dudley Posted November 16, 2011 Report Share Posted November 16, 2011 I have had my Edge back to Ford twice for an issue with the defrost/defogger. In both cases the service dept has stated they can't duplicate my problem. When there is a sudden change in temp outside ( encountered hail storm temp dropped 20 degrees) or car outside in cold and entered by owners and initiated driving the defroster would not clear the windshield of fog. In both cases I set defroster to on and the fan to high. I must keep the wipers on to even have slight vision through the windshield. Am I doing something wrong? It appears once the defrost button is touched the AC turns off ( or at least the light eliminating the AC is off) At the dealers yesterday, in defrost mode and fan on high, the air coming our of the defrost vents was very cold. Should this be the case? I understand the Auto mode is disengaged upon activation of defrost button. Should I be changing the temp setting to a higher temp prior to selecting the defrost? My wife feels very unsafe in this vehicle when she can't has been driving and encountered this situation. I have had it happen to me also. Thanks for any suggestions. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
akirby Posted November 16, 2011 Report Share Posted November 16, 2011 I have had my Edge back to Ford twice for an issue with the defrost/defogger. In both cases the service dept has stated they can't duplicate my problem. When there is a sudden change in temp outside ( encountered hail storm temp dropped 20 degrees) or car outside in cold and entered by owners and initiated driving the defroster would not clear the windshield of fog. In both cases I set defroster to on and the fan to high. I must keep the wipers on to even have slight vision through the windshield. Am I doing something wrong? It appears once the defrost button is touched the AC turns off ( or at least the light eliminating the AC is off) At the dealers yesterday, in defrost mode and fan on high, the air coming our of the defrost vents was very cold. Should this be the case? I understand the Auto mode is disengaged upon activation of defrost button. Should I be changing the temp setting to a higher temp prior to selecting the defrost? My wife feels very unsafe in this vehicle when she can't has been driving and encountered this situation. I have had it happen to me also. Thanks for any suggestions. The defroster only clears fog from the inside of the windshield. To help with Fog and Frost on the outside it has to actually heat up the windshield. When you hit the Defrost button, turn the blower on high and the temp all the way to max (90). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Depiry Posted November 16, 2011 Report Share Posted November 16, 2011 The A/C should be running to dehumidify the inside air,Marty Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bbf2530 Posted November 16, 2011 Report Share Posted November 16, 2011 (edited) I have had my Edge back to Ford twice for an issue with the defrost/defogger. In both cases the service dept has stated they can't duplicate my problem. When there is a sudden change in temp outside ( encountered hail storm temp dropped 20 degrees) or car outside in cold and entered by owners and initiated driving the defroster would not clear the windshield of fog. In both cases I set defroster to on and the fan to high. I must keep the wipers on to even have slight vision through the windshield. Am I doing something wrong? It appears once the defrost button is touched the AC turns off ( or at least the light eliminating the AC is off) At the dealers yesterday, in defrost mode and fan on high, the air coming our of the defrost vents was very cold. Should this be the case? I understand the Auto mode is disengaged upon activation of defrost button. Should I be changing the temp setting to a higher temp prior to selecting the defrost? My wife feels very unsafe in this vehicle when she can't has been driving and encountered this situation. I have had it happen to me also. Thanks for any suggestions. Hi dudley. :D First, welcome to the Ford Edge Forum. Next, there is no reason to "...feel unsafe in this vehicle...". While it is always difficult to diagnose problems over the Internet, this seems as though it could be a case of "user misunderstanding"/"user error", as opposed to a system problem. Don't feel bad, it happens. For example, it is normal to need to use the wipers to clean the exterior of the windshield of moisture. Therefore, in addition to the advice already offered by others, it would be highly advisable that you and your wife read the Climate Control section of your Owners Manual to completely understand the correct way to use the system. Or you read it and explain it to her. :cheerleader: Since the Owners Manual explains in detail how the system operates, you and your wife can be better prepared to know how to operate it and what the system is/is not capable of. Your post does lead to a few questions necessary for more information: For example, when you state "At the dealers yesterday, in defrost mode and fan on high, the air coming our of the defrost vents was very cold. Should this be the case?"