Topic: Deactivating AC compressor when Defrost is selected in winter/HONDAS

[tpl]

This might not apply to RobA   but in most of Canada the compressor wont run at under -2 or so anyway with the new refrigerant.   bring back real freon.

[skypoint]

My car's manual states that even in winter, you should run the A/C for 10 minutes whenever you drive to ensure the compressor stays in optimal condition.

I normally forget this, but run the compressor for 30 minutes every 2-4 weeks in winter.

[Zoo]

What I don't understand is even with the AC on to help defrost the car why the Civic is so bad for fogging up in the first place. The many minivans I have had in the past 6 years have no trouble clearing their big windshields. Our 1993 Jetta would heat up and defrost the windshield in the dead of a minus 30 celcius day without any problem. Anything colder than minus 5 celcius and the Civic fogs like there is no tommorow. I'm not certain that the AC being on helps at all. I would love to be able to deactivate it to see what difference it makes. Also, the Civic is a small 1.7L engine and when the AC is on you can really tell both in perceived power and the load on the electrical system. Your fuel economy suffers enough in the dead of winter without having to burden the engine further with the AC. In my opinion the car owner should be able to overide this. Even if the AC comes on automatically with defrost I should be able to overide it if I choose too. I love the car but this is one design feature that I really dislike.

[barrie1]

Pull the Fuse on it for a few days and do a comparison. 

[yugrus]

What I don't understand is even with the AC on to help defrost the car why the Civic is so bad for fogging up in the first place.

I've never driven Civic and I'm afraid to ask that, but have you set up the air intake to the fresh air rather then recirculation?