AC ineffective

[tvengineer]

I have noticed something with my A/C on a few occasions now..

It may not have anything to do with the problems people are experiencing in this thread.. but it may be another "quirk" of the smart a/c

When the weather is not so hot.. I will roll the windows down with no A/C..
but when I get on the interstate it is too windy so I roll up the windows and turn on the A/C... not unusual at all..

however.. I do not turn on the A/c until I am mostly done accelerating up to speed on the interstate (to not rob power from the engine)..
on several occasions when I hit the A/c button to turn on the air.. it does not get cool... I have duplicated it a few times and it will NOT COOL if I turn on the A/c while entering the interstate... BUT.. if I momentarily lift my foot off the accelerator the A/C comes on...
It seems the computer system is commanding the A/C off during hard acceleration... and that is perfectly normal...
but IF I TURN ON THE A?C during hard acceleration it does not get commanded to come back on once the car is up to speed...
releasing the accelerator makes it come back on..

weird little "quirk" .... anyone else notice it????

not a big deal.. just learning how our little cars work

[John_H]

Really bizarre!

[nedhedrick]

I'm on my second summer of trying to get my temperature control fixed. On anything other than the lowest setting, it won't maintain the interior temp below 85. The A/C is not freezing up, the temperature control doesn't work. Been that way since the day it was delivered. Smart dealer had it four times last year, and once this year, and the response is always "no error codes, working normally". It may not indicate any errors, but it does not work properly. Next week I go back in and talk to the service manager. What is the recourse for something the local dealer refuses to fix?

[BB Benz]

A number of these cars have issues with the temperature thermistor plugged into the passenger footwell. Simply unplugging and repluging the sensor disturbs the crimped on connection of the thermistor so that the resistance of the connection no longer interferes with the reading obtained by the temperature control, IMHO... This action improved the performance of mine in the past.
I did experience some unusual rapid variations of air temperature coming out of the vents last night. Fan setting was 2, temp set for 65, recirc on. A setting of 70 is always too warm when the outside temp is 80+ here. Makes me wonder if my refrigerant is low, too.

[mrc59]

Originally Posted by nedhedrick

I'm on my second summer of trying to get my temperature control fixed. On anything other than the lowest setting, it won't maintain the interior temp below 85. The A/C is not freezing up, the temperature control doesn't work. Been that way since the day it was delivered. Smart dealer had it four times last year, and once this year, and the response is always "no error codes, working normally". It may not indicate any errors, but it does not work properly. Next week I go back in and talk to the service manager. What is the recourse for something the local dealer refuses to fix?

Same with my controls. Very cold on 65, mild on any other setting. I'm going in tomorrow for the second coolant leak after an initial A/C repair.

Check into your state's automotive lemon law. Most times, after three repairs for the same thing you have a right to file. Not that you will, but it's good to know the law (your rights, the dealers obligations) when talking with the service manager.

[fpage77]

Originally Posted by mrc59

Check into your state's automotive lemon law. Most times, after three repairs for the same thing you have a right to file. Not that you will, but it's good to know the law (your rights, the dealers obligations) when talking with the service manager.

He said they never did a repair they just check for codes and found none then sent him on his way.

[mrc59]

"In for repairs" counts as a repair visit. If the dealership does no work, and the defect remains or returns, that counts.

See http://www.carlemon.com/lemon/NE_law.html

"Nebraska Lemon Laws and the federal Lemon Law (the Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act) provide for compensation to Nebraska consumers of defective automobiles and trucks and other vehicles and products including motorcycles, RV’s, boats, computers and other consumer appliances and products. To qualify under the Nebraska Lemon Law or the federal Lemon Law, you must generally have a product that suffered multiple repair attempts under the manufacturer’s factory warranty. Lemon Law compensation can include a refund, replacement or cash compensation."

Defective: A/C doesn't work, and dealer can't or won't fix it.

[meaux61]

Just curious...where is this thermister?

[HGB]

For those that can't get good cooling try this-
Take a thermometer that has a small sensor. Stick the sensor into the left center grill and set the fan to the second setting from bottom. With A/C at lowest setting and Recirculate on, you should see about 40-41 degrees F on a moderately hot day.
.This is at speed and not during idle however. Keep your eye on the road during this test please or have someone with you!

I also noticed that the A/C compressor does not come on until one gets off the pedal for a short time after heavy acceleration and continues at a moderate speed.