My question is this:
Is the air conditioning supposed to be completely disabled when the AC button on the dash is off? (ie little LED is off)
The reason I ask is because I do not really want the AC running at all (fuel economy) but it seems to always be dripping water from the little drain and the air blowing from the dash is a lot colder than ambient.
Is there something that tells the compressor to run even though the AC button is off? Say to keep the compressor seals lubed or something?
When I noticed it I had the temp control turned all the way down and the selector set to "vents".
Thanks DF

The last two positions to the right on your vent discharge dial will result in the compressor running without the a/c light on. These two positions are for defrosting/dehumidifying the windows/interior of the cab interior. In either of these two positions the light will not be on.

Larry

I do not really want the AC running at all (fuel economy)

This only works if you keep all of your windows closed.
If you open a window your fuel economy will be worse than running the AC.

there's mod info somewhere to disable that 'feature' I didn't like it - sometimes want the defrost position just to keep cool air off the feet. Don't need A/C.

remove switches and panel, unclip one wire lead. I did it, works fine.

This only works if you keep all of your windows closed.
If you open a window your fuel economy will be worse than running the AC.
Really? I never thought of that. Do you have somewhere I can go to look at stats regarding that?
Thanks

Really? I never thought of that. Do you have somewhere I can go to look at stats regarding that?
Thanks

LINK (http://www.edmunds.com/reviews/list/top10/103164/article.html)
Read #9: Think Before You Vent(ilate)

The last two positions to the right on your vent discharge dial will result in the compressor running without the a/c light on. These two positions are for defrosting/dehumidifying the windows/interior of the cab interior. In either of these two positions the light will not be on.

Larry

Ahhh, thank you, LGL002! I really wanted to know this, and it makes sense. :tu:

I don't like the surge of compressor kicking in while stopped, or moving slowly. It happened recently as I crawled slowly into my cluttered garage, and almost caused a mishap, but I like to run the fan. I'll just keep it set on my feet, or face instead of defrost.

Yall need to come down to south Louisiana you always need your A/C here even in our winter months

Yall need to come down to south Louisiana you always need your A/C here even in our winter months

This is my 1st truck with A/C! I've never had to deal with it. It got all the way up to 78F today here in central WI. Heheh :devil:

We'll be vacationing in MO, AK, and KY in July, so it will get some use then. :tu:

LINK (http://www.edmunds.com/reviews/list/top10/103164/article.html)
Read #9: Think Before You Vent(ilate)

Thanks a bunch.
When I am driving at highway speed what I generally have open is the sunroof (with a spoiler) and that honking huge back window.
Very little wind noise which I would equate with drag. Just a nice breeze through the truck.
Thanks again H2O_MAN

Yall need to come down to south Louisiana you always need your A/C here even in our winter months

Ha, sorry Doug, you can keep it,
I'll take our -40 winter weather instead.
They say Alberta has four seasons: Almost winter, Winter, Still winter, and Road construction. ;) haha.
I'll just sweat through our few months of what we foolishly call heat and what you would probably call a cold snap. ;)

Really? I never thought of that. Do you have somewhere I can go to look at stats regarding that?
Thanks

MythBusters did a pretty straightforward job busting the "A/C's make fuel economy worse" myth.

Two identical Ford Expeditions each with 1,000 miles on the odometer. Full fuel tanks. Outside air temp about 90F. One vehicle puts the windows all the way down. The other turns the A/C on FULL with all the windows up (and a winter jacket on!). The test? Start at the same time and drive continuous laps around a closed oval track with the cruise set at 60MPH. See which vehicle runs out of gas first.

The vehicle with the A/C OFF and the windows DOWN ran out first. The reason? The open windows caused a greater drop in fuel efficiency than the A/C did due to the additional DRAG it created.

The numbers came out something like 13 MPG for windows down, AC off. 15 MPG with windows up, AC on (on FULL the entire time).

MythBusters did a pretty straightforward job busting the "A/C's make fuel economy worse" myth.

Two identical Ford Expeditions each with 1,000 miles on the odometer. Full fuel tanks. Outside air temp about 90F. One vehicle puts the windows all the way down. The other turns the A/C on FULL with all the windows up (and a winter jacket on!). The test? Start at the same time and drive continuous laps around a closed oval track with the cruise set at 60MPH. See which vehicle runs out of gas first.

The vehicle with the A/C OFF and the windows DOWN ran out first. The reason? The open windows caused a greater drop in fuel efficiency than the A/C did due to the additional DRAG it created.

The numbers came out something like 13 MPG for windows down, AC off. 15 MPG with windows up, AC on (on FULL the entire time).


I can't remember the details of the experiment, but I do remember one thing they discovered. If you are going to be driving below 50mph, it is more fuel efficient to drive with the a/c OFF and the windows down. However, if you are going to be going faster than 50mph, it is better to drive with the windows up and a/c on.

It all depends how fast you will be driving. There is not one hard and fast rule for this question.

Thanks a lot everyone.