Does you A/C blow cold?

[stevesnj]

Originally Posted by Regalo

My AC blows cold air very inconsistently. Sometimes I may as well just roll down my windows. I took it to the dealership twice and they haven't found anything wrong yet. But I wonder is it normal for the AC compressor clutch to engage on and off? I've done various searches and haven't found solutions yet but I found a video of someone overriding the fuse box and the AC clutch started to engage. Any thoughts on this?

Does it click on and off quickly?

[White64Goat]

Most newer systems do cycle on and off. If it cycles very quickly, then you may have a problem (like 2-3 seconds). Also modern refrigerant R-134a does not get cold as quickly as the old R12. If it is really hot outside it may take 10 minutes or more before you really feel like it's cold in the car. Not having tinted windows also lengthens the time it takes to cool down. You may also want to run the A/C into the defrost position for a few minutes as well as the hot air tends to just sit in the vents under the dash and creep out thus taking more time getting cool inside the car.

If you've seen the ads on TV for A/C Pro kit, http://acprocold.com/ it is pretty easy to check your own system and it has a pressure gauge built right on it. Adding more refrigerant than what it tells you to add will not make it work any better, it may actually make it worse. If you're under warranty take it to them and let them fix it.

[solidONE]

Originally Posted by Regalo

My AC blows cold air very inconsistently. Sometimes I may as well just roll down my windows. I took it to the dealership twice and they haven't found anything wrong yet. But I wonder is it normal for the AC compressor clutch to engage on and off? I've done various searches and haven't found solutions yet but I found a video of someone overriding the fuse box and the AC clutch started to engage. Any thoughts on this?

Originally Posted by stevesnj

Does it click on and off quickly?

I believe this might be what causes the belt to slip sometimes. Mine hasen't done that since I had it serviced for a leak the camchain cover. They tensioned the belt correctly when they did the service, I'm assuming.

[nickmerronesucks]

anyone getting a bunch of dusty rust on the ac compressor?

[jermyzy]

On "low" setting, my BRZ barely keeps me cool...on my old RSX, I would actually be freezing if I put it on low setting

[EXCellR8]

I find the AC in my FR-S has always been pretty underwhelming, especially on really hot and humid days. I had a honda Fit once (yep, those fun little rigs) and that AC was literally 10x better, no joke.

[BaBaFlyingSheep]

I would agree with most people here that we've all felt what a proper A/C system can do, and that is it can freeze your butt off.

Based on this thread, some seem satisfied, others not so much, and it seems pretty consistent that way. Now I'm not saying that I expect the BRZ/FR-S to have the best A/C out there.

But, does anyone have a chart similar to what stevesnj has, from Toyota or Subaru? All dealerships should have temperature probes to stick into vents, and there should be a set range of how cold this A/C unit is supposed to perform.

You should be able to go to a dealership, get your car inspected, and have a black and white answer on whether or not your A/C is working properly.

Service departments do not seem like they want to deal with the extra trouble, so please if anyone has this info, we would be able to put this issue to bed.

[soulreapersteve]

I dunno... when I turn the dial to "max a/c" and push the AC button, it gets pretty darn cold. Even on 1 fan speed, it's cold.

[stevesnj]

Originally Posted by soulreapersteve

I dunno... when I turn the dial to "max a/c" and push the AC button, it gets pretty darn cold. Even on 1 fan speed, it's cold.

Same here, wonder if they updated the HVAC system in the past few years...hmm

[stevesnj]

Originally Posted by solidONE

I believe this might be what causes the belt to slip sometimes. Mine hasen't done that since I had it serviced for a leak the camchain cover. They tensioned the belt correctly when they did the service, I'm assuming.

fast on and off clicks usually mean too high pressure in the system. I had this on my Acura and I put too much 134 in and it started clicking of and on quickly. I went to the low side schrader valve and let some out and it started cycling normal.

[solidONE]

Originally Posted by stevesnj

fast on and off clicks usually mean too high pressure in the system. I had this on my Acura and I put too much 134 in and it started clicking of and on quickly. I went to the low side schrader valve and let some out and it started cycling normal.

Interesting. I remember observing the belt slip on the AC compressor pulley, but I dont remember whether if it was clicking on/off quickly. It was doing something though, to cause it to slip.

[FRSBRZGT86FAN]

I don't know if its just me but if I go WOT sometimes the cooling just stops and it feels like just warm air blowing out, does anywhere know where that issue comes from?

[billwot]

Originally Posted by Regalo

My AC blows cold air very inconsistently. Sometimes I may as well just roll down my windows. I took it to the dealership twice and they haven't found anything wrong yet. But I wonder is it normal for the AC compressor clutch to engage on and off? I've done various searches and haven't found solutions yet but I found a video of someone overriding the fuse box and the AC clutch started to engage. Any thoughts on this?

Absolutely! There is both a low temp sensor at the evap coil, and a low pressure switch on the return side of the compressor. If temp or pressure drops too low, liquid will flood back to the compressor, and compressor don't like liquid!

[stevesnj]

Yeh there's a high temp cutoff I think but usually happens when the engine is overheating. The belt could be the clutch stalling from too much. Basically fast on and off click is bad, like billwot said could be moisture in the system which would kill or stall the compressor like a hydrolock situation. Could be just a bad dryer.