Ford Explorer: Supplemental Climate Control / Description and Operation - Supplemental Climate Control - System Operation and Component Description

System Diagram

System Operation

Cabin Coolant Heater System

The cabin coolant heater system provides warm coolant to the heater core to warm the passenger compartment whenever the front DATC module requests heat and the vehicle is in a driving mode, remote started, or doing Cabin Drive-Conditioning.

A SOBDMC controlled cabin coolant heater warms the coolant.

The cabin heater coolant diverter valve allows two modes: Either an isolated coolant loop with cabin coolant heater, heater core, and cabin heater coolant pump or a combined loop of those components along with the engine and other coolant components.

A cabin heater coolant temperature sensor in the cabin heater system provides the PCM with coolant temperature information.

Component Description

Cabin Heater Coolant Pump

The cabin heater coolant pump is controlled by the PCM and provides coolant to the cabin coolant heater system while the vehicle is in a driving mode, remote started, or doing Cabin Drive-Conditioning.

Cabin Coolant Heater ( PTC Heater) ( PHEV only)

The cabin coolant heater has both low voltage and high voltage electrical connections. The low voltage circuits are used for controlling the unit, while the high voltage circuits are used for heating the coolant. The cabin coolant heater uses electricity, or more accurately, the heat for resistance in electrical circuits to quickly raise the temperature of the coolant to normal operating temperature. The SOBDMC sends power to the cabin coolant heater and controls the PWM circuit to the heater. The cabin coolant heater has both low voltage and high voltage electrical connections. The low voltage circuits are used for controlling the unit, while the high voltage circuits are used for heating the coolant. The cabin coolant heater uses electricity, or more accurately, the heat for resistance in electrical circuits to quickly raise the temperature of the coolant to normal operating temperature. The SOBDMC sends power to the cabin coolant heater and controls the PWM circuit to the heater.

Cabin Heater Coolant Temperature Sensor (PTC Heater) ( PHEV only)

The cabin heater coolant temperature sensor is connected to the PCM. The sensor provides the coolant temperature information to the PCM.

Heater Core

The heater core consists of fins and tubes arranged to extract heat from the engine coolant and transfer the heat to air passing through the plenum.

Cabin Heater Coolant Diverter Valve

The default state of the cabin heater coolant diverter valve is de-energized, placing the system in combined loop mode. Coolant flows out of the engine, then back, in the following order:

• cabin heater coolant pump
• cabin coolant heater
• cabin heater coolant temperature sensor
• heater core
• cabin heater coolant diverter valve
• thermostat housing
• main electric water pump

When energized by the PCM the cabin heater coolant diverter valve places the system into the isolated loop mode. Coolant flows out of the valve, then back, in the following order:

• cabin heater coolant pump
• cabin coolant heater
• cabin heater coolant temperature sensor
• heater core