't hear a difference (when in recirc it is a little louder). But when I hit the recirc button again to turn it off, I can hear that it opens and does not recirc.

This was my understanding of how the ETAC should work in Auto mode. It would automatically recric on/off as needed.

No?

 

Yes, I think your right about that, but I always hit it anyway just to cool off faster. I have heard the difference in sound you spoke of when the re-circulate is on or off. I think if you set your temperature all the way down to 60° you will find that the re-circulate does come on automatically.

 

Recycled air is exactly what it sounds like. Instead of pulling air from outside and cooling it, the air is pulled from the insided of the cab. So you are cooling cooled air and no outside odors can get in like car fumes. This option should stay on until you either shut the car off or hit the button.

 

Again, this is just a guess, but if the Ford ETAC works anything like the one on our Honda Pilot, it measures the difference between the outside temp, inside temp, and set temp and uses that to figure out when/if to put recirc on. I don't have enough experience with the Ford system yet, but in my Pilot it will turn the recirc on/off as it deems necessary.

Also, here in AZ, the outside temps are usually a bit higher than other parts of the country, so that may account for the recirc pretty much always being on (in Auto mode).

FWIW, my A/C blows very cold, all the time, no complaints

 

OWNER’S GUIDE F-150
page 37

13. Auto: To engage automatic temperature control, press AUTO and select the desired temperature using the temperature control. The system will automatically determine fan speed, airflow location, A/C on or off, and outside or recirculated air, to heat or cool the vehicle to reach the desired temperature.




this is for (EATC) systems only

if you don't have (EATC) you can hold it in recirculate as long as you want if you are set to MAX A/C

 

Thanks, jpdadeo

Put it on Auto and Fuggetaboutit.