Air Conditioner Performance

[Westfield 11]

One thing I have noticed is that the a/c cuts out when I floor the throttle. Not always, but when I really rev the car up around 5500 to 6500 rpm the computer thinks I need "emergency speed" and shuts off the compressor to give a bit more power. The compressor steals so much power that I really have to wring out the engine to keep up with two aboard and the a/c on.

The car heats up pretty quick when the fan starts blowing hot air as I try to merge on to the freeway, but cools quickly once I reach cruising speed and I lift off the throttle.

[angel]

I can't find the specific post now but I did some testing today ....

Someone mentioned too much cold air on their hands at the 10 o'clock and 2 o'clock position. I adjusted the air control in between the vent and the feet. Then went another click towards the vents. 1/2 way the line. Then there is plenty of air from the vents and just enough on the feet that it kept the interior cool without freezing my hands. So my suggestion is play with the position control of air flow output. It worked for me and might help others.

[dbwill]

Another thing, this unit works more like a manual unit rather than a climate control unit. For example, in my BMW with the temp set at 70 starting on a hot day after the car has sat in the sun the air temperature coming out of the vents is in the upper 30's or low 40's until the cabin begins to reach the set 70 degrees. Then the temp of the air begins to moderate to keep the cabin at 70.

In the smart the air temperature coming from the vents is related to the setting on the temp lever. For example under the same conditions as above, with the temp lever at 70 the air coming from the vents is about 55 to 60 degrees. Setting the temp lever to 60 results in air temperature of about 40 degrees coming from the vents. When the cabin gets to 70 the air temperature coming form the vents does not seem to moderate, so it has to be reset manually

Bottom line, it is not a climate control system. Not a complaint just a fact as I see it.

[SMARTnTiny]

Angel, I'm not sure if I'm the poster you're looking for re: the 10 and 2 "air on the hands" issue. However, my issue is that there is air CONSTANTLY blowing out of the vents on my smart - even when I have the setting at "0" I can still adjust the temperature and make the air hot or cold, but I cannot turn off the air from the vents entirely.

Anyone else noticing this?

[bull8042]

Originally Posted by SMARTnTiny

Angel, I'm not sure if I'm the poster you're looking for re: the 10 and 2 "air on the hands" issue. However, my issue is that there is air CONSTANTLY blowing out of the vents on my smart - even when I have the setting at "0" I can still adjust the temperature and make the air hot or cold, but I cannot turn off the air from the vents entirely.

Anyone else noticing this?

Hmmm, sounds to me like you have a damper stuck. When I turn mine off, there is no air movement at all. Gets stuffy pretty quick in the little thing too.

[Okie Boy]

Originally Posted by SMARTnTiny

Angel, I'm not sure if I'm the poster you're looking for re: the 10 and 2 "air on the hands" issue. However, my issue is that there is air CONSTANTLY blowing out of the vents on my smart - even when I have the setting at "0" I can still adjust the temperature and make the air hot or cold, but I cannot turn off the air from the vents entirely.

Anyone else noticing this?

With your fan ON then turn on the Recirculate give it a few seconds for the dampers to close then turn the fan to 0.

[SMARTnTiny]

Originally Posted by Okie Boy

With your fan ON then turn on the Recirculate give it a few seconds for the dampers to close then turn the fan to 0.

Thanks Okie! I'll give it a whirl and let you know how it goes.

[saronian]

Some of these items are cover in the manual:

Rapid cooling
Push air volume control fully up.
Turn air distribution control to position (center vents).
Push temperature control fully down.
Adjust the air vents as desired.

The air condition will be suspended temporarily:
if the engine speed is too low
when driving off

The air condition is switched off:
at a coolant temperature of more than 239°F (115°C)
at outside temperatures below 38°F (3°C)

[timhood]

Originally Posted by Westfield 11

One thing I have noticed is that the a/c cuts out when I floor the throttle...

This is not smart-specific. Most (if not all) cars built in the last 15 years or so will do this. I think it is more a function of preventing engine overloading/overheating rather than providing the driver with that extra little bit of power.

[jaxbchSmart]

Originally Posted by bottlerocket

pull the sunscreen

use the recirc feature

turn the temp down to at least 68

use at least the third speed

that's what i do. its been around 90 in jacksonville over the past several days. my car is black with black leather. i roll the windows down with the air blowing for about a minute to get the hot air out of the car. roll the windows back up and within a few minutes it actually cools down pretty good.