...the first questions would be what was the Climate Control system temperature set to and was the engine cold or warmed up? As opposed to other Auto or Heat settings, setting the system to Defrost with the fan on high will blow ambient temperature air immediately if the engine is not warmed up yet. It is a safety feature since if you need the interior windshield defogged right now, cold air is better than none in an emergency. That means if it is cold out, it will blow cold air through the Defroster vents if the engine is cold (or if set to a "Cold" temperature). So if you don't turn up the temperature to a reasonable setting on a warmed-up car or the engine is cold, the system will blow cold air. Also, as mentioned above, if there is a mist or other outside precipitation, it is normal to need to use the wipers to clean the exterior windshield. The defroster/defogger keeps the inside of the windshield clear of moisture and will help deice the exterior of the windshield, but it can not eliminate moisture from the windshield exterior. Additionally, the defroster setting will cycle the A/C condenser as needed to dehumidify the interior air for interior defogging purposes. Those operating hints are just for starters. If after reading the Owners Manual and understanding how to operate the system correctly, you still feel the climate control system is not operating property, you should make another Service appointment to have it checked. And give as much detail and be very specific as to what you feel the problems are, when/how they occur etc.. Let us know how you make out and good luck. :beerchug:. Edited November 16, 2011 by bbf2530 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dudley Posted November 17, 2011 Author Report Share Posted November 17, 2011 Hi dudley. :D First, welcome to the Ford Edge Forum. Next, there is no reason to "...feel unsafe in this vehicle...". While it is always difficult to diagnose problems over the Internet, this seems as though it could be a case of "user misunderstanding"/"user error", as opposed to a system problem. Don't feel bad, it happens. For example, it is normal to need to use the wipers to clean the exterior of the windshield of moisture. Therefore, in addition to the advice already offered by others, it would be highly advisable that you and your wife read the Climate Control section of your Owners Manual to completely understand the correct way to use the system. Or you read it and explain it to her. :cheerleader: Since the Owners Manual explains in detail how the system operates, you and your wife can be better prepared to know how to operate it and what the system is/is not capable of. Your post does lead to a few questions necessary for more information: For example, when you state "At the dealers yesterday, in defrost mode and fan on high, the air coming our of the defrost vents was very cold. Should this be the case?"...the first questions would be what was the Climate Control system temperature set to and was the engine cold or warmed up? As opposed to other Auto or Heat settings, setting the system to Defrost with the fan on high will blow ambient temperature air immediately if the engine is not warmed up yet. It is a safety feature since if you need the interior windshield defogged right now, cold air is better than none in an emergency. That means if it is cold out, it will blow cold air through the Defroster vents if the engine is cold (or if set to a "Cold" temperature). So if you don't turn up the temperature to a reasonable setting on a warmed-up car or the engine is cold, the system will blow cold air. Also, as mentioned above, if there is a mist or other outside precipitation, it is normal to need to use the wipers to clean the exterior windshield. The defroster/defogger keeps the inside of the windshield clear of moisture and will help deice the exterior of the windshield, but it can not eliminate moisture from the windshield exterior. Additionally, the defroster setting will cycle the A/C condenser as needed to dehumidify the interior air for interior defogging purposes. Those operating hints are just for starters. If after reading the Owners Manual and understanding how to operate the system correctly, you still feel the climate control system is not operating property, you should make another Service appointment to have it checked. And give as much detail and be very specific as to what you feel the problems are, when/how they occur etc.. Let us know how you make out and good luck. :beerchug:. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dudley Posted November 17, 2011 Author Report Share Posted November 17, 2011 Akirby, Depery and BBF Thanks so much for your insights. We (wife and self) both have read the owners manual several times relative to this issue and believe we are following the directions as specified. Referring to my post where the defrost was blowing very cold air. I had driven about 25 minutes to dealer. Car was well warmed up. I had the AC on and set to 72 degrees. The outside temp was in low 70's. The dealer rep had the defroster running for at least 10 minutes at full fan speed when the cold air was noted. With regards to having the wipers on as necessity to clear the windshield, it was not raining, misting, frosting or humid outside. I should note, there does not seem to be any air restriction from the vents. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
