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One thing that we noticed on our long drive is that the air conditioner is icing at the evaporator..
It is easy to diagnose... Firstly the air flow is very slow despite the display showing one bar less than full flow. (and it is hot inside the car)... Switch off the A/C, but keep the fan going.. After about 5-10 minutes of driving you will notice that the air flow starts to improve and there will be small pieces of ice come through the dashboard vents.. Happened three times today - temp was set on 22C and (later) 24C..
Anyone else experience this problem?
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My best guess is that the icing is a combination of high relative humidity, low temperature setting and low fan setting. Question: do you have the A/C with full fresh air flow or recirculating air? If you are running the A/C with outside air flowing in (and that air is at high relative humidity), then you are in fact pushing a lot of water over the heat exchanger. A low fan setting will mean that condensed water will stay on the heat exchanger and will freeze. Because ice is a good insulator, A/C efficiency will decrease. If you use recirculated air, the air will rapidly dehumidify and icing will be minimal.
Solution: switch air flow to recirculation, set fan speed at medium, and temperature to 24C.
BTW, somebody posted once that they never ran the A/C due to power loss. I have read that driving at speed with open windows causes more power loss and poorer fuel economy due to incresed drag. Of course, you lose that certain macho chic look by not having your arm draped down the door.
Like Hymee, I always have the A/C running except in the depths of a Brisbane winter (3 weeks). I've heard that regular running helps keep the compressor seals flexible and therefore prolongs working life.
I seldom use mine as well. On the old Astina the aircon used to suck up most of what little power there was in the car, so i guess old habits die hard.
__________________ V.Red 04 Leather pack: MODS- Fluffy dice & Dancing Elvis dashboard figure. Oh I have fender strakes, rear wing, scoops and stuff too.
One of my fathers best friends Peter was in the SAS for quite a few years before leaving and going into the Police SOG here in Vic. I remember years back when I was just a boy being at a golf club for dinner with my parents and Peter. There were 5 guys hassling a young lady so my father and Peter stepped up to them and asked they refrain from hassling the lady. Of course they refused. Peter invited all 5 to step outside and then told dad to sit back down with the family, he'll take care of it.
I remember well, they all walk outside then less than 2 minutes later Peter walked back in not a hair out of place. My brothers and I break from the table and dash outside to find the 5 guys spread out across the ground having seen better days.
Peter now runs a very succesfull collections business getting back from people what they have stolen or decieved from others, although now it is mainly very large corporations utilising his services.
My best guess is that the icing is a combination of high relative humidity, low temperature setting and low fan setting.
Fair comments, but the 6 had auto air and never had a problem with icing on 22 or 24C.. I suspect that the system is not sensing the cabin temperature properly and cutting out the system when it gets too cold.. (ie a wire has come off somewhere!)
Delivered two weeks ago and now has 1,000km on the clock... Yesterday was the first time we have taken the car on a long trip, but we did experience the ice once before after a longish drive around town..
I'm a sucker that never turns off the climate control.... unless I want to cruise down the Monash Car park of an evening in peak hour, then I'll roll the windows down, and hang out. Still I dont notice the power change due to drag because ... well... its peak hour!! :P
btw, ive never had a problem with the icing... always been fine.
Remember as well that the A/C will disengage when the throttle is pressed greater than 65%, so you still have power on tap without having to turn it off to overtake etc.
I hope you haven't already holed your condensor Remember that damage it already had when were putting the grill kit on? And I said how similar it looked to the damage mine sustained....
True, but there is no oil stain - so I don't believe that it is a leak... It is still working - in fact it is too cold... Even though it was 25 outside on the way home and I had the system set to 24C, the display is showing full A/C and not ECON A/C... I am sure that it is a temp sensor problem... If I turn it off for 5 to 10 minutes, it blows small bits of ice outside the vents... If it were a leak, there is no way I would still have any cold air now..
Remember that damage it already had when were putting the grill kit on? And I said how similar it looked to the damage mine sustained....
Promise!
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