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Car Forum / Ford / Ford Focus / August 2006

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Hot air from ventilation openings

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Dudo - 10 Aug 2006 21:30 GMT
Although I put heating on cold/blue relatively lukewarm/hot air flows from
ventilation openings ... I have noticed that there is one very hot box
situated in the center and down from ventilation control in direction to the
pedals behind plastic air openings. Car is Focus year 2000 without air
conditioning I bought it few days ago so I don't know if this is normal for
Focus or there is again some fault on heating radiator.

Heating radiator was repleaced few months ago because of leaking. Old owner
gave me papers from Ford dealer.  Can I do anything about this?  Maybe some
cold/hot water valveor something like that is not mounted properly? Or?

Thanks.

Also if anyone can comment what should I take most care of on this car good
bad sides etc...
The Saltman - 10 Aug 2006 22:31 GMT
I have a 2001 with a/c and when the a/c isn't on I get the same thing.

> Although I put heating on cold/blue relatively lukewarm/hot air flows from
> ventilation openings ... I have noticed that there is one very hot box
[quoted text clipped - 12 lines]
> Also if anyone can comment what should I take most care of on this car
> good bad sides etc...
Dudo - 12 Aug 2006 00:52 GMT
Is it normal that I can't switch off completely heating on Ford Focus?

Anyone have same problem? It is ok in winter but during summer at 25 +
degrees it is not!

>I have a 2001 with a/c and when the a/c isn't on I get the same thing.
>
[quoted text clipped - 14 lines]
>> Also if anyone can comment what should I take most care of on this car
>> good bad sides etc...
Tim.. - 12 Aug 2006 02:48 GMT
> Is it normal that I can't switch off completely heating on Ford Focus?
>
> Anyone have same problem? It is ok in winter but during summer at 25 +
> degrees it is not!

My focus used to blow warm air from the center vents with the a/c turned off
too. Its a characteristic of the car.

Tim.
Michael Heiming - 13 Aug 2006 18:13 GMT
In alt.autos.ford.focus Tim.. <the.farm.hates.spam@btinternet.com>:

>> Is it normal that I can't switch off completely heating on Ford Focus?
>>
>> Anyone have same problem? It is ok in winter but during summer at 25 +
>> degrees it is not!

> My focus used to blow warm air from the center vents with the a/c turned off
> too. Its a characteristic of the car.

Sounds interesting, just tested this with a small LCD thermometer
putting the outside sensor (cable) directly into one of the
center vents, but can't really acknowledge it. There was no real
difference shown to my outside thermometer (1999 wagon).

For the fun of it turned A/C on to measure and quickly temp
dropped down to 1/1.8 C/F, much more then expected. ;-)

Signature

Michael Heiming (X-PGP-Sig > GPG-Key ID: EDD27B94)
mail: echo zvpunry@urvzvat.qr | perl -pe 'y/a-z/n-za-m/'

Dudo - 13 Aug 2006 21:57 GMT
> In alt.autos.ford.focus Tim.. <the.farm.hates.spam@btinternet.com>:
>
[quoted text clipped - 14 lines]
> For the fun of it turned A/C on to measure and quickly temp
> dropped down to 1/1.8 C/F, much more then expected. ;-)

Please can you check if heating radiator under the vent. control almost on
the floor of the car is warm when heating is off. (this is the case in my
ford focus)...

Thanx
underdog - 14 Aug 2006 15:05 GMT
> In alt.autos.ford.focus Tim.. <the.farm.hates.spam@btinternet.com>:
>
[quoted text clipped - 13 lines]
> For the fun of it turned A/C on to measure and quickly temp
> dropped down to 1/1.8 C/F, much more then expected. ;-)

Where's the air for fresh air come from?
I know it comes in from  below the windshield, but does that come
Thruogh the egine compartment? or just over the hood, which could still
pick up some heat.

Micheal, your AC cooled it to 1 degree C?
thats almost freexing, I haven't had an AC do that
since I had a freon one in my '86? Tempo, that would put out
about -2C / 29F with recirculate on.
Dudo - 14 Aug 2006 17:41 GMT
>> In alt.autos.ford.focus Tim.. <the.farm.hates.spam@btinternet.com>:
>>
[quoted text clipped - 19 lines]
> Thruogh the egine compartment? or just over the hood, which could still
> pick up some heat.

