Poor Air Conditioner Performance

[Only Human]

So I couldn't find a thread where people were complaining about their AC.

I have 14 Si and the air conditioner performs very poorly. In 90F weather, I get only like 55-60F at the vent for 30-45 minutes before I really feel the cold at the vent. It happens quicker if on the highway as expected.

The dealer did an evac and recharge but no change if not worse.

How is everybody's AC?

Do I just accept that its crappy or make the dealer figure out if something is wrong.

 

[webby]

Take it back to the dealer. 55-60 degree air is not normal, and they cannot argue that. If they say it needs charged again you obviously have a problem.

 

[Nomar06]

I have a 15 Si with 20k miles. It takes maybe 5 mins in 90-100 degree weather before it get super cold. The whole inside cabin gets cold in 10 mins.

Never measured the temp of the air coming out.

 

[Only Human]

OK, so, maybe my thermometer wasn't seated correctly but, while driving, cooling is actually good in 92 degree weather with sun (~50F) , but I have the following concerns.

1. When idling at a red light for example, the AC air goes up a few degrees. While this is expected, it is significant enough to notice and worry about it. However, both the compressor and the condenser fans are on (low speed) as normal.

Is this commonly experienced with our Si's that the vent temperature swing is very noticeable?

2. Now that I'm really "listening" to the system, I feel a light jolt of power when the compressor clutch disengages. I know that this is normal as compressor stops sucking power, but its quite noticeable.

Is this commonly experienced too?

 

[webby]

I've never had a car that was any different. Are you using the recirculation?

 

[Only Human]

I've never had a car that was any different. Are you using the recirculation?

You never owned a car that didn't get super cold in 5 minutes or never owned a car that didn't do what I'm describing?

My AC gets cold fast too, but the cold isn't consistent, especially in the first 15 minutes. When the compressor cycles off, the rise in vent temperature quite noticeable. Happens every 3-5 seconds. Like, makes you say, something wrong? and then it gets to really cold again.

Is this normal?

 

[webby]

2. Now that I'm really "listening" to the system, I feel a light jolt of power when the compressor clutch disengages. I know that this is normal as compressor stops sucking power, but its quite noticeable.

I've never had a car where I didn't feel the ac engage. I've had v8's, v6's, turbo 4's, and 4cyl and they all did it.

 

[Loppysaurusrex]

I also have this problem

A/C full blast, car doesn't get cold at all, just barely cool

 

[PR k24]

I also have this problem

A/C full blast, car doesn't get cold at all, just barely cool

I have the same problem and sometime feels like the compressor is going out as sometimes instead of cold air it blows hot air

 

[Loppysaurusrex]

I have the same problem and sometime feels like the compressor is going out as sometimes instead of cold air it blows hot air

Eh maybe not lol, I live in the south and it gets into the 90's regularly, I have to have max AC on quite a lot to get any cold

I think the real culprit is that my car is black and the seats

The seats hug your body heat in and hold it against you.

I feel like my 5% tint on all sides except for front should help but I guess not lol

 

[PR k24]

Eh maybe not lol, I live in the south and it gets into the 90's regularly, I have to have max AC on quite a lot to get any cold

I think the real culprit is that my car is black and the seats

The seats hug your body heat in and hold it against you.

I feel like my 5% tint on all sides except for front should help but I guess not lol

I feel you I live in Puerto Rico 95+ weather all year round and to make it worse i have a black 4dr Si but i know my ac has something wrong because I have had 2000 black civic si and on the contrary the car had freezing cold air. I guess I'm going to take it in to the shop to check the ac system.

 

[Darkout]

They may just say your a/c is working within specs. Every manufacture has different "standards" but the general rule of thumb that I was taught and go by is if the vent temp is 40 degrees's colder or more your system is ok. 45-50 vent temp in a 95 degree heat with high humidity is pretty solid of a number, the fluctuations with the compressor cycling sounds some what normal and mine does it but only noticed it since the heat's been really high. You may notice a 5 degree temp swing from driving vs not moving at a stop light due to compressor speed and air flow over the condenser. Ultimately though if you feel it an issue bring it in but don't be caught off guard if they can't find anything wrong and say it's fine.

These new systems are also way smaller of a charge than older models. Some are less than 1lb while most older systems had 1 1/2 to 2 1/2 lbs. Also could be a factor

 

[Only Human]

Just as a recap though - My AC was "underperforming." It was cycling between like cold to warm to back to cold - I've heard this complaint on other forums as well. But at the same time, there were people saying their A/C was ice cold.

I messed with the system. Too much. Even though it was doing better with a little bit more charge, I ended up putting too much just like any other idiot out there. So in the end, I took it to the dealer and had to pay out of pocket to evac and recharge the system.

BUT, and a major BUT. Right after the recharge, there wasn't a difference. But the next day, and for a month now, the A/C has been "ice cold" with minimal temperature fluctuations. The car did need to sit like over night to equalize or something.

So, in the end, I'm happy that I messed with it, which finally got me the results I was looking for.

For anybody complaining about A/C performance, it may be worthwhile to take it to the dealer, let them do the "A/C performance evaluation" and evac and recharge the system on warranty. Give it a couple of days if you don't feel a difference.