I noticed the other day that when we have the ventilation switch in the position of outside air to the face and feet that the AC compressor cycles on and off just as if the switch was placed into the AC position. If I move the switch to either of the other fresh air positions (feet or face) it doesn't cycle.
What is causing this? I don't think I the "Wild Vent" issue since the air is ducted to all teh right outlets at the proper times.

 

Mine does the same thing. It blows pretty cool air in that position too if you have it switched to cold, just not as cold as if you put it on the a/c setting.

I believe my dads 98 has the little snowflake next to the face/feet setting, but mine doesn't, I've always wondered about that.

 

I think that's what its supposed to do...

 

I'm not sure about that. I don't think the A/C compresoor is supposed to cycle unless you have the switch in the A/C position or the defrost position. In the fresh air position I thought air was supposed to be brought in from outside and then the air temp could be modified by adjusting the hot/cold adjustment which moves the blend door.

 

On mine, I have two separate ranges for the blower motor, one for WITH the A/C compressor, and one without. On most vehicles, you don't get that choice, or, they will have a separate button to enable the compressor.

If you don't have the button.... and only one range on the fan speed control, then on certain vent settings, the a/c compressor WILL cycle. I think the only settings that it WON'T run, are vent, (maybe) and Heat. All others will have the compressor running, and air temp will be controlled by the blend door.

Browsing thru the 2001 manual, it doesn't really specify which settings will have the compressor on, and which won't.....

 

Mine does the same thing too, despite not having the snowflake next to the up-and-down-arrows symbol.

I thought the previous owner might have done something to it, so am happy to hear it is probably just the way this is.

 

I believe it is a good thing in the design of the system because when you have it on face/feet in the winter it will keep the fluid moving through the A/C system and keep everything lubricated.

I've always heard that you want to run the A/C for a few minutes at least once a month in the cooler months just to keep everything lubricated but we don't have to because of the way the system is set up in our trucks.

 

It is normal, and what Sheriff said is 100% right.

 

I did some reading of the service manual and it is a factory design F'IN FLAW. How stupid can they be??? Why in god's name would they have the AC on and not have it indicated on the switch? Besides the fact of what if I just want outside air to my face and feet on fall days? I couldn't figure out why my gas mileage would vary all over the place and now I know. I was running the AC even when I didn't want to.
No wonder all the American car companies are having such a tough time when they do this kind of stuff. I guess they had not heard of common sense and ergonomics in 2000 in the Dodge Ram design group.

 

Be a simple matter to install a switch to completely disable the compressor.

Also, keep in mind, that when the vents are set to defrost, the compressor also runs. Reasoning there is, refrigerated air carries less moisture. I was always of the opinion that if I am running the defroster, ALL of the air outside is already refrigerated....... what's the point of cooling it further??