I have recently taken delivery of a 2021 Kuga ST Line X Edition 1.5 diesel auto. 
 

It has the dual zone climate control. I normally leave it in full auto mode, as I have done with previous Audis.
 

Whenever I start the engine, it remains in full auto. But the air conditioning has turned itself off. As a result, the car mists up. So every time I get in, I have to turn it on.
 

Is this normal for Fords? Is there any way to get the air con to default to “on”?

Did you ever get a resolution to this, as I have just bought a new Kuga ST Line, and have the same problem. I switch off the ignition at night, with the aircon on, the next morning the aircon is off. If it hasn't gone off, it normally does so after about 5 minutes of driving. The dealer has had one go at fixing it, by resetting the aircon to factory settings, but it hasn't worked. The car is booked in again for them to have another try, but I think they are at a loss to know what the problem is, and hence how to fix it! 

Remember - 3 Strikes at trying to fix the same fault on a new car and you can bounce it back

@ToneBoneout of curiosity is your Kuga also a 1.5 diesel? 

No, mines the petrol version

Okay thanks for the info, I've passed this on to a research engineer. Hopefully will get investigated soon but you may have to wait for more cases to pop up first.

Thanks - looks like it's only the two of us so far!

No worries, I have to admit it's not something I've come across either 

On 7/13/2021 at 7:25 PM, ToneBone said:

next morning the aircon is off.

Hi Tony, I hate to ask this question but it might help. Does the Start/Stop system seem to be working normally ? Please let me know, and I explain my thoughts on the A/C problem.

 

9 hours ago, unofix said:

Hi Tony, I hate to ask this question but it might help. Does the Start/Stop system seem to be working normally ? Please let me know, and I explain my thoughts on the A/C problem.

 

Remember the days when many 'vintage' car came with a Volt meter prominent on the dashboard? It's a wonder that with so many systems reliant in cars these days on having a fully charged battery, this is no longer the case! It was certainly one of the additional instruments I installed on a previous car.

12 hours ago, unofix said:

Hi Tony, I hate to ask this question but it might help. Does the Start/Stop system seem to be working normally ? Please let me know, and I explain my thoughts on the A/C problem.

 

Hi. Yes, Start/stop is OK - be interested to hear your thoughts.

11 minutes ago, ToneBone said:

Hi. Yes, Start/stop is OK - be interested to hear your thoughts.

Not to pre-empt his thoughts, but start/stop is hugely sensitive to your battery being fully charged, it's a system that for many hasn't worked since they got their car and mostly down to battery issues. If it didn't work, would indicate voltage issues, which may effect the A/C, though, I'm only guessing LOL

Very good guess Stephen and just what I was going to say.  👍

So if S/S is working then do the battery monitor reset procedure. If the Alternator is not putting out a high enough voltage then the A/C can turn off. 

How to reset the Battery Monitor:

 

On 7/15/2021 at 1:20 PM, unofix said:

How to reset the Battery Monitor:

 

Tried it - doesn't do anything unfortunately. Seems like these type of fixes don't work on the Mk 3.

47 minutes ago, ToneBone said:

Tried it - doesn't do anything unfortunately.

Do mean that the battery monitor didn't reset OR that it did reset but the A/C still keeps turning off ?

The battery light didn't do the 3 flashes, so presumably no reset. Certainly the aircon was off again this morning.

Then Houston we have a problem.

(a) Either your car has not got a battery monitor fitted - easy to check. Look at the negative lead of the battery and connected very near to the battery terminal will be a small black box (about matchbox size)

(b) The battery monitor is defective - which could be a reason for the A/C problem

(c) You didn't manage to carry out the reset in the time and sequence required.

If the answer is (a) then thats an end to this idea, otherwise try doing the reset again.

On 7/15/2021 at 1:20 PM, unofix said:

How to reset the Battery Monitor:

 

This is incorrect for newer vehicles, to do it you turn the ignition on, press the brake pedal 5 times and then flash 5 times. The battery light will flash like normal. 

This should only be done if the battery is fully charged though otherwise it's going to store incorrect data 👍

 

See photo below - I assume this is the box referred to? I have tried the reset at least a dozen times, without success. I had previously tried the Autolocking button pressing sequence, only to then read that it doesn't work on UK spec Mk3s. Bizarrely, my wife's newly acquired Puma has very clear instructions in the handbook to enable autolocking, but the menu referred to doesn't exist on the car at all!

MasterTechTip - how can I tell if the battery is fully charged?

 

Yeah that little box the BMS, unless you have a battery tester you can't unfortunately. 

Autolocking isn't available on the Kuga ☹️ only way to activate it is through Forscan, not even us guys at Ford can turn it on annoyingly

Hi Tony sorry about the duff info on resetting the battery monitor, I didn't realise that it had been changed. Best way to ensue battery is fully charged is to connect up a battery charger and leave it on over night. No need to remove or disconnect the battery from the vehicle.

Connect the positive lead from the charger to the positive terminal of the battery. Connect the negative lead of the charger to the main earthing point on the car (or a good solid metal bracket) Do not connect it to the negative battery terminal otherwise you are bypassing the battery monitor and it will not know that the battery is on charge.

4 minutes ago, MasterTechTip said:

Autolocking isn't available on the Kuga

Hi MasterTech, getting slightly off topic but quick question. Is autolocking possible on a 2010 Kuga ?

2 minutes ago, unofix said:

Hi MasterTech, getting slightly off topic but quick question. Is autolocking possible on a 2010 Kuga ?

I imagine through Forscan it is, never been asked or even looked in to it to tell you the truth 😂

My daughter has a 2010 Titanum X (used to be mine many years ago) and she likes to lock the doors each time she gets in, but forgets sometimes. I've used ForScan on the Focus Mk4, Ecosport, and Fiesta Mk8 to turn on autolocking and as it happens I'm going to look at the Kuga tomorrow.