AC weak at idle - Toyota GR86, 86, FR-S and Subaru BRZ Forum & Owners Community

qoncept · 08-29-2013, 05:17 PM

I haven't talked to the dealer yet but my AC is very weak at idle and I wanted to make sure it's not normal. It's been very hot here lately. By as little as 1500rpm it's blowing nice and cold but at idle it just can't keep up.

Also, is AC going to be covered under warranty? I'm going to be too busy to talk to the dealer before the weekend.

PhreshhWun · 08-29-2013, 05:30 PM

I have the same problem actually. However whenever I turn my A/C on the idle gets really rough and shaky. I forgot to mention it to the dealership the last time I went for the fuel pump and tail lights but yea.. I think its a common problem though

infinite012 · 08-29-2013, 05:41 PM

Your car, sitting, at idle, doesn't have much air flowing through the radiator. When you start to move, air passes through your radiator, cooling your stankass.

Admiral Ballsy · 08-29-2013, 05:46 PM

Ever since the switch away from R12 in 1994, AC has suffered. R134 needs something like three times the condensor area for similar performance, and even then it's almost useless without a lot of airflow.

So, long story short, that's normal. You gotta be moving.

qoncept · 08-29-2013, 06:29 PM

I guess what I meant to say is normal for our cars (and, for the record, the only car I've ever owned on R12 had a seized compressor). I've obviously been in a lot of other cars with AC and this is weak enough that it's NOT normal.

So.. has anyone noticed the twins' AC to be worse than other cars?

Admiral Ballsy · 08-29-2013, 06:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by qoncept

So.. has anyone noticed the twins' AC to be worse than other cars?

I'd say mine is as good as any R134 car I've owned. Better than a lot, but then it's working with a pretty small passenger compartment.

mike the snake · 08-29-2013, 07:05 PM

My AC is capable of blowing icy cold, but the compressor cycles on and off so the air goes from cold, to not-so-cold, to cold, etc.

Not blowing super cold at idle is somewhat normal, but the AC fan should make it work OK at idle.

6speed_Sam · 08-29-2013, 07:29 PM

I have to be moving to get my car to cool down decent. My '07 Silverado will flat out freeze you out of it...sitting or moving

mad_sb · 08-29-2013, 07:32 PM

I have noticed this too. Only an issue at idle. Really sucks when the car has been in a hot parking lot all day and you hop in for to commute home in slow stop and go traffic. You really need some air ,moving over the condenser to get any cool air in mine.

I'm gonna see if I can edit the ROM to turn the fans on sooner at idle for this very reason.

dem00n · 08-29-2013, 07:34 PM

I have the same problem to, but i don't really consider it a problem since i don't sit around scratching my balls with the car running. I've been a few cars like this too, 350Z.

brillo · 08-30-2013, 11:32 AM

make sure you have the A/C set to recirculate if you want the best A/C performance. I live in Houston and find the A/C to be fine for a small car.

DoomsdayJesus · 09-03-2013, 03:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by qoncept

I guess what I meant to say is normal for our cars (and, for the record, the only car I've ever owned on R12 had a seized compressor). I've obviously been in a lot of other cars with AC and this is weak enough that it's NOT normal.

So.. has anyone noticed the twins' AC to be worse than other cars?

It's pretty standard for 134A cars. You have to get the car moving to get the temperature down. If you were so inclined I suppose you could put a smaller pulley on the compressor, but that sounds like a bad idea. I really wish they'd start making electrically driven A/C compressors standard on sports cars, though. As long as you have a solid electrical system, it's far less of a drag on the motor (although I've noticed the MPG difference with the A/C on in this car is negligible).

SubyRS1 · 09-04-2013, 04:27 PM

My Subarus have always had weak AC's compared to other cars I've owned. But you have to be moving to get best cooling as mentioned.

mla163 · 09-04-2013, 06:08 PM

I have the same thing. It's never stalled on me though.