I checked it again it seems thet problem is in cabin radiator which is
really hot when heating is turned off...
Are there any hot water valve or something similar?
Michael Heiming - 15 Aug 2006 06:20 GMT
In alt.autos.ford.focus underdog <me@privacy.net>:
>> In alt.autos.ford.focus Tim.. <the.farm.hates.spam@btinternet.com>:

>>>>Is it normal that I can't switch off completely heating on Ford Focus?

>>>>Anyone have same problem? It is ok in winter but during summer at 25 +
>>>>degrees it is not!

>>>My focus used to blow warm air from the center vents with the a/c turned off
>>>too. Its a characteristic of the car.

>> Sounds interesting, just tested this with a small LCD thermometer
>> putting the outside sensor (cable) directly into one of the
>> center vents, but can't really acknowledge it. There was no real
>> difference shown to my outside thermometer (1999 wagon).

>> For the fun of it turned A/C on to measure and quickly temp
>> dropped down to 1/1.8 C/F, much more then expected. ;-)

Ops, seems my conversion tool was using F (absolute), should be
33.8F in reality.

> Where's the air for fresh air come from?
> I know it comes in from  below the windshield, but does that come
> Thruogh the egine compartment? or just over the hood, which could still
> pick up some heat.

The problem might be the heat exchanger as "Dudo" pointed out,
haven't checked about the Focus, but any other Ford owned by me
had some kind of cover you moved with the temp control over the
heat exchanger. There weren't any valves to control refrigerant
flow manually.

From the beginning of my test it was turned complete to cold
air. Perhaps you have to drive longer (30 min.) to measure the
difference?

Did took a look today, but things are quite compact and I wasn't
able to find the heat exchanger in second today.

> Micheal, your AC cooled it to 1 degree C?
> thats almost freexing, I haven't had an AC do that
> since I had a freon one in my '86? Tempo, that would put out
> about -2C / 29F with recirculate on.

Indeed found the cooling capacity quite respectable, though it
was just 24C outside. But even with outside well >35/95 C/F you
have to turn it off frequently even at low fan speed or you'll
freeze to death quite soon...

Ops forgot to test with recirculate on at all.

Signature

Michael Heiming (X-PGP-Sig > GPG-Key ID: EDD27B94)
mail: echo zvpunry@urvzvat.qr | perl -pe 'y/a-z/n-za-m/'
#bofh excuse 16: somebody was calculating pi on the server

Dudo - 15 Aug 2006 16:04 GMT
> In alt.autos.ford.focus underdog <me@privacy.net>:
>>> In alt.autos.ford.focus Tim.. <the.farm.hates.spam@btinternet.com>:
[quoted text clipped - 29 lines]
> heat exchanger. There weren't any valves to control refrigerant
> flow manually.

Are you sure that there is no any valve that control refrigerant flow? In
that case this could be big design flaw on ford focus if you wan't to drive
it comfortably in hot climates like summers in Croatia are without AC.

Actally heat exchanger is allways hot in my car (you can't hold finger on it
because of temp.) so it seems if everything is as you wrote that we allways
have source of heat (cca. 90-100 degrees C) in the car?
Chris Whelan - 15 Aug 2006 16:52 GMT
[..]
> Are you sure that there is no any valve that control refrigerant flow? In
> that case this could be big design flaw on ford focus if you wan't to
[quoted text clipped - 4 lines]
> it because of temp.) so it seems if everything is as you wrote that we
> allways have source of heat (cca. 90-100 degrees C) in the car?

I'm guessing you mean *coolant* flow?

As far as I know, Ford and many others have not used a valve on the heating
system since the 1960's.

It is not a design flaw; there are a number of advantages in this approach.

A flap is used when the temperature is set to the coolest setting to prevent
air passing through the heat exchanger. It may be that yours is broken or
out of adjustment because I have never noticed unwanted hot air coming in
to the car in the seven years I've owned my Focus.

If there is a weakness with the Focus heating/ventilating system it is quite
the opposite. There is insufficient air flow through the car, so it tends
to mist up quite easily. Also, in the coldest weather the heater is barely
adequate.

HTH

Chris

Signature

Remove prejudice to reply.

