Unique A/C quirk, or common problem with common fix?

imho:

Actually in many cars it's a feature. By having the a/c come one, it dries the air by removing mosture. Now the air is directed upward to your winsheild drying it out. This helps to defog thewindows when the car is both warm andcold.

So, I'm guessing this isn't a bug in your car, but I'm not a focus expert, so rely on your owner's manual for information.

later,

tom @

I remember reading somewhere that the behaviour is by design. I guess Ford are thinking that your screen will be demisted faster by air dried by the aircon.

LJ

In message , Scott Thomas wrote

It's designed to work this way.

"Scott Thomas" wrote

Most, if not all, modern cars with A/C are like this. It helps to dry the air going over the windshield.

I remember a few years ago I had a Dodge Shadow with this feature, and the A/C broke one hot foggy night during the height of summer and all of a sudden I had a hard time seeing . I had to crank the heat way up to get the windshield to clear, which was not fun.

I believe this is a design feature to have the a/c pump turning once in a while during the winter months. This may help keep the unit from seizing from lack of use during the winter months.

In alt.autos.ford.focus Scott Thomas :

You can be lucky it turns on the A/C LED at all, mine (1999) doesn't, while switching the A/C on. It's true that windscreens defrost faster with A/C turned on. The problem, never had any car which tended to fog inside as fast, as the Focus (wagon).

There were some enhancements in production. Ordered the improved parts and mounted them, but it didn't helped much. Luckily, my Focus has the heated windscreen, which is of great help.

'spostadothat.

Rob

My own 2004 focus sedan ghia only turns on AC when I press the AC button.

But my parents 2004 C-Max automatically starts AC if you set the airflow to defrost the windshield. Probably intended as a user-friendly feature ?

Erik M R