What does the climate control air flow selector actually do?

[Hans Moleman]

When I press the air flow selector button and then the options for directing the air flow to the windshield, front vents, or floor vents pops on the screen.

On the screen I can turn off the air flow to all 3 sections and air still comes out of the front vents. So turning the front vent on and off doesn’t seem to do anything. Am I missing something here?

However turning the air flow on and off to the windshield and floor vents seem to function as expected.

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[whizkidder]

If I try to turn off all three, my truck still bleeds some air (albeit at a reduced volume) through the dash vents (I suspect this is to keep some air flowing through the system -- it has to go somewhere). However, if I select only floor (or defrost), the dash vents turn off completely.

The only thing I find a bit strange is the vents on the end of the dash for the front windows -- I would have expected them to be tied to the defrost function, but they seem to operate independently, as they are also on with the floor vents but not the dash vents if I select only one (floor or dash on -- not both, with defrost off).

 

[sbi]

When I press the air flow selector button and then the options for directing the air flow to the windshield, front vents, or floor vents pops on the screen.

On the screen I can turn off the air flow to all 3 sections and air still comes out of the front vents. So turning the front vent on and off doesn’t seem to do anything. Am I missing something here?

However turning the air flow on and off to the windshield and floor vents seem to function as expected.

Can't answer your specific question, but I do find the F-150 HVAC system (or perhaps all Fords? Don't know, don't have any other Ford) to be weird, at best.
One noticeable example is the circulation. I have never, ever, seen the circulation coming on when the system is on Auto. It should be on in humid days and I leave in an area that has relatively high humidity in the summer. It's never ON. I compare to my Honda Accord (current, as well as previous Accords that we owned) and you could clearly see the circulation coming on and off as needed.

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