Motoring Discussion > Aircon ~ first time this year	Miscellaneous
Thread Author: L'escargot	Replies: 43

Tue 25 May 10 09:15   Aircon ~ first time this year - L'escargot

I put the aircon on yesterday for the first time this year. I wish I had a sunroof as well. Reply to this message | Report message

Tue 25 May 10 09:19   Aircon ~ first time this year - Clk Sec

I keep mine on all year round. Edits to say: I don't wish I had a sunroof - restricts headroom IMO. Last edited by: Clk Sec on Tue 25 May 10 at 09:21 Reply to this message | Report message

Tue 25 May 10 09:29   Aircon ~ first time this year - midlifecrisis

Mine's permanently on as well. Dehumidifies is the winter and keeping it on seems to prevent all sort of nasties building up. Never had a problem, ever. Friends who only turn it on now and again seem to suffer with problems much more. Reply to this message | Report message

Tue 25 May 10 09:35   Aircon ~ first time this year - Clk Sec

>>Friends who only turn it on now and again seem to suffer with problems much more. You're absolutely right. Mine has not been turned off in almost 8 years, and the system works as well now as it did when the car was new. Reply to this message | Report message

Tue 25 May 10 09:30   Aircon ~ first time this year - Fenlander

You've done well not to use the aircon until now... ours is always on anyway (climate) but was needed by April. Our last car, Mondeo Ghia X, had climate and a sunroof. Wasn't fussed either way really but one benefit was tilting the sunroof up to keep the car a bit cooler when sitting in it parked on a hot day. Reply to this message | Report message

Tue 25 May 10 09:32   Aircon ~ first time this year - helicopter

The Accord dual climate control is generally on all year round and clears the screen quickly in the winter. It was a boon at the weekend when travelling back 400 miles down the A1.It was set at a comfortable 18 degrees on my side and SWMBO had hers slightly higher at 20 degrees. The sunroof was opened and windows down for cruising through the Sussex countryside on Sunday..... Best of both worlds really. Reply to this message | Report message

Tue 25 May 10 09:40   Aircon ~ first time this year - Mike Hannon

Sunroofs are not always as good an idea as they might seem. If I had a choice I would take aircon. The Prelude has both but the roof is usually only tilted for airflow, not wide open. Oddly enough the convertible car is less draughty and we suffer less from overhead sun when we use it. Reply to this message | Report message

Tue 25 May 10 09:40   Aircon ~ first time this year - Fenlander

>>>The sunroof was opened and windows down for cruising through the Sussex countryside on Sunday..... How slow were you cruising? I hate windows open over 10mph. Reply to this message | Report message

Tue 25 May 10 10:01   Aircon ~ first time this year - Zero

Sunroofs are noisy and steal headroom. Only useful if you dont have aircon. L'es, did you not travel anywhere on Saturday or Sunday in the car? Reply to this message | Report message

Tue 25 May 10 10:11   Aircon ~ first time this year - Clk Sec

I don't do a lot of motoring, but I used the car on both days. Coolest place to be! Reply to this message | Report message

Tue 25 May 10 11:12   Aircon ~ first time this year - Iffy

When it was really hot last Saturday, I had the CC3's roof down and the aircon on. How extravagant is that? It did make a slight difference - cooling breeze to my feet and face. One thing I have noticed is the roof is brilliant when the car has been sitting in hot weather. Open it, and the fug vanishes almost immediately. Much better than blasting the aircon, which I used to do in my old tin top Focus. Reply to this message | Report message

Tue 25 May 10 11:13   Aircon ~ first time this year - Dave_

>> I wish I had a sunroof as well Like fenlander, my Escort Ghia X has aircon and a sunroof! Just as well really, because the aircon seems to have lost its chill over the winter even though I've made a point of running it for 30 minutes every week or so :-( I can only assume the snowy spell meant the ambient temperature was <4°C for quite a while, meaning the system didn't pressurise when switched on at any time from January to mid- March. Off to Kwik Fit for their "cooler aircon or your money back" service I reckon... Better to gamble £40 on that than spend £20 on a DIY can with no guarantee of success. Last edited by: Dave_TD {P} on Tue 25 May 10 at 11:14 Reply to this message | Report message

Tue 25 May 10 12:04   Aircon ~ first time this year - Old Navy

My aircon is always on, a sunroof is just a potential leak. Has anyone noticed that few cars have sunroofs in southern Europe? Last edited by: Old Navy on Tue 25 May 10 at 12:05 Reply to this message | Report message

Tue 25 May 10 12:10   Aircon ~ first time this year - Redviper

In my Astra G the Aircon was never used before i got it , and when i used it, it used to stink. However in the Vectra Ive used the aircon (climate) all year round, - it still works brilliantly, and there is no smell. I think it could be a little cooler though, but its defo cooler than SWMBO's C4 (08 plate) might go a for a regas in a years time Reply to this message | Report message

Tue 25 May 10 12:13   Aircon ~ first time this year - Iffy

...Has anyone noticed that few cars have sunroofs in southern Europe?... It's because it is too hot. Same with convertibles. If it's boiling hot with the sun searing down, you want the roof up/sun roof closed for maximum shade, and the air con on for a bit of cooling. Reply to this message | Report message

Tue 25 May 10 12:16   Aircon ~ first time this year - Runfer D'Hills

I really like sunroofs. Cars with sunroofs and AC are great. Fresh air and sunshine while your body remains comfortable. My Ford has both but my Nissan has AC and a glass roof which doesn't open which seems mean spirited to me. I also like using the sunroof in winter with the heater on. Cars without a hole in the roof feel gloomy to me. Last edited by: Humph D'bout on Tue 25 May 10 at 12:17 Reply to this message | Report message

Tue 25 May 10 12:25   Aircon ~ first time this year - Runfer D'Hills