Recirculate question

[RMoore]

I've looked over some prior threads related to the recirculate feature but had a few quick questions:

• Did any aspect of the recirculate feature change with the recent OTAs that "improved" the HVAC system?
  • Is it still the case that recirculate will stay on as long as the car doesn't sense too great an increase in humidity that could lead to windows fogging?
• Is there any indicator that recirculate is enabled or do you have to press on the HVAC button that brings up the menu (which then disappears after a few seconds)? I didn't see one on the screen but maybe missed it.

I don't usually use recirculate but with the terrible air quality in the Northeast these past few days decided to recirculate the air in the cabin while driving. I have the PureFlow upgraded filter and it seems to do a good job--I assume that enabling 'recirculate' moves air through that filter before sending it back out through the events, correct?

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[flapjake314]

there is no other button or indicator, yes it still turns itself off

i believe you can make it not turn off if you blow "feet only" or something like that

 

[heisnuts]

I have noticed after the update the recirc will stay on a lot longer than before. In the past if I turned on recirc it would go back to fresh on its own fairly quickly. Now it stays on recirc a long time unless I go back in and switch it back to fresh.

I do not know of any other indicator showing if it is on fresh or recirc.

 

[flapjake314]

I have noticed after the update the recirc will stay on a lot longer than before. In the past if I turned on recirc it would go back to fresh on its own fairly quickly. Now it stays on recirc a long time unless I go back in and switch it back to fresh.

I do not know of any other indicator showing if it is on fresh or recirc.

the recirc turns off when the humidity is too high [such that the car thinks the windows will fog]. i assume the reason it stays on longer is you're using the AC which itself should be reducing the humidity

 

[HuntingPudel]

I haven’t noticed a change in deactivation frequency, but mine still turns itself off (or back to outside air intake to be more precise). Note that I never really tried to track frequency so my note is only from a “feeling” that has no basis in reality. ?‍?

 

[ARK]

I'm a little bit crazy about having the recirculation on because without it, any time you pass a diesel or are on the freeway, the cabin smells disgusting and the air becomes unhealthy.

Anecdotally I would say that in the past year or so the recirculation has been much better about staying on compared to the beginning of 2021 when it would seemingly switch off every 10 minutes or so.

The statement that it is now be based off of indoor humidity (or at least become less sensitive to it) seems credible to me since humidity is generally low around where I live, so I could see that being a reason why recirculation stays on longer now.

I still wish you could just lock it in and call it a day. I've never remotely had an issue with fogging on other vehicles when I have locked recirculation on. If Ford wants the vehicle to have control over it, that should be limited to when a driver has specifically chosen to activate the defroster, ridiculous that the level of nannyism on something like this is so high.

 

[v8318cid]

I doubt this will be a popular opinion so bear with me. I had a 2005 Cavalier that only had one mode that allowed recirculate (it was a dial control, no separate control for Recirc). Because I liked using recirc in modes other than vent, I just reached under the dash when the recirc door was closed and unplugged the motor. Cannot actuate if it has no power, right? Anyway, I have no doubt this would not work so well now given how computer-controlled everything is. Probably throw a CEL/SES light if done so exercise caution if you choose to go this route.

 

[Maquis]

For me, Recirc, E-Heat, and AC all stay where I set them as long as I don’t use the “Auto” settings.

 

[Mach-Lee]

I've looked over some prior threads related to the recirculate feature but had a few quick questions:

• Did any aspect of the recirculate feature change with the recent OTAs that "improved" the HVAC system?
  • Is it still the case that recirculate will stay on as long as the car doesn't sense too great an increase in humidity that could lead to windows fogging?
• Is there any indicator that recirculate is enabled or do you have to press on the HVAC button that brings up the menu (which then disappears after a few seconds)? I didn't see one on the screen but maybe missed it.

I don't usually use recirculate but with the terrible air quality in the Northeast these past few days decided to recirculate the air in the cabin while driving. I have the PureFlow upgraded filter and it seems to do a good job--I assume that enabling 'recirculate' moves air through that filter before sending it back out through the events, correct?

There is no user indication when recirculate is automatically activated. You have no idea if it was automatically activated or deactivated, the button only reflects your request for more recirc.

During bad air quality days I recommend you turn it on. It will still occasionally open.

 

[RMoore]

There is no user indication when recirculate is automatically activated. You have no idea if it was automatically activated or deactivated, the button only reflects your request for more recirc.

During bad air quality days I recommend you turn it on. It will still occasionally open.

Thanks. Is recirculate ever automatically activated (or did you mean deactivated in the first sentence)? Is recirculated air run through the filter? I don't have a sense of where in the HVAC flow the filter sits.

 

[Mach-Lee]

Thanks. Is recirculate ever automatically activated (or did you mean deactivated in the first sentence)? Is recirculated air run through the filter? I don't have a sense of where in the HVAC flow the filter sits.

It is both automatically activated and automatically deactivated. There is a fresh air damper, and a recirculate air damper before the filter. The car can open either one, or both. So all air will pass through the filter each trip.

Also turning on Recirc may activate the heater to help dehumidify the air if it gets too humid inside.

 

[azerik]

Recirc is a must when the temps are over 100 for me. No sense in working harder to cool outside crappy air when it's 80 inside and 130 at the pavement. I now equate the recirc check with getting cheat mode on an NES.

 

[FullyCharged]

I can confirm that the settings others posted in earlier threads for keeping recip locked in still work after the HVAC updates.
- middle vent only, no windshield or floor airflow
- manual, no auto
- A/C on
- recirculate on
- works with either sync’s temps or driver/passenger different

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