aftermarket A/C

[pixl]

After driving around for nearly 3 hours today, I have decided I need to replace my air con; it's bloody useless.

Before you suggest getting it looked at, I have. No one can find any fault with it, but almost every one agrees it's crap. My question is, are there aftermarket units available. If so, where should I start my search?

[ef9]

After driving around for nearly 3 hours today, I have decided I need to replace my air con; it's bloody useless.

Before you suggest getting it looked at, I have. No one can find any fault with it, but almost every one agrees it's crap. My question is, are there aftermarket units available. If so, where should I start my search?

I guess talking to a air cond/radiator place would be a good start, they often custom make aircon compressor, radiator, piping, condensor etc....if not, at least they should be able to diagnose what the problem is, maybe there is a leak?

[Chuck]

can't believe this hasn't really been covered before...i agree, the air con is crap...not that cold & the vents don't angle down enough!

will keep an eye on this thread for sure

[mikepologti]

i dont even use my air con. but the few times i have its been not steller but adequate.

[danish]

Use my air con every day and to be honest I've found it to be quite good. Not as good as the astra I came out of (you could store meat in that car at the lowest setting), but still very good.

Doesn't hurt that I am parked underground both at home and work, so the a/c only really has to maintain car temperature rather than try and cool it. If I am parking in the sun for a decent amount of time I usually crack the windows an inch as well to help keep the temperature down and give the a/c less to do when I get back in.

[seangti]

Pixl, is there a particular occassion that the a/c is worse than others? e.g. mine on the highway is great, but notice an obvious drop in cool air when speed decreases and no flow. This is not uncommon, more common in older, small capacity engined cars, but may be overcome with a better A/C radiator perhaps... I have very limited experience in air cons, but the principle is quite simple in being a heat exchange. Might be worth the question of specialists.

[FL00DY]

I agree, the air con is awful. It's a big joke with my mates but I have stalled a couple of times with the AC on.

[DeanB]

Strangely I've never had an issue, works fine whether around town or on a hot day.

You sure it isn't worth getting independently checked ie gas pressure, etc ? The Mrs Pug was never cooling very well, dealer gave it the okay on 2 occasions before I took it up to the local auto air-con guy who found that it didn't have enough gas in the system !! Now it is like a mini fridge, nice and cool on the hottest days

[gtimonkey]

Air con

I think the Air con sucks.

On the flipside easily the best heater any of my cars have ever had (not much good in Brisbane unfortunately)

It is just cold enough. It has a horrible impact on driving and increases fuel consumption by about 30%. Its robs power before its finds the boost makes it laggy- yes I also stall it when I forget that it is on (it needs a tiny touch more accelerator).

I would like to set it up so that it has an eco option, like some Toyotas have, the kind where it only works on zero throttle or when the car reaches 20km/hr. It runs the compressor when you are going or slowing down - like a regenerative brake. Probably would not help with making the cold but at least it would drive a lot better on hot days.

[BRU51N]

try regassing it?

on one of my previous cars the air was piss weak, ended up getting it regassed and the a/c was colder than any other car a/c ive ever felt.

[woosh73]

a/c

My 2006 works extremely well actually better than the rexy . Probably best thing to do is to go to an Automotive A/C specialist to check for leaks it's pretty easy they use a dye in the gas.

[pixl]

Car went in last Friday for its 15k service, thought I would bring it up again. The service manager took it for a drive around the block on a 26 degree day and said to me, "You're right, there's something wrong with that..."

Got it back yesterday (different person) "We had it checked and it couldn't be faulted"

Took it to a radiator/air con specialist this arvo to enquire about getting an aftermarket unit. Very helpful bloke, he brought out a thermometer and stuck it down the vent. "I don't want to sound like a smart arse, but that's bloody cold at 3.9 degrees"

He went on to tell me how most cars average around 5-6 degrees. I tried to explain to him that I've been driving for just over an hour today in 26 degree weather (29 on the display) with the air con on full an recirc on and I'm sweating. "I don't know what to tell you mate, but this thing is ice cold. I can't recommend an aftermarket unit because it'll be very expensive and I guarantee it won't be as cold as this."

I couldn't really argue with the guy as I saw the numbers myself -- he reckons it's all to do with it being a black car.

I'm going to try a few other places tomorrow, but I'm not holding my breath.

[DeanB]

What's your tint like ? I see on your sig that it is "ICT Tint" ... what's its heat rating and also the light %

I used to have a dark blue car (Swift GTi) and I'll admit it was hot sitting in the sun, but once the aircon was running (about 5min) it worked fine.

[noone]

How do you have the vents balanced? If I want cold, I usually have the 2 middle ones pointed at me, partially blocked (to even out the balance to the side vents). With the passenger side closed and drivers side pointed at me, thats about all the air flow you can focus.

Is the airflow good? If its cold, but not getting through, could be the issue?

[seangti]

Also bear in mind that if you have it directed to your feet (as I always do), it also sends air to under the front seats for rear passengers. Quite frustating as I'd like to block it (back seats used for passengers perhaps twice in 12months), but it is what it is.