I have a 2016 Lariat that I've had for a few weeks now. I have the "auto" and "dual zone" climate HVAC system on it. Is there any adjustment (FORscan maybe?) for setting the sensitivity of the climate control? Last night on the way home from my son's away soccer game (1-1/2 hr drive so plenty of time for everything to warm up and it was at night, so the sun wasn't in the equation), I had the temp set to Auto & 73° for both zones and seemed like it'd cool down, so I kept bumping the temp up keep it warmer. For the most of the ride home I had it set to 75°, but it seems like it got too warm, then was comfortable and then got cool, seemed to just cycle this pattern. I'm sure there is some sort of range from when the HVAC make the adjustments. I now on my home furnace programmable thermostat I can adjusts temp swing from 1° to 3°...by default it was set to the 3° swing and the house had a similar feel, from almost too warm to too cool. I changed that and dropped it to 1° and that made the temp much more consistent in the house. So I was just wondering if there is a setting similar to this in the HVAC system that could be adjusted to get a more consistent temp.
Thanks!

 

Not that I know of. Everyone is different when it comes to temperature so they try to strike a balance with the programming. I suggest you try a lower temperature and use the heated seat with it.

 

It was probably the A/C compressor kicking in and out. Not like A/C cycle, but rather off and on. Once it had a hard time maintaining the warm temp the A/C would kick on. Now it's blowing colder air and needs to establish the cabin temp. before it knows it's getting too cold.

For example, I usually run warm aim from the vents. Then switch to defrost when the windshields starts fogging, within a a few moments I get chilly and have to the dial to be a little warmer to blend more warm air with the now chilled A/C air.
I never used Auto in my F150 last winter (I had only just gotten it before winter). So I can't say how sensitive it is, but I expect it is more noticeable in spring and fall when we have less needs for warm/cool zone. When it's 100 degrees the A/C pretty much runs on full cold the hole time. When it is 45 degrees, the heat is on the whole time. With an auto system at 65 degrees with some solar load, the cab is continually changing temperature and I bet the compressor is commanded off and on quite frequently.

I'm taking a road trip in a few weeks, I'm expect to use auto just to know how it will function in varied mountain temperature drive conditions. Up and down elevation with sun loads being random, if it is even random.

That's just my experience from years of using heat to stay warm, on a low setting (it doesn't get too cold where I live to blast heat daily), then flip to defrost which cycles the compressor then cabin cools up quite quickly unless I turn up the heat dial. Then of course when I switch off defrost, it gets roasting very quickly.

 

You shouldn’t feel temperature changes once you figure out your preferred temperature and if the system is well programmed. My Acura was excellent. Acura uses the GPS along with the other sensors determine operation . On a sunny day the system will provide cooler air on the side of the vehicle where the sun is shining. Even when there is only the driver it works. Most notable on interstate cloverleafs. As you round the cloverleaf and the sun is moving to the driver’s side window you can hear the fan ramping up to compensate.

 

One of many reasons I universally prefer manual A/C controls over "climate control."

 

Auto climate control is great. The key is to figure out your preferred temperature. Once you got it you can set it there and forget about it. If you’re taking a long road trip you can start with heat I the cool morning and be in full air conditioning by the hot afternoon without touching anything.

 

About the only time I take the climate control out of AUTO is when I need full defrost. Once my windows clear, I set t back to AUTO and leave it. I find on hot days I turn the temp setting down a couple of degrees from where I run it when its cold. Otherwise, I hardly ever touch it.

 

We're talking about Ford, nothing is well programmed.

 

It's Texas. Most of the time the A/C is set and left on max and I'm only adjusting the fan speed to preference. Literally. Just leave it on full cold... much more comfortable. I've had numerous cars w/ climate control including my wife's and none are as good as my manual controls for comfort.