Ford Cabin Air Recirculation Question

How can I keep the cabin air re-circulation on? Car is a 2013 Focus SE Sedan.

With the wild fires blazing here in western North Carolina, the air quality is awful. On my way home last night I switched the cabin re-circulation button to on, everything is good. Then, a while later, I smell smoke and my eyes start watering. You know when you are at a bonfire and the wind shifts and you're hit with a cloud of smoke. Like that! I look down and the re-circulation has switched off. Apparently this thing is on a timer.

I checked the manual and it says the re-circulation will stay on when selecting Max A/C. The outside temperature this morning is just above freezing, Max A/C is not something I want.

Anybody have any ideas! Other than looking down on the console as part of my scan to see the button illuminated, but that takes my eyes off the road.

Max A/C with the heat turned up to whatever level is comfortable to you should work fine. The A/C runs while the selector is set to defrost, also. A/C should help to keep your windows defogged while on recirculate.

What I was going to say.

My son was a traveling salesman and complained about the heavy diesel fumes he encountered.

I told him the same thing.

My Fiesta has a separate recirc button that I can use without the AC.

my disco does the same thing. Unless it is set to max air, the recirc will return to drawing outside air in after 5 minutes (I timed it)

Not that it bothers me, I drive all year with the sunroof(s) open anyway

Recirc will generally not actuate with defrost selected.

Problem is that MAX A/C means no heat as it IS the temperature control setting.

Research suggests that it is on a 5 minute timer to ensure the windows do not fog. Lots of online complaints about this. Finally found something about the car I do not like.

I'll try running A/C on with heat and see if it still times out (A/C button on, not Max A/C).

I guess you are stuck like me. If I want to shut off the outside air, just have to keep remembering to hit the button every 4ish minutes

Looks like keeping the A/C on, even with heat, will keep the recirculation system going. It stayed on for 7 minutes until I shut the car off after going out for lunch. We'll see how that works on the way home tonight.

Streetwiseguy wrote: Recirc will generally not actuate with defrost selected.

Doesn't work with heat blowing on your feet either. Recirculate seems to stay on with A/C and air blower out the dash or combination dash and feet.

Thanks for all the help!

Here are pictures from Asheville Buncombe Technical Community College, Asheville, North Carolina. That's smoke from forest fires.

My Fiesta recirc was on for 15 Min. when I turned it off.

I find it helps in cold weather to warm the cabin quicker.