Author Topic: Lukewarm A/C in new car (Read 1592 times)

tigercat · « **on:** June 06, 2005, 07:16:38 pm »

A/C in new car doing a feeble job of cranking out cold air. Was told that air conditioner needs to "break in" and will get better (i.e., colder) with time. Any truth to this, or did I get a bum unit? What would cause A/C in a new car to do a much worse job than my recently departed '95 Cavalier?

Wetson · « **Reply #1 on:** June 06, 2005, 07:44:32 pm »

Tigercat, I can only speak from personal experience so don't quote me. I've never heard of an A/C unit needing to break in. My last 4 cars have cranked out cold air almost right away when they were new. Perhaps the service department misunderstood what you were asking. You may want to take it in and insist that they check the gas levels in it. How cold is your AC getting and how long does it take? Does it feel icy cold at all? The AC in my Accord takes about 2-3 mins. to pump out the semi cold air and then another 5-10 to get icy cold depending on how hot and humid it is ouside. Try opening your window about 5-10 cm's to let the hot air out when you first turn your AC on. This helps sometimes.

tigercat · « **Reply #2 on:** June 06, 2005, 09:19:49 pm »

It never gets anywhere near icy cold, even after driving for 15 - 20 minutes in moderate (22C - 23C) weather, which leads me to believe all ain't well. I'd never heard of a so-called "break-in period" either...

Wetson · « **Reply #3 on:** June 06, 2005, 09:26:08 pm »

In that case you should take it back to the dealer or if you aren't happy there take it to another one and have them test the A/C and give it the once over. Don't tell them the car is brand new or what the other dealer told you. Let them figure it out and see if they come up with the "break in" story. I'd probably even make an appointment with the service department.
Ask any other Ford owners you know of if they are happy with the service from a particular local dealer.

nissparts · « **Reply #4 on:** June 06, 2005, 10:13:47 pm »

Have the dealer put a thermometer in the vents with the A/C on and measure the output temp for you to confirm how it is running.
R134 is less efficent than the old R12 ssytems but usually only 3-4c difference so something can't be right.
How is the actual air flow? Possible blocked or non-functioning blend door in the heater box?

Sterling · « **Reply #5 on:** June 06, 2005, 11:28:59 pm »

Don't tell them the car is brand new or what the other dealer told you.

I get the intent, but I have my doubts that Tigercat will get his car into any service department without someone noting the odometer reading. That would pretty much give away the car's "newness." A person would look like a fool trying to avoid telling them how new it is, only to have them check the odo.

slybry · « **Reply #6 on:** June 07, 2005, 07:08:08 am »

Ask dealer to allow you to try another Focus to compare your AC performance too. If dramactically better it proves yours is not funtioning nomally.

tigercat · « **Reply #7 on:** June 07, 2005, 08:05:58 am »

Air flow is fine. Generally, for a new car what temp. range should the A/C be in at idle and what should the temp. be at cruising speeds?

Wetson · « **Reply #8 on:** June 07, 2005, 08:34:21 am »

Good point Sterling. The sentence after, (here's the whole quote),

...Don't tell them the car is brand new or what the other dealer told you. Let them figure it out and see if they come up with the "break in" story,

Is to determine if the dealer can be bothered or not and to look for consistancy. (not all service departments are created equal). At least if they look at the odometer they are looking at the vehicle. I might be a bit jaded from the experience with the Mini when I was told things were normal that ended up having to be repaired. I was told with a CVT transmission that it was normal for the car to jerk when put in gear and also jerk forward when you put your foot on the gas. I casually mentioned the word "lawyer" and "lemon" in the same breath and the dealer finally replaced the transmission and the problem was gone.(the transmission was the final straw in a pile of many that broke the camels back so I traded it in only after 1 year).

ericthejet · « **Reply #9 on:** June 07, 2005, 11:42:09 am »

A new car does not need a break in period. Gosh, read your manual. If that is not noted in the good book then your getting a line from whoever at the dealership. A fridge works the same as a car and they don't need a break in period. That wagon outta blow air cold enough to almost give you a chill, say about12 to 16 cel. I am unaware of the exact specs. They fill the units with gas from the factory, may be underfilled. As part of the PDI/Prep for delivery the seller usually has to pull a safety tab from the compressor, may have been forgotten.(we had to do this at the subie dealership before delivering the car to the customer) If these guys are half decent go and run up another one the same as yours in the parking lot and compare Fords to Fords. Good luck.

barrie1 · « **Reply #10 on:** June 07, 2005, 12:07:10 pm »

I was taught that the small thermostat that goes into the vents should read a constant 60 degrees farenheit on the scale when in the hi-fan position. I have found that when the system is full of freon that does seem to work out correctly. I suspect the system is low on R134. It may not have been fully charged at the factory and will account for the poor perfomance. Either that or it has a small leak at one of the seals. Either way they should do a proper test to find out.

safristi · « **Reply #11 on:** June 07, 2005, 01:03:19 pm »

Its the NEW Hybrid A/C System...it switches OFF when the temp gets above 70F..21C...energy saving MAN!!!!!

nissparts · « **Reply #12 on:** June 07, 2005, 01:16:01 pm »

I still prefer the ol' 4/60 a/c my self;100% trouble free till the car dies...LOL

barrie1 · « **Reply #13 on:** June 07, 2005, 05:35:51 pm »

Unless your arm wears out 1st.

mark · « **Reply #14 on:** June 08, 2005, 12:35:31 pm »

The 4/60 doesn't work so good at 4/6, crawling along in bumper to bumper traffic with nasty humidity and a big diesel garbage truck in front of you though.
I use my A/C in the car as little as possible - when I'm alone. When my wife is in the car, she notices a 0.1% change in humidity in seconds. Also, while the air should be cooled, it should not be "blasting" on her through the vents, so substituting air velocity for temperature is a no-no.

nefcanuck · « **Reply #15 on:** July 04, 2005, 03:05:38 pm »

Tigercat,

I gather from your comments that you're talking about a Ford Focus correct? Is it an '05 model? Because my '05 Focus A/C performance can be odd at certain times.

It seems to vary with some long highway trips requiring me to crank back the A/C or freeze and other times I have to use the AC & recirc settings to even get close to being comfortable.

I just wonder if its the smaller motor having to work that much harder (I used to drive a '95 Olds Ciera and til the day I sold it this past April, ice cold air)

But I would definately get the dealer involved, the car has a warranty and you the customer have found a defect, use it.

NefCanuck

tigercat · « **Reply #16 on:** July 06, 2005, 09:28:19 pm »

NefCanuck,

Yes, it's an '05 Focus ZX5.

Some friends have new Mazda 3s and they've complained about the A/C as well. I was then told the Mazda 3 and Focus share many A/C components (although I haven't been able to confirm this--help anyone?) and that these units were designed more with an eye to reducing the fuel consumption and performance penalties associated with A/C usage. (I.e., units aren't as cold as they could be.)

I have noticed there isn't a noticeable drop in power when the ZX5's A/C is on; my Cavalier and early 90s Accord seemed to literally lose 15 - 20 HP when the air was fired up. Damn cold, though...)