akirby Posted November 17, 2011 Report Share Posted November 17, 2011 I must keep the wipers on to even have slight vision through the windshield. With regards to having the wipers on as necessity to clear the windshield, it was not raining, misting, frosting or humid outside. Now I'm confused. If the fog was on the inside then how would running the wipers help? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dudley Posted November 17, 2011 Author Report Share Posted November 17, 2011 Now I'm confused. If the fog was on the inside then how would running the wipers help? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dudley Posted November 17, 2011 Author Report Share Posted November 17, 2011 The fog issues is on both sides of the windshield. I must keep the wipers on to have any ability to see at all. I would say I have a 40-60 % reduction in visibility even with the wipers on clearing the outside. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
akirby Posted November 17, 2011 Report Share Posted November 17, 2011 The fog issues is on both sides of the windshield. I must keep the wipers on to have any ability to see at all. I would say I have a 40-60 % reduction in visibility even with the wipers on clearing the outside. Did you try turning the blower to high, temp to 90, A/C on and select the defrost vents? That should do it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bbf2530 Posted November 17, 2011 Report Share Posted November 17, 2011 (edited) Akirby, Depery and BBF Thanks so much for your insights. We (wife and self) both have read the owners manual several times relative to this issue and believe we are following the directions as specified. Referring to my post where the defrost was blowing very cold air. I had driven about 25 minutes to dealer. Car was well warmed up. I had the AC on and set to 72 degrees. The outside temp was in low 70's. The dealer rep had the defroster running for at least 10 minutes at full fan speed when the cold air was noted. With regards to having the wipers on as necessity to clear the windshield, it was not raining, misting, frosting or humid outside. I should note, there does not seem to be any air restriction from the vents. Hi dudley. :D And I am also confused. In addition to what akirby stated, how can it be said in your initial post that the "dealer could not duplicate my issue" when you just stated that "I had the AC on and set to 72 degrees. The outside temp was in low 70's. The dealer rep had the defroster running for at least 10 minutes at full fan speed when the cold air was noted.". If you had the temp set to 72 and the system was blowing "cold air", then that is duplicating the issue since it should be blowing air in the 72 degree range. If it is not clearing the inside of moisture, then there is an issue, but if the Dealer noted cold air blowing while set to 72, what did they not duplicate? And as far as the outside of the windshield, the Defroster does not clear the exterior of the windshield and we all must use the wipers to clear moisture/condensation, so that is not an issue. I have a feeling there is some sort of miscommunication occurring. Good luck. :beerchug: Edited November 17, 2011 by bbf2530 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dudley Posted November 17, 2011 Author Report Share Posted November 17, 2011 Did you try turning the blower to high, temp to 90, A/C on and select the defrost vents? That should do it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dudley Posted November 17, 2011 Author Report Share Posted November 17, 2011 I notice when i engage the defrost button the AC (which was on shuts off) I do set the fan speed to high and have tried elevating the temp. There is plenty of air flowing out of the dash vents (under windshield) A 2011 Explorer owner mentioned there is a switch that automatically "mixes" the cold and warm air once defrost is engaged. This is part of the air flow system. Does this make any sense? Since mine blows nothing but very cold air, I am wondering if this could be at least part of the issue. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
akirby Posted November 17, 2011 Report Share Posted November 17, 2011 I notice when i engage the defrost button the AC (which was on shuts off) I do set the fan speed to high and have tried elevating the temp. There is plenty of air flowing out of the dash vents (under windshield) A 2011 Explorer owner mentioned there is a switch that automatically "mixes" the cold and warm air once defrost is engaged. This is part of the air flow system. Does this make any sense? Since mine blows nothing but very cold air, I am wondering if this could be at least part of the issue. Could be. Hard to diagnose over the internet. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wlepse Posted November 17, 2011 Report Share Posted November 17, 2011 Sounds like when you are turning it on the air is so cold you chill the windshield and are getting condensation on the outside requiring you to use the wipers to clear it. I have seen this on occasion in some vehicles. But with that said I think Akirby's suggestion is a good one, turn the temp all the way up. If the temp doesn't change I would think there is a problem. Most people need to use the defroster when it is cold out and the cold outside air causes condensation inside the cabin, so I wouldn't think they would want to freeze the occupants trying to clear condensation. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cjohns28 Posted December 27, 2011 Report Share Posted December 27, 2011 I have noticed similar event on differences of temps inside and out. As others have mentioned, crank the temp, and it goes away quickly. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.