HVAC fan speed drops when making phone calls...

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Not sure this is an issue, but it was a little weird. I assume it has something to do with power draw, but I also thought with all the batteries and heavy duty alternator it would be a non-issue.

It was 36 degrees outside.
Truck was running in park and the engine temp was normal range.
HVAC was on max fan speed (7) and "HI" temp (no defrost options going).
Heated front seats were "on" hi.

When I went to make a phone call with my iPhone (manually) while connected to CARPLAY the fan speed for the HVAC dropped to what seemed like a 5-6.

I thought it was a coincidence so I tried again and again - same. As soon as I terminated the call the fan speed went back up. There was no visual notification of the fan speed change, I only was able to tell by sound.

Are my batteries going?
 
I’ve had this happen before and assumed it’s to reduce background noise, thus improving call quality. Note: I don’t have confirmation of this, it’s just my guess.

When I experienced it (well, noticed it, anyways) I’m pretty sure I had HVAC in the auto mode. That makes sense. Bit more surprising it happened when you had the fan speed manually set.

My bet is still on it being a feature, though, and not the sign of a failure.
 
Here’s a thread on the Mache E forum discussing the same thing:


Here’s a Reddit thread on similar behavior, but with Audible:


The Reddit thread mentions GM vehicles doing the same thing with phone calls.

So ya, I’m extremely confident what you’re experiencing is by design and intended to be a feature.
 
It’s a feature

It's normal, it's meant to cut back on back ground noise.
It's a feature. It does it if you do voice commands too.
I’m on board with it being a feature, but is that documented somewhere (either Ford’s or Apple’s documentation) to confirm it’s a feature?

Or are y’all just taking a reasonable guess?

Edit: or is there a setting somewhere to disable it? A setting would prove its intentional.
 
It's a feature...

https://www.fordservicecontent.com/...-Owners-Manual-version-1_om_EN-US_04_2021.pdf

1674164831324.webp
 
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Winner! Great to see it documented, and that there's a way to turn it off (not that I want to myself).

Thanks for the quote!
Doubting Thomas…. 😂
 
Thanks, gang! I had no idea that this was a thing - I should have checked the manual. I wondered if the truck was that intelligent…but ruled it out as a “nope” right out of the gate.

Funny - the salesman never mentioned this feature. 😉.
 
I’m on board with it being a feature, but is that documented somewhere (either Ford’s or Apple’s documentation) to confirm it’s a feature?

Or are y’all just taking a reasonable guess?

Edit: or is there a setting somewhere to disable it? A setting would prove its intentional.
I love hearing about this "feature" while trying to use the heat. I think it's the worst when its hot. How do you disable it? Reach down and give the temp dial a turn and it disables it. When it happens to me and the temp is on "LO" it just kicks the fan speed back to normal. I don't know if it does the same in heat. Logic dictates it would... but this is Ford.
 
I live in the south my AC was running today, 70s here...Mine is turned off...when the better half bitches she can't hear me I just turn the AC down a notch...
 
I haven’t found info on this, but it seems like, during the summer, when i took long drives, like several hours long, the A/C fan would kick up higher every once in a while for a few minutes, then go back down. Not sure why that happens. Has anyone noticed this?
 
I love hearing about this "feature" while trying to use the heat. I think it's the worst when its hot. How do you disable it? Reach down and give the temp dial a turn and it disables it. When it happens to me and the temp is on "LO" it just kicks the fan speed back to normal. I don't know if it does the same in heat. Logic dictates it would... but this is Ford.
@legmar gave you the answer from the 22MY manual for how to disable it. :)

 
Not sure this is an issue, but it was a little weird. I assume it has something to do with power draw, but I also thought with all the batteries and heavy duty alternator it would be a non-issue.

It was 36 degrees outside.
Truck was running in park and the engine temp was normal range.
HVAC was on max fan speed (7) and "HI" temp (no defrost options going).
Heated front seats were "on" hi.

When I went to make a phone call with my iPhone (manually) while connected to CARPLAY the fan speed for the HVAC dropped to what seemed like a 5-6.

I thought it was a coincidence so I tried again and again - same. As soon as I terminated the call the fan speed went back up. There was no visual notification of the fan speed change, I only was able to tell by sound.

Are my batteries going?
It's a feature. See the screenshot directly from Ford's website.
 

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I’m on board with it being a feature, but is that documented somewhere (either Ford’s or Apple’s documentation) to confirm it’s a feature?

Or are y’all just taking a reasonable guess?

Edit: or is there a setting somewhere to disable it? A setting would prove its intentional.
There's the proof.
 

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  • Screenshot 2023-01-19 at 3.54.49 PM.webp
    Screenshot 2023-01-19 at 3.54.49 PM.webp
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