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Calling all heating system (and related problem) Gurus

MrLoganRoss

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Hi. I am working with my dealer to try and resolve the issue with my 24 lightning’s heat. If I precondition the car it’s warm but after about 15 minutes cools off. I’m unable to maintain a reasonable constant temperature for any length of time. It often feels like cold air is blowing. Sometimes it feels like the air is really concentrated on the passenger side, and switching it to driver focused actually makes it worse for the driver.

All of these things have been discussed before, but the dealer’s focus is on testing whether or not the heater can put out the heat, and not whether it’s properly heating the cabin. The approach is to set the car on max high and to test the heat coming out of whatever vent it is exiting from. I think we would all agree that it is not feasible to drive a car for any length of period with the heat on high. Setting it to 76° should be more than sufficient. It is certainly sufficient in my Mach-E, for which I don’t have to set the level above 71 ever.

At any rate, I have shared with them some of the possibilities of what might be causing the issue based on my research online. The following is that list:

(1) coolant issue (flush may solve unless there is a leak); (2) heater blower motor or blower motor resistor (my car had a recent DTC); (3) thermostat (temp sensor); (4) temperature blend door actuator; (5) cabin coolant heater module joint solder (this was a '23 recall); (6) engine coolant control valve.

They mentioned some things like “there is no coolant”, and that the 24 only has a heat pump and not both the heat pump and the resistive heater. Can anybody share some knowledge about the structure of the heating system in the 24s, and whether or not my suggestion that they test two or three other 24s on the lot to see if the issue exists on them them makes sense (I.e. design flaw)?

Your help is very much appreciated.
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MrLoganRoss

MrLoganRoss

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Yep. No issues in the rental lightnings I get when traveling, and headed to a different dealer tomorrow to try a few on the lot since I am friendly with the sales people there.
 
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MrLoganRoss

MrLoganRoss

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So does the ‘24 have both a heat pump and resistive heater?

Also, what is the connection between the heating system and coolant since a number of incidents were resolved by flushing the coolant?

thanks!
 

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MrLoganRoss

MrLoganRoss

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To focus on the questions I asked here….see above
 

ryun

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Apologies for the bluntness here, but I don't think you're going to get anywhere with the dealer or a fix with phrases like, "It feels like..."

My recommendation is to purchase one of these and have it in your truck somewhere close to you (rear cup holder?) to monitor temperature and humidity: https://www.amazon.com/Govee-Temperature-Humidity-Notification-Monitor/dp/B07Y36FWTT . Measure that the truck's cabin is close to the setpoint temperature.

In addition keep an eye on the humidity. Often, trucks in auto mode will run the AC in winter to periodically dehumidify the cabin. When humidity drops it feels cooler without temperature changes. I've noticed this phenomenon with my EV6 (with heatpump) in winter and when it gets too aggressive I just shut the thing off or turn up the heat some.

As for my truck ('23 with no heatpump) I usually set it to something lower (65F). When it reaches the setpoint after awhile I may just increase the temperature a bit to get another warm blast when necessary. Can't say the two auto modes in EVs I've experienced have been the best. For me, I just expect to fiddle with them. It may be worse in your situation though but that's why you need the temp/humidity data to confirm. Good luck!
 

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MrLoganRoss

MrLoganRoss

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Apologies for the bluntness here, but I don't think you're going to get anywhere with the dealer or a fix with phrases like, "It feels like..."

My recommendation is to purchase one of these and have it in your truck somewhere close to you (rear cup holder?) to monitor temperature and humidity: https://www.amazon.com/Govee-Temperature-Humidity-Notification-Monitor/dp/B07Y36FWTT . Measure that the truck's cabin is close to the setpoint temperature.

In addition keep an eye on the humidity. Often, trucks in auto mode will run the AC in winter to periodically dehumidify the cabin. When humidity drops it feels cooler without temperature changes. I've noticed this phenomenon with my EV6 (with heatpump) in winter and when it gets too aggressive I just shut the thing off or turn up the heat some.

As for my truck ('23 with no heatpump) I usually set it to something lower (65F). When it reaches the setpoint after awhile I may just increase the temperature a bit to get another warm blast when necessary. Can't say the two auto modes in EVs I've experienced have been the best. For me, I just expect to fiddle with them. It may be worse in your situation though but that's why you need the temp/humidity data to confirm. Good luck!
Thanks. Will look into the device. The tested the heat at the exit point vent and it is how. Seems the heater can produce heat but does not warm the cabin.
 
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MrLoganRoss

MrLoganRoss

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@TaxmanHog -
Thanks for your detailed answer on the other thread. It does blow air on max. I need to get the truck back to test that more as well as turning off auto.

I am going to check out some other ‘24s this afternoon.

it’s just so weird because the heating experience has been awesome in lightnings I rent went traveling. Just not sure if those were 24s.
 

Charge_Rob

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So does the ‘24 have both a heat pump and resistive heater?

Also, what is the connection between the heating system and coolant since a number of incidents were resolved by flushing the coolant?

thanks!
Yes, it has both. The heat pump is primary, but the PTC (resistance heater) will kick in if the heat pump is either not providing enough heat, or if it is in a defrost cycle.
 
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MrLoganRoss

MrLoganRoss

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Yes, it has both. The heat pump is primary, but the PTC (resistance heater) will kick in if the heat pump is either not providing enough heat, or if it is in a defrost cycle.
Awesome. I am a bit surprised the service technicians didn’t know that.
 
 





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