Climate Issues, 2013 FFH

[GrayStrider]

Has anyone else had issues with the Climate system on their 2013 Ford Fusion Hybrid? It likes to come on with the fan at full power, which irritates my husband to no end.

[storksb]

When in auto my climate start low until the engine warms up and then goes high to get the cabin warm quickly but then settles back to low. What settings are you using?

[jeff_h]

I think the system may (I am guessing) default to auto when being turned on? It does the same on my car, and I hate using auto as I want to control the airflow rather than sit there in a windstorm, sounds like your husband feels the same way!

[acdii]

Same here. That is how the system works in any car. Max blower to warm up to temp then switches to low speed to maintain the temp. What happens is if you turn it off, then turn it back on, even if you have it set to low speed floor, it will come back on, while still on floor, but at high speed. Thats the default fan setting. It remembers which vent settings, but defaults to high speed blower.

[B25Nut]

This is one of my few issues with the FFH. Like Jeff, I don't like to use Auto since I don't like the fan operating at over 50%, unless I need a fast defrost. I wish the default was whatever your last setting was, which would include keeping the passenger's temperature at its last setting. Occasionally, my heated seat will automatically come on when I turn the climate system on. I may be accidentally pushing the touch screen, but I don't think so. It takes a few minutes to realize my seat is hot, and I usually can't remember any details of my actions that "far" back. It also always comes on at the 2/3 setting in this situation, which I never use since when I want my seat hot, I want it ASAP, then I turn it off and let the warm air from the fan do its job.

[elle]

Yep, add me to this list. I never use Auto mode ordinarily, as I like to control how much airflow I have and where it comes from. The fact that it does not remember the last setting and default to that is annoying.

 

Also, I have extreme environmental allergies and I really like to be able to keep the recirculation on at all times, even when the fan is off, to prevent outside air from blowing in after I've filtered it with the AC. The car doesn't seem to allow this, which is another annoyance with the climate system. I can only activate recirculation when the fan is on.

[Toz]

elle, I am pretty sure the Fusion Filters ALL of the air coming through the climate system, no matter if it's on recirc or not. ICW owners manual "change cabin air filter every 20000 miles"

[acdii]

yes it does, but some service guys dont know that there is a filter there. I was told my 2010 doesnt have one, so I looked, it has one. The problem with these filters are in finding one to replace it. There is one filter company that makes filters with Fabreeze in them, but only for a few cars.

[JSKershaw]

Were is the air filer on the 13 Fusion? I know some cars have them located below the glove box and some others you gain access to it from under the hood. Any idea where it is in this car?

[jeff_h]

Were is the air filer on the 13 Fusion? I know some cars have them located below the glove box and some others you gain access to it from under the hood. Any idea where it is in this car?

 

As far as I know, it's behind the glove box as the 2010 was... in the 2010 you'd have to remove the retention string for the glove box door and then take the door way down and then there was the access door... I think the 2013 is similar.

 

Yep - see below from page 129 of owner's manual -

 

CABIN AIR FILTER

Your vehicle is equipped with a cabin air filter. It is located behind the glove box. The particulate filtration system is designed to reduce the concentration of airborne particles such as dust, spores and pollen in the air being supplied to the interior of your vehicle. Note: A cabin air filter must be installed at all times to prevent foreign objects from entering the system. Running the system without a filter in place could result in degradation or damage to the system.

[elle]

elle, I am pretty sure the Fusion Filters ALL of the air coming through the climate system, no matter if it's on recirc or not. ICW owners manual "change cabin air filter every 20000 miles"

 

Thanks! That makes me feel better about not being able to leave the recirculate button on :)

[GrySql]

Another of my senior moments....

Edit, let's try again, I got the boxes mixed up, that first one was the ICE air filter. :hammer_self:

 

Correct Cabin air filter Part # on the box I have:

FP-71

Looks like the earlier model filters.

 

 

Edited March 7, 2013 by GrySql

[JSKershaw]

Thanks for the info guys. My wife has pretty bad allergies and I was curious about the quality of the filters (if they were HEPA quality or not). If not, I wonder if I could find a HEPA filter for these cars?

[acdii]

Cabin air filter Part # on the box I have:

DG9Z-9601-A

FA-1911

 

It's a big, quality looking pleated filter too.

I'm going to dig around in there today and see just exactly how this thing gets installed.

 

 

If its like the 10, behind the glove box is a cover with either clips or bolts/screws, cant remember which. Once you get the cover off, the filter just slides out. The cover is the height and width of the long side of the filter on the 10.

[jeff_h]

Thanks for the info guys. My wife has pretty bad allergies and I was curious about the quality of the filters (if they were HEPA quality or not). If not, I wonder if I could find a HEPA filter for these cars?

