its starting to hot up here in sf and my blk/blk max is trying to cook me. the only time i can barely feel my a/c is when i am driving over 70mph. i am getting a tint and the winshield shade to help out. should i take my car to the dealer to fix my a/c?

 

my black leather interior is startung to turn me here in texas. my AC really sucks. it takes about 20 mins to get fully comfortable with the AC blasting. I need to get tint as soon as possible.

 

My AC sucks too, and even in San Francisco (where I drive it most often) the 70 degree weather is too much for the AC. It gets cold, but just barely cold. Doesn't hold a candle to good old R12 AC. R134a sucks! Well, it keeps the ozone from depleting, so I guess I'd take lousy AC over skin cancer anyday.

Try opening your windows for the first five minutes and blast the AC on full. Then it should get "cold." Well, colder than if you leave the windows closed (then the hot air cannot escape).

 

if u have a GLE or Se with automatic climax control, dont push the on/off push too often, and if u turn it on, keep it on.

 

Sup Jayme! I keep seeing your car at school parked close to mine..hehe My AC sucks too...not even close to my cousin's Mitsubishi...his is freezing cold.

 

maybe you guys need to go get your AC serviced? like Jayme or Jeff, your a 97 and most likely you havent serviced your AC yet rite? The AC service can help, but otherwise juss deal with it!! hehe

 

Sounds like you either have a dirty condensor or you are low on refrigerant. If you are low you have a leak. Refrigerant does not get consumed/used in the cooling process. Also make sure your condensor fan sounds like it is running properly (no load bearing noises and such).

 

are you serious, your saying that 70 degrees in hot for you. I can only hope that we can get down 70 degrees out here in Miami, Florida.

 

so your saying that everyone that gets a freon(however u spell it) recharge, it's cause they have a leak?

 

no thats wrong, your AC system will lose a slight amount of refrigrient per year. thats normal and does not mean you have a leak. When you service your AC,they SHOULD (most simply do a recharge) check for leaks, check low side high side pressure, check operation of cooling fans and condenser isnt clogged. Moisture will be removed from the system and proper amount of refrigerant should be added back to the system and refrigerant oil added if needed.

 

 

So how much do you think a AC servicing should cost? (At the dealer or elsewhere)
Thanks

 

Usually it does. If the freon level gets low, then where does it go? It does not get consumed in the process of doing it,s job so it has to go somewhere.

There are some exceptions such as my home A/C. I was told that if I need a recharge once a year, it is cheaper than trying to find the leak considering the tubing and size of the system involved. So I have a leak SOMEWHERE but I choose not to worry about it right now. Keep in mind my A/C is turned on at least 9 months out of the year!

Now my refrigerator I have had for 9 years now and has NEVER needed freon. Why, NO LEAKS!

 

Then where does it go and why would you need to service it?

True.......True

Also true. I,m basically stating that if you are going to add freon, you should allways check for leaks. Otherwise you may be throwing money away. Some sealed area's may be leaking to a point where they may hold pressure to a certain point but if you exceed that amount, then the seals will not be able to hold it. My dads 83 Ford LTD (that he sold a year ago) NEVER EVER had freon added to it. He owned it for about 11 years! Just some FYI.

 

I havent really used my AC yet, so I guess ill find out soon enough if its good or not. Its been like 85 here everyday. Man I hope my AC works well. I dont want to die of heat this summer. Take Care

 

70 degrees is hot for San Francisco. It is usually like 55 degrees everyday, year round, except for a few hot days during the year.

I am originally from San Francisco, but I goto school at UC Davis near Sacramento, and it's 93 degrees here today. I might as well have no AC cuz in 93 degree weather, it barely gets cold. Well, it gets cold, but not as cold as the great R12 AC I had in my old Camry.

 

Hey y'all...

Funny, I'm in the SF area as well (and at one point in time, went to UC Davis as well ...

Anyway, the AC on the Max has never seemed to get very cold. I had a '96 GXE Auto back when I went to Davis and it never got really cold. Now I have a '97 SE 5sp and it doesn't get very cold. Neither did the two '95 GLE's that my parents had.

I used to attribute this to the R134 refridgerant, as opposed to the better R12. However, I have a '96 Taurus using the R134 and my friend just got a 2001 Accord and they both get VERY cold FAST (you can see a mist/fog come out of the Taurus vents it get's so cold!)

To me, it seems like this problem might be caused by the a/c compressor spinning too slow... I've checked the freon level on my car and it's fine (unless the gauge was off). However, if I'm on the freeway, or the engine is pulling over 3500rpm or so, it seems to get cold ok... I don't know if an underdrive pulley would make it even worse...

Any advice on how to get these AC units colder would be definitely appreciated...

-V

 

My dad has a 95 Taurus and his a/c kicks a$$. Perhaps also it is a design flaw such as a system that is not big enough for what it has to do.

 

it seemed like mine worked real well when the dealer drove it up to me..but not no more..seems like i should just save the gas and sweat it out

 

anyone know if you can replace the AC system with a older (maybe american) AC system? i have a '97 maxima SE and when i turn on the AC its freakin hot and even if i leave it on for like 20 min it still doesn't get cold... i just got the car :] and the AC is nothing compared to my old '83 caddilac fleetwood me and my friends nicknamed the AC on it the "artic gust" AC system any ideas on what might be wrong with the maxima? thanks!


-norton

 

dch95,

sorry to disagree with you but car AC systems do lose a slight amount of refrigerant per year. Yea its are leaking out, but thats not cause of leaking problem, meaning most likey you wont pick it up with a leak detector and its not a fixable prob. There is a general rule something like 1 oz per year. You can doubt me if you want, i dont mind, I am ASE certified in AC recovery/recycling, and i should have my other AC ASE certificition soon also. I know and can service AC systems legally and have no probs or complaints aganist me.
For some reason it seems alot of times american cars AC systems are better then Japanese car AC systems, this may be due to differences in design, Accumulator vs reciever dryer and other variations. dunno. its been a rumor for awhile that R134A isnt as good as R12 but i dont think its been proven.

 

I have to agree that freon leaks out slowly and that is normal. You can't expect the rubber seals to keep all the vapors in. Especially during winter time, when people don't turn on the ac. The seals don't get the lubrication they need, because the oil is not circulating through the system.
R12 is better because of the freezing and boiling point. I think many american car use a bigger compressor and can handle more freon. But this uses more hp and is not fuel efficient. Japanese cars are more concerned with mpg, so they put a smaller compressor. That is my guess.