The heater/AC control panel does not turn-on automatically after the engine is started occasionally, during this time none of the buttons are working and blank display. The only way I can get it turn back on is re-starting the engine, sometime it takes more than 1 re-start.

I thought the relay ? or the signal driving the relay has something to do with it. Where is the relay for the Heater/AL is located ?

I am wondering what your thought is or how to resolve this issue ?

Thanks

 

It is the control head going bad. Some people have said to turn the lights on and off 3 times and that will reset the unit when it acts up. I had the dealer replace mine under the ESP I purchased.

 

This works when mine does this its happened 3 -4 times in the last 2 yrs. The First time we were on a trip it was hot I put the windows down when it got dark the lights came on so did the AC. So each time its happened I turn the light switch and then the panel works again ,and I thought I was the only one with this weird problem. Thanks for telling me whats wrong

 

Since the problem only happens occasionally; 1-2 time a month and it is not possible to re-create. How do you think Ford ESP will handle this intermittent problem ?. My ESP good till Sept 2011.

Thanks

 

I don't have ESP my truck is sold as of sometime this week can't decide whether or not to tell the new owner of a problem that may or may not happen. But I probably should

 

My dealer and I have a good relationship, I actually worked there as a service manager years ago. All I did was describe what happened and they replaced the control head under the ESP, I think it is a common problem.

 

Well, mine is doing the same thing. Just to clarify, the control head is the actual panel with all the buttons and LED on it, right?

It doesn't seem to be all that hard to replace, and they're readily available online; just wanted to be sure I'm replacing the correct part first.

Thanks.

 

Yes, it also has the display showing the temp. air/heat flow position etc..
I will take it to the local Ford on Monday to check it out under ESP.
Thank you all for your suggestion/inputs.

 

Mine does this, and there is other threads talking about this being tied into the automatic head light switch. If you turn off this switch and restart the truck they will come back on!

 

On mine if you turned the headlight switch on and off even while driving the AC would start working and the panel light up

 

I have not tried this. As when mine does not work I have been stopped at different places and I also read if you turnoff the head light instead of using the auto feature this does not happen. this does affect my windows and radio too. It does not cause this problem when using the regular light feature.

 

I had a problem with my sunroof several weeks ago I kept thinking there was a general electrical issue's going on beside the AC/Heat panel

 

This problem is now appearing on here about once or twice a week for whatever reason. Here is a recent thread with another pretty good discussion of it, I hope it helps. Mike
https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/6...n-an-03-a.html

 

I have a 2006 motorhome on a Ford chassis, believe it's F53 or P53?. Anyway my blower quit working also. The strange thing is, when I turn the control **** to any position for a/c or heat the back lighting comes on behind the panel and nothing works. If I switch on my headlights the back lighting goes off. My headlights and other dash lights work but my a/c heat panel still does nothing?

Doug

 

Did you try turning your headlight switch on and off several times. I don't miss this problem glad I traded that truck in. Good Luck