1996 Ford Thunderbird Owner's Manual - Page 79

To cool your vehicle using outside air, turn the SELECT knob to A/C, turn the TEMP knob all the way to the end of the blue range (full left) and turn the FAN knob to the desired speed between LO and HI. A/C provides quieter system operation than MAX A/C, but it is not as efficient as MAX A/C which uses recirculated air. To ventilate your car with outside air, during mild weather, turn the SELECT knob to PANEL, turn the TEMP knob for the temperature desired and set the FAN knob to the speed desired. Under normal conditions, the SELECT knob should be left in any position other than MAX A/C or OFF when the vehicle is parked. This allows the vehicle to "breathe" through the outside air inlet duct. To cool your vehicle quickly in warm weather, turn the SELECT knob to MAX A/C, turn the TEMP knob all the way to the end of the blue range (full left) and turn the FAN knob to HI. MAX A/C uses recirculated air and is the most fuel efficient way to cool your vehicle and can also be used in heavy traffic to prevent exhaust fumes from entering the vehicle. MAX A/C can also be used in high humidity areas for more efficient operation. If the interior of your vehicle is very warm, drive for the first few minutes with the windows open. This forces most of the hot, stale air out of the vehicle and allows the air conditioning to work faster. 76