AC repair saga finally over...

[donnyonee]

when its right the cold (bigger) line does sweat.

[nedhedrick]

My saga is just starting, I guess. Just had the first visit to the smart center. The only way I can keep the car cool in hot (85+) temperatures is to turn the temp control all the way down. For example, when I set it at 65, the interior never got lower than 80. (outside temp was 85) This was on a 200 mile trip.

Tech took car out to test with thermometer, and says it is working OK.

I believe they are checking temp at vent, which is correct, but cabin temp will never reach that temp in hot weather. I thought the temp setting was for the cabin temp -- not the vent temp. Am I in error?

[parnami]

Originally Posted by nedhedrick

My saga is just starting, I guess. Just had the first visit to the smart center. The only way I can keep the car cool in hot (85+) temperatures is to turn the temp control all the way down. For example, when I set it at 65, the interior never got lower than 80. (outside temp was 85) This was on a 200 mile trip.

Tech took car out to test with thermometer, and says it is working OK.

That's exactly the way my car was too..until I had it checked out. Smart Cherry Hill said they got some sort of error message and replaced the hvac control unit (the unit with the operator controls) and it's been fine ever since. I leave it set at 65 year round now and don't even have to close the sunshade in most instances.

[John_H]

This is such a common problem (appearing on this forum, at least) and it's amazing that these people still say things are okay.

Is the test procedure to turn the AC all the way down to test the temp at the vents? DUH! Of course it shows an okay temp if that's the only place it works.

The temp setting is for the cabin, not the vent. They did you a great disservice giving it a quick stamp of "leave us alone" sending you on your way.

While typically it's the temperature control unit that solves the problem, there's been at least one bad expansion valve; luckily the owner with that problem - the person who started this thread - had a tech with strong AC experience to find the problem.

A question: did the tech say what the temperature was that was read at the vents?

[stephensussman]

sato 7, i understand your comments but all questions and contacts i have had with smart annapolis maryland have been fantastic paul the dedicated mechanic has put up with a lot from me and numerous others in the baltimore/washington/ annapolis area , i for one have all the confidence in the world in him. and the dealer from which i bought my smart,