Interior climate control - easy or not?

[BuffaloBill]

I played around with the climate control system on a 2021 XLT 302 (auto temperature control) and I noticed if you want to change the air flow source (feet, face, windshield) you have to press a manual button, then an on-screen selector (for the source), and then press close (or wait for the selector to go away). To me, this seems rather cumbersome to make a simple airflow adjustment.

Granted, I am accustomed to (and prefer) manual climate control where I can easily adjust temp, fan speed, and air source with nice big dials without my eyes leaving the road. Does anyone else feel this way, or do you just set it on auto, adjust the temp, and forget about it? I'm not sure if the previous generation was designed the same way.

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[discothan]

I haven't had a chance to play with the manual/auto adjustments since I remote start the truck and its warm/comfy when I get in. But I will on my next journey out and report back. I just hate that there is no dedicated SYNC4 screen for climate / seat heat....yet...

 

[KBKEITH]

I know what you mean. It does seem like an extra step to make an airflow adjustment and the controls on my former ‘18 were simpler.

That being said I have just been keeping it on auto and taking a “set and forget” approach. So far it has been working just fine during these cold days in Michigan.

 

[discothan]

I know what you mean. It does seem like an extra step to make an airflow adjustment and the controls on my former ‘18 were simpler.

That being said I have just been keeping it on auto and taking a “set and forget” approach. So far it has been working just fine during these cold days in Michigan.

LOL.....SW Michigan here!

 

[ilkhan]

Set it and forget it.

 

[Reeltime]

Just looked at the manual, it does seem cumbersome. Gonna drive my wife CRAZY!.... Not a good thing!

For example, here is the information on defrost -

So much for physical buttons. They just turn on the touch screen to the proper place. I have never had to make sure other vents are switched off when I turn on the defrost. It should automatically close all vents except the windshield.

Just my humble opinion.

 

[BuffaloBill]

Just give me a physical dial, or a simple button like on the XL or XLT 300A:

 

[billybob]

The wife and I usually like the settings different, in our last two cars we have had the auto dual zone controls and I would not get another car/truck without it now. We almost exclusively use auto and just bump the temp up or down on our own side.

 

[McEach]

I know it's a little off subject but in my 2020 F150 XLT i have only manual climate control. If i want to set it to 70 degrees, there is no readout anywhere that shows 70 when I turn knob.

 

[Blueshound]

It is cumbersome if you are particular about airflow. You are correct, you have to press a physical button and then a touchscreen button to turn off defrost/dash vent/footwell air flow. I find that the "auto" is extraordinarily bad and annoying. It never has the fan speed right no matter what you do and it doesn't seem to control the vent selection at all. Also the recirculate button randomly turns itself off, usually when you're driving through wood smoke or behind a diesel truck. There are dedicated buttons, though, for max defrost and max air conditioning. Those will give you full fans being with one button if your windshield fogs up or something like that. On the good side, the fan speed button works really well to bump the speed up and down. And the dual zone temperature control also works really well. My wife and I often have different settings.

 

[Oxford_Powerboost]

I’m a huge Auto and forget about it kind of person. I find manual climate really annoying, constantly have to adjust it lol. It helps that I like the direction it chooses. Hate heat on my face and I like A/C on my face. And it always defogs when needed. I just adjust the temp every once in a while

 

[Oxford_Powerboost]

It is cumbersome if you are particular about airflow. You are correct, you have to press a physical button and then a touchscreen button to turn off defrost/dash vent/footwell air flow. I find that the "auto" is extraordinarily bad and annoying. It never has the fan speed right no matter what you do and it doesn't seem to control the vent selection at all. Also the recirculate button randomly turns itself off, usually when you're driving through wood smoke or behind a diesel truck. There are dedicated buttons, though, for max defrost and max air conditioning. Those will give you full fans being with one button if your windshield fogs up or something like that. On the good side, the fan speed button works really well to bump the speed up and down. And the dual zone temperature control also works really well. My wife and I often have different settings.

Have you tried adjusting the auto fan speed setting? It can be on low medium or high. I keep mine on medium and it seems to be appropriate most of the time. I’ll bump it to high occasionally when I’m really cold

 

[Blueshound]

Have you tried adjusting the auto fan speed setting? It can be on low medium or high. I keep mine on medium and it seems to be appropriate most of the time. I’ll bump it to high occasionally when I’m really cold

Yeah, I have tried it but after 5 minutes I give up and go back to manual control. I think I am just super picky. If my feet are cold, I want just the foot vent on. But I hate air conditioning on my feet - dash vents only please! When I have the sunroof open, I tweak the rear slider 1/2" at a time to get just the right flow. I know many love Auto but it just doesn't work for me.

 

[CK.MECHA]

I hate it, and hate the fact you cannot modulate the flow between settings even more. My last vehicle (a Japanese SUV half the price of my truck new) I could set the flow to any fraction of airflow between feet, dash, and defrost. If I wanted 15% defrost and 85% feet, I could have it. No longer, stuck with all or nothing.

 

[BuffaloBill]

I hate it, and hate the fact you cannot modulate the flow between settings even more. My last vehicle (a Japanese SUV half the price of my truck new) I could set the flow to any fraction of airflow between feet, dash, and defrost. If I wanted 15% defrost and 85% feet, I could have it. No longer, stuck with all or nothing.

Can you select both feet and windshield when the icons pop up on the screen?

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