08-29-2013, 05:30 PM	#2
PhreshhWun Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2013 Drives: 2013 Subaru Brz Sport-Tech SWP Location: Scarborough, Ontario Posts: 159 Thanks: 24 Thanked 25 Times in 24 Posts Mentioned: 2 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	I have the same problem actually. However whenever I turn my A/C on the idle gets really rough and shaky. I forgot to mention it to the dealership the last time I went for the fuel pump and tail lights but yea.. I think its a common problem though __________________ Mods: 2013 Subaru Outback fog lights, HID fog lights, LED vanity lights, LED dome light, LED trunk light, LED license plate lights, LED door courtesy lights, LED side markers, HID headlights, J2 Engineering test pipe, HKS Drop-In air filter, Window Visors, De-badged, and Diode Dynamics LED side mirrors Side Chick: 93' 240sx Convertible

08-29-2013, 07:29 PM	#8
6speed_Sam Thumper Join Date: Dec 2012 Drives: 2013 FRS Location: Huntsville, AL Posts: 250 Thanks: 97 Thanked 59 Times in 42 Posts Mentioned: 1 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	I have to be moving to get my car to cool down decent. My '07 Silverado will flat out freeze you out of it...sitting or moving __________________ Car is gone - parts for sale

08-29-2013, 07:32 PM	#9
mad_sb Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2013 Drives: 2013 Asphalt FR-S Location: Orange County Posts: 1,639 Thanks: 632 Thanked 982 Times in 537 Posts Mentioned: 100 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	I have noticed this too. Only an issue at idle. Really sucks when the car has been in a hot parking lot all day and you hop in for to commute home in slow stop and go traffic. You really need some air ,moving over the condenser to get any cool air in mine. I'm gonna see if I can edit the ROM to turn the fans on sooner at idle for this very reason. __________________ ~Namaste~ 2013 Asphalt FRS

08-29-2013, 07:34 PM	#10
dem00n Member of the year - 2016 Join Date: Jul 2012 Drives: Scion FRS Location: New York Posts: 3,575 Thanks: 788 Thanked 2,427 Times in 1,111 Posts Mentioned: 23 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	I have the same problem to, but i don't really consider it a problem since i don't sit around scratching my balls with the car running. I've been a few cars like this too, 350Z. __________________ Friends don't let friends Plastidip

08-30-2013, 11:32 AM	#11
brillo Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2011 Drives: 2013 Firestorm FR-S Location: Houston Posts: 506 Thanks: 18 Thanked 77 Times in 64 Posts Mentioned: 10 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	make sure you have the A/C set to recirculate if you want the best A/C performance. I live in Houston and find the A/C to be fine for a small car. __________________ 2013 Firestorm FR-S, MTX, build date 1/13.

08-29-2013, 05:41 PM	#3
infinite012 Banned Join Date: Jan 2013 Drives: 13 DGM BRZ Ltd Location: Williamsburg, VA Posts: 974 Thanks: 294 Thanked 470 Times in 255 Posts Mentioned: 17 Post(s) Tagged: 4 Thread(s)	Your car, sitting, at idle, doesn't have much air flowing through the radiator. When you start to move, air passes through your radiator, cooling your stankass.

08-29-2013, 07:05 PM	#7
mike the snake Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2013 Drives: 2013 BRZ Location: Norcal Posts: 1,592 Thanks: 1 Thanked 623 Times in 378 Posts Mentioned: 15 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	My AC is capable of blowing icy cold, but the compressor cycles on and off so the air goes from cold, to not-so-cold, to cold, etc. Not blowing super cold at idle is somewhat normal, but the AC fan should make it work OK at idle.

09-04-2013, 04:27 PM	#13
SubyRS1 Member Join Date: Jan 2013 Drives: 2015 Scion FRS-One Location: Long Beach, CA Posts: 61 Thanks: 10 Thanked 10 Times in 10 Posts Mentioned: 0 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	My Subarus have always had weak AC's compared to other cars I've owned. But you have to be moving to get best cooling as mentioned.

09-04-2013, 06:08 PM	#14
mla163 Overthinking it Join Date: May 2012 Drives: BRZ in CS Location: DC Posts: 271 Thanks: 27 Thanked 81 Times in 48 Posts Mentioned: 1 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	I have the same thing. It's never stalled on me though.

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