Air Conditioning and gas mileage?

[aslusers]

I don't know how to describe this accurately....

When I drive with the AC and/or air blower off, I move through the 5 gears smoothly. With the AC/blower on, I get coughing, hicccuping and it feels almost as if the engine will die (especially in 1st and 2nd gear).

Is my Smart broken?

It has less than 100 miles on it and is 3 days old.

Thanks for any feedback and advice.

Holly

[Lgaruti]

Originally Posted by aslusers

I don't know how to describe this accurately....

When I drive with the AC and/or air blower off, I move through the 5 gears smoothly. With the AC/blower on, I get coughing, hicccuping and it feels almost as if the engine will die (especially in 1st and 2nd gear).

Is my Smart broken?

It has less than 100 miles on it and is 3 days old.

Thanks for any feedback and advice.

Holly

Holly, Don't worry the smart gets better with miles. When you hit 800-1000 miles you will think it's a different car(power, shifting etc all improve).

As far as mileage and running the A/C.. I see a real world 1.5 - 2 mpg reduction with the A/C on 100% of the time and a slight slow down in acceleration. Nothing to wory about.

[nprsmart]

Originally Posted by Lgaruti

Holly, Don't worry the smart gets better with miles. When you hit 800-1000 miles you will think it's a different car(power, shifting etc all improve).

As far as mileage and running the A/C.. I see a real world 1.5 - 2 mpg reduction with the A/C on 100% of the time and a slight slow down in acceleration. Nothing to wory about.

Shoot. I'm at 800 miles now and I was thinking I was getting better at shifting. I am guessing that riding around at highway speed with the top down isn't helping my mileage either, but it sure is fun.

[SnakeFarm]

Originally Posted by Docthrock

My sales rep told me that the AC on the smart is not directly driven by the engine, but instead has an electric motor to drive the pump and blower. He also stated that running with the AC on is not going to change the gas mileage of my smart one iota.

When I turn the AC on, I hear/feel something dragging down. Is that the "massive" 90 amp alternator working overtime to run the AC? Seems like something starts dragging the car/engine down a little when the AC kicks on.

My salesmen told me the EXACT same thing so I put my hands on his sholders and pulled him real close so he could not get away while I raised my knee into his crotch three or for times. He still did not look convinced so I laid him on the pavement and stood on his neck for a minute while I maced him a little. I thought I was done but he started mumbling somethign about "tire protection" so I went back and kicked him a few times and he calmed down after that.

I only recommend this course of action in the case of extreme salesman stupidity. You can usually avoid dealing with it by not asking them any questions and just walking away if their lips start to move.

Oh, yeah. My scangague shows an almost instantanious 4mpg drop when I turn on the AC and none of the AC settign seem to make any difference. Hi, medioum, low, recirculate... It all seems to result in a 4 mpg drop.

[dbwill]

Originally Posted by SnakeFarm

Oh, yeah. My scangague shows an almost instantanious 4mpg drop when I turn on the AC and none of the AC settign seem to make any difference. Hi, medioum, low, recirculate... It all seems to result in a 4 mpg drop.

That seems reasonable to me. My driving style has not changed from my previous car to the smart. I am getting about 34 to 37 in a combination of ~40/60 highway and city driving AND the air is ALWAYS on. Am willing to sacrifice a few MPG's for comfort and quiet and no windand dirt from open windows.

[aslusers]

Originally Posted by Lgaruti

Holly, Don't worry the smart gets better with miles. When you hit 800-1000 miles you will think it's a different car(power, shifting etc all improve).

As far as mileage and running the A/C.. I see a real world 1.5 - 2 mpg reduction with the A/C on 100% of the time and a slight slow down in acceleration. Nothing to wory about.

Thanks for the reassurance! I do love this car, but all the plastic makes it feels a bit fragile. I guess I haven't had time to build up trust in it yet.

Glad to hear the hiccuping and hesitation is typical.

Holly

[Dave Van]

One reason I feel like my Pure is a little quicker is the weight. My only option was the alarm so my Smart weights a good bit less than one with A/C, power windows, power steering, even the Passion 'glass' roof is heavier I bet. All this adds up and affects the cars power AND MPG. All these goodies take a toll on the 70 hp available.

[kannonvaggon]

I would have to say that " hiccups and hesitation " is NOT typical and ain't a good thing. The engine will bog down a bit with the A/C compressor applying increased load at the accessory belt. Ya are using more power for " stuff " hence some of the available power is not so available for motive force to make the vehicle go down the road.
The engine should NOT hiccup nor hesitate. Will the gearbox shift a tad bit differently and will acceleration be just slightly different than with the compressor freewheeling?
Yep. Drastic or nasty ? NOPE .

just a thunk

[GHammerly]

Originally Posted by Dave Van

One reason I feel like my Pure is a little quicker is the weight. My only option was the alarm so my Smart weights a good bit less than one with A/C, power windows, power steering, even the Passion 'glass' roof is heavier I bet. All this adds up and affects the cars power AND MPG. All these goodies take a toll on the 70 hp available.

I'm sure the pure weights a bit less then passion or cabriolet.
About the glass roof on the passion models being heavier I can't say I know the exact weight difference betwean them but the passion has a thin polycarbonet roof, same type of material used on most prescription glasses, very light compared to tempered glass.

[Mitspowered]

Down here in FLA, I am already driving with the A/C on constantly more or less. It is good to know I can expect to realize some better gas mileage in the fall when things are cooler.