Michael Heiming - 15 Aug 2006 19:42 GMT
In alt.autos.ford.focus Chris Whelan <cawhelan@prejudicentlworld.com>:

> [..]
>> Are you sure that there is no any valve that control refrigerant flow? In
>> that case this could be big design flaw on ford focus if you wan't to
>> drive it comfortably in hot climates like summers in Croatia are without
>> AC.

>> Actally heat exchanger is allways hot in my car (you can't hold finger on
>> it because of temp.) so it seems if everything is as you wrote that we
>> allways have source of heat (cca. 90-100 degrees C) in the car?

> I'm guessing you mean *coolant* flow?

> As far as I know, Ford and many others have not used a valve on the heating
> system since the 1960's.

This is my experience with Ford, though I haven't checked on my
Focus. Ford uses just the usual thermostat to separate the
radiator, from the circuit if the engine is cold.

> It is not a design flaw; there are a number of advantages in this approach.

> A flap is used when the temperature is set to the coolest setting to prevent
> air passing through the heat exchanger. It may be that yours is broken or
> out of adjustment because I have never noticed unwanted hot air coming in
> to the car in the seven years I've owned my Focus.

This might be well the reason or simply some dust/dirt preventing
to close the flap completely?

IMHO vents are much more likely to break then this simple
technology.

> If there is a weakness with the Focus heating/ventilating system it is quite
> the opposite. There is insufficient air flow through the car, so it tends
> to mist up quite easily. Also, in the coldest weather the heater is barely
> adequate.

Found the heating quite sufficient, though it takes a little time
especially with the wagon if it is really cold.

Indeed, some rain and the Focus fogs up quite fast, even if I
have exchanged a few parts recommended by Ford (TSI - technical
service information), it got a little better but still annoying,
the only thing you can do is turn on heated windscreen and turn
on A/C to get a clear view back...Unluckily it rains quite often
in my area...;(

Don't suppose the reason due to a wrong mounted interior air
filter as some pointed out, as all service has been done by an
official Ford dealer. Though I could double check of course, but
there would be no TSI information and some fix in production if
there wouldn't be a problem.

Signature

Michael Heiming (X-PGP-Sig > GPG-Key ID: EDD27B94)
mail: echo zvpunry@urvzvat.qr | perl -pe 'y/a-z/n-za-m/'

Dudo - 15 Aug 2006 23:28 GMT
> In alt.autos.ford.focus Chris Whelan <cawhelan@prejudicentlworld.com>:
>
[quoted text clipped - 34 lines]
> IMHO vents are much more likely to break then this simple
> technology.

I agree that simple technology is sometimes much more reliable and I'm sure
that flap is much more reliable then valve but...

>> If there is a weakness with the Focus heating/ventilating system it is
>> quite
[quoted text clipped - 5 lines]
> Found the heating quite sufficient, though it takes a little time
> especially with the wagon if it is really cold.

I don't know about winter but during summer heating radiator with hot engine
water/coolant at 90-100 degrees C is simply one unwanted source of heat in
the cabin.... at least when gets hot and the car doesn't have AC

> Indeed, some rain and the Focus fogs up quite fast, even if I
> have exchanged a few parts recommended by Ford (TSI - technical
[quoted text clipped - 8 lines]
> there would be no TSI information and some fix in production if
> there wouldn't be a problem.

Please could you explain me where to find interior air filter in ford focus?
Michael Heiming - 16 Aug 2006 21:15 GMT
In alt.autos.ford.focus Dudo <doughmREMOVE@net.hr>:

>> In alt.autos.ford.focus Chris Whelan <cawhelan@prejudicentlworld.com>:

[ simple technology to control Ford heating systems ]

> I don't know about winter but during summer heating radiator
> with hot engine water/coolant at 90-100 degrees C is simply one
> unwanted source of heat in the cabin.... at least when gets hot
> and the car doesn't have AC

Can't remember any real problem due to the fact, though my Focus
has A/C. From your other contributions it sounds like someone has
worked on the heating system of your car and perhaps left it in a
state you suffer from?

>> Indeed, some rain and the Focus fogs up quite fast, even if I
>> have exchanged a few parts recommended by Ford (TSI - technical
>> service information), it got a little better but still annoying,
>> the only thing you can do is turn on heated windscreen and turn
>> on A/C to get a clear view back...Unluckily it rains quite often
>> in my area...;(

>> Don't suppose the reason due to a wrong mounted interior air
>> filter as some pointed out, as all service has been done by an
>> official Ford dealer. Though I could double check of course, but
>> there would be no TSI information and some fix in production if
>> there wouldn't be a problem.

