Circulate function keeps returning to outside air

[Monkeynaut]

How do I get the truck to stop automatically returning to outside air after I have selected circulate. Also, can we get a software update that moves the circulate button to the main screen. I shouldn’t have to get into a sub-screen to get into circulate mode. It could replace the defrost button since there is already a physical button for that.

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[RocketGhost]

That behavior isn't unique to the Lightning. It won't let you recirculate if there's a possibility of fogging, which is in defrost mode and usually when providing heat.

 

[Maquis]

If you don’t use “Auto” and do not have air directed to the windshield, it will stay on.
The hard “Defrost” button is a federal requirement.

 

[Runaway Tractor]

How do I get the truck to stop automatically returning to outside air after I have selected circulate. Also, can we get a software update that moves the circulate button to the main screen. I shouldn’t have to get into a sub-screen to get into circulate mode. It could replace the defrost button since there is already a physical button for that.

No, no, and nope. I agree it's annoying. There more circumstances than just humidity/defrost overriding it. The automation adjusts the fresh air / recirculation based on numerous factors. It is not documented and you have no control.

The AC compressor is similar. You can press the button. It will light up. But that doesn't mean it's operating. In fact I've found that when the outside air temp is below freezing, the compressor will in most cases not operate at all. And also can't control fresh air to compensate. Extremely annoying.

 

[Heliian]

It stays in recirc if you're in manual mode like others have said.

I can't think of a reason you'd want it on all the time but the truck will handle the controls in auto mode so you don't have to touch anything.

 

[Maquis]

I can't think of a reason you'd want it on all the time

It could be handy in the winter time if want to prevent people from seeing what’s going on inside your truck.

 

[Monkeynaut]

It stays in recirc if you're in manual mode like others have said.

I can't think of a reason you'd want it on all the time but the truck will handle the controls in auto mode so you don't have to touch anything.

I live in Alabama and travel country roads to work. I don‘t want farm dust and dead skunk smell getting in the truck. It is a shame it won’t stay in recirc and handle the temp and air flow for me in automatic.

 

[Monkeynaut]

If you don’t use “Auto” and do not have air directed to the windshield, it will stay on.
The hard “Defrost” button is a federal requirement.

That is interesting the Hard defrost button is a federal requirement. I like it just fine though.

What I was saying is the defrost on the touch screen is redundant because the hard button exist. So… for my purposes, i’d rather the defrost on the touch screen be the recirc button. Of course, I also want it to stay in recirc until I change my mind.

There are other “automatic“ functions like the seat warming/cooling and the steering wheel heating that can be taken off automatic without placing the entire system in manual. I just want them to make the circulate button operate like those and put it on the home screen

 

[Monkeynaut]

No, no, and nope. I agree it's annoying. There more circumstances than just humidity/defrost overriding it. The automation adjusts the fresh air / recirculation based on numerous factors. It is not documented and you have no control.

The AC compressor is similar. You can press the button. It will light up. But that doesn't mean it's operating. In fact I've found that when the outside air temp is below freezing, the compressor will in most cases not operate at all. And also can't control fresh air to compensate. Extremely annoying.

I definately believe it‘s more that temp/humitiy. The windows were not going to fog today but the truck would only stay in recirc for about a minute before swapping back. If it is an efficiency thing then that is a decision the truck should let me make. I don’t care if the compressor has to run when it wouldn’t need to if I was on outside air.

I had a toyota that had a refresh button that clearing the cabins air with fresh air. Not sure how it did it but at a minimum I wish they would program that in and put it in place of the defrost on the touch screen.

Best for my purposes would be making circulate work like the seat and wheel buttons when they are taken off auto.

 

[dww]

It stays in recirc if you're in manual mode like others have said.

I can't think of a reason you'd want it on all the time but the truck will handle the controls in auto mode so you don't have to touch anything.

No it doesn’t. Manual, Auto, Driver focused it does not matter. If it’s slightly cold (50ish) it will turn recirculation off every minute, and no it’s not fogging. Why would you want it off? 1). Because you are in traffic and behind cars with bad exhaust. 2) Because you have an EV and heating cold outside air costs you range. It’s sloppy and there should be a dedicated button on the home screen or a real button. I can feel and smell every time it does it and it’s annoying when I purposefully set it to recirculate.

 

[Lightning Bronson]

If you don’t use “Auto” and do not have air directed to the windshield, it will stay on.
The hard “Defrost” button is a federal requirement.

Testing this out:

Front vents with any setting enabled with recirculation on works perfectly.

Bottom vents with Driver Focused enabled with recirculation automatic disables the option.

Bottom vents with Driver Focused disabled with recirculation enabled works perfectly.

EDIT: Even with Driver Focused off, recirculation does turn itself off as well with bottom vents enabled only.

 

[nate002]

This aggravates me to no end. Yes Ford, I am so happy to have to remember EVERY SINGLE TIME I get in my truck to change the recirculate air setting in a sub menu so I don’t get choked out by all the diesel engines on the road in my commute.

 

[Monkeynaut]

@Ford Motor Company is there a process for requesting software updates?

 

[keith.springer]

It stays in recirc if you're in manual mode like others have said.

I can't think of a reason you'd want it on all the time but the truck will handle the controls in auto mode so you don't have to touch anything.

How're these for reasons?
When I'm driving in stop and go traffic (every day), I really don't want to be breathing the exhaust of the car in front of me.
Diving past construction (again, every day, can't avoid it in this city), I don't want all that dust being kicked up to get sucked into the cabin. I know there's a filter but you still smell it and some still seems to get through.
Roadkill, especially skunks, don't want to smell that either.

 

[Runaway Tractor]

Everything everyone is saying as hard and fast are simply not true. Once the weather is cold, manual control of the AC compressor and fresh/recirc is virtually non-existent. The indicator lights are lying to you. The indicator light just shows what you selected. Not what it is actually doing.

In cold weather, my experience is that you cannot select fresh air vs recirculation. It seems to favor recirculation but some unknown percentage or even fully. This is likely a scheme to reduce the amount of PTC heat needed for the cabin, and possibly to increase the amount of PTC heat therefore available for the battery warming. Under ideal conditions, this would be intelligent.

In cold weather, the AC compressor will not run, period, end. I can monitor this in Car Scanner. It doesn't run no matter what mode you're in or what button you push. The indicator light will be on. But I can assure you the compressor is NOT running. Probably once again a scheme to use less electrical power.

A reasonable assumption on the programming logic is that with very dry outside air, you can mix fresh with recirculate air to keep the cabin dry. A dry cabin doesn't fog the windows up. Anyone who is old enough to remember the old days where there was a slider to vary the fresh/recirc mix knows what I'm talking about. This is the same reason even modern basic HVAC systems on other cars for 15 years have disabled recirc when in defrost mode.

This all falls apart because whoever wrote the programming logic is a moron. This is what happens when you let a blue haired Gen Z college intern that doesn't even have a drivers license write code of a vehicle. it does not manage that mix properly automatically. It does not let you override it manually. And the result is fogged up windows on the highway when it is 15 degrees and 15% humidity outside.

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