 

I don't know about that, but if you can't find one and have to use the FA-1911 filter, probably want to go to rockauto.com and stock up, they tend to get gunked up easily and if she has allergies you will get pretty accustomed to changing them out. I hope it's easier than on the 2010, it was always a pain to get the filter door off of there... until I broke off the plastic tip on one side and then it became easier, but I don't recommend that....

[GrySql]

I watched a YouTube video on removing the previous Fusion cabin filter, then went to look at mine.

I didn't see anything like what the video showed, not the same glove box.

Directly behind the GB is a horizontal plastic panel that has possibilities but I was short of time today and didn't want to force anything.

I'll give it a harder look this weekend.

 

The OM stating it's behind the glove box is not much help.

[elle]

I will figure it out, I'll need to, although with my allergies I find it expedient to just wear a face mask when things are really bad outside (though it looks really dorky, I know). It would be nice if there were a HEPA quality filter for it but that would be asking for a lot, I suppose.

[GrySql]

I don't know about that, but if you can't find one and have to use the FA-1911 filter, probably want to go to rockauto.com and stock up,

All stop...

That was my mistake, the FA-1911 was the ICE air filter.

 

The cabin filter is the FP-71, see new picture in post 12.

I did the same as you, got them from Rock Auto.

Edited March 7, 2013 by GrySql

[GrySql]

I asked the Service Writer how to replace the cabin air filter.

As we know it is in a different position than previous Fusions, behind the glove box.

The explanation was, remove the right side kick panel, remove the glove box, remove another panel behind that and there is the filter.

He said the mechanic that told him thought that it is about twice as hard to get to as the 2012 model and might be better done at the Dealership when you have some other service done.

Hmmm....

I'll look at it again when the time is right.

[jeff_h]

All stop...

That was my mistake, the FA-1911 was the ICE air filter.

 

The cabin filter is the FP-71, see new picture in post 12.

I did the same as you, got them from Rock Auto.

 

Whoops! I didn't pay close attention to the number, already got a couple spares of each (and 8 oil filters) about a month before even getting the car, gotta consolidate to not get soaked on shipping. So I'm good for about 8 months I guess.

[neod192]

Also, I have extreme environmental allergies and I really like to be able to keep the recirculation on at all times, even when the fan is off, to prevent outside air from blowing in after I've filtered it with the AC. The car doesn't seem to allow this, which is another annoyance with the climate system. I can only activate recirculation when the fan is on.

Saw this Ford news article and thought of you: New Ford Fusion Minimizes Pollen and ‘Touch’ Allergens

[Texas Ranger]

, remove the right side kick panel, remove the glove box, remove another panel behind that and there is the filter.

 

Thanks. My dealership was totally NOT helpful.

Did you get it changed? I see an airbag under the glove box and I don't want to get a mouthful if I touch it off.

Thanks lots. Sincerely

[gkinla]

Yep, add me to this list. I never use Auto mode ordinarily, as I like to control how much airflow I have and where it comes from. The fact that it does not remember the last setting and default to that is annoying.

 

Also, I have extreme environmental allergies and I really like to be able to keep the recirculation on at all times, even when the fan is off, to prevent outside air from blowing in after I've filtered it with the AC. The car doesn't seem to allow this, which is another annoyance with the climate system. I can only activate recirculation when the fan is on.

 

Every breath you and your passengers exhale is at 100% relative humidity. When you have air in recirculation mode at all times and the A/C on it will cause the evaporator coil to ice up and the cooling efficiency will deminish. This frozen water will also collect any particles, mold, pollen, etc. and keep them frozen until the system is shut off. When you come back to the car you will usually see a puddle of water under the car. This is the excess water that has unfrozen and dripped out of the collection pan, this also can happen during extreme humid days, even in pass through mode. In pass through mode the air is always filtered, I don't know if this is true in recirc mode on this Fusion. Now when you restart the car the system will probably have a slug of stuff intering the car and this might make your allergies worse, unless all the air is filtered in recirc. Some cars have a sewer smell when you first turn the A/C on, this I understand is from keeping the A/C in recurlation mode and never letting the system to dry out, mold forms and gives off this rotten odor.

[GrySql]

Thanks. My dealership was totally NOT helpful.

Did you get it changed? I see an airbag under the glove box and I don't want to get a mouthful if I touch it off.

Thanks lots. Sincerely

I have not had it changed yet, my plan is to have it done when we're at the dealer for something else.

The intervals between changes will depend on that timing, but anytime after 10k miles per cabin air filter.

The Ford interval is 20k per filter but I'll probably do it more often.

[elle]

I had a steroid shot a couple of weeks ago to keep my allergies at bay, and I feel great, so problem solved (for now).