> Please could you explain me where to find interior air filter
> in ford focus?

http://www.jwardell.com/focus/pollenfilter.html
http://www.myfordfocus.com/how-to/cabinfilter.htm

Should be the shown filter, It's rumored to be easily mounted
wrongly, getting wet while raining and some people accuse it as
reason for interior fog? Have never checked about mine, it
doesn't happen any time it rains and I can control it with the
heated windscreen and/or A/C quickly, though it shouldn't happen
in the first place.

Signature

Michael Heiming (X-PGP-Sig > GPG-Key ID: EDD27B94)
mail: echo zvpunry@urvzvat.qr | perl -pe 'y/a-z/n-za-m/'

Dudo - 16 Aug 2006 22:22 GMT
> In alt.autos.ford.focus Dudo <doughmREMOVE@net.hr>:
>
[quoted text clipped - 11 lines]
> worked on the heating system of your car and perhaps left it in a
> state you suffer from?

Yes they changed cabin radiator because of leaking... few months
ago...probably they didn't do something as they should and hot air gets
in.... and btw. air recirculation switch works randomly... One day it works
another day don't...

Good car but bad mechanics...

>>> Indeed, some rain and the Focus fogs up quite fast, even if I
>>> have exchanged a few parts recommended by Ford (TSI - technical
[quoted text clipped - 20 lines]
> heated windscreen and/or A/C quickly, though it shouldn't happen
> in the first place.

Thanks a lot for the info...
Dudo - 15 Aug 2006 23:22 GMT
> [..]
>> Are you sure that there is no any valve that control refrigerant flow? In
[quoted text clipped - 7 lines]
>
> I'm guessing you mean *coolant* flow?

That's right...

> As far as I know, Ford and many others have not used a valve on the
> heating
[quoted text clipped - 8 lines]
> out of adjustment because I have never noticed unwanted hot air coming in
> to the car in the seven years I've owned my Focus.

Well then maybe is something broken or out of adjustement with that flap in
my focus because ventilation canals get really warm and when temp outside
reaches 20-25-30 C it simply gets too hot in the car...

Please if you have any documentation how to disassemble ventilation system
could you sand me it on my email...

Btw. that 'heating radiator' was changed few months ago at least old owner
said so...maybe they didn't assemble it correctly...

> If there is a weakness with the Focus heating/ventilating system it is
> quite
> the opposite. There is insufficient air flow through the car, so it tends
> to mist up quite easily. Also, in the coldest weather the heater is barely
> adequate.

Well I have this car for one week only so have to get a bit colder to check
that... :-)
Chris Whelan - 16 Aug 2006 08:26 GMT
[..]

> Well then maybe is something broken or out of adjustement with that flap
> in my focus because ventilation canals get really warm and when temp
> outside reaches 20-25-30 C it simply gets too hot in the car...

There is something wrong with your car then, without a doubt.

> Please if you have any documentation how to disassemble ventilation system
> could you sand me it on my email...
>
> Btw. that 'heating radiator' was changed few months ago at least old owner
> said so...maybe they didn't assemble it correctly...

I don't think that's a "maybe"...

Can you find out where the last owner took it for the repair? Then perhaps
you could return it to them to do the job properly.

Chris

Signature

Remove prejudice to reply.

me - 16 Aug 2006 03:15 GMT
> [..]
>
[quoted text clipped - 27 lines]
>
> Chris

I live in Minnesota, in the winter when it's above 0F(~-15C) I get heat
within 2-3 miles, and good head within 10mi, and below 0F, I get heat in
about 5 miles, either way I have turned the heat down by the time I get
to work, ~35 miles.
Tony Wesley - 16 Aug 2006 04:07 GMT
> I live in Minnesota, in the winter when it's above 0F(~-15C) I get heat
> within 2-3 miles, and good head within 10mi,

You get what??

When I visited Minnesota, I just got cheesy souvenirs from the Mall of
America and some good used books from Uncle Hugo's & Uncle Edgar's.

>  and below 0F, I get heat in
> about 5 miles, either way I have turned the heat down by the time I get
> to work, ~35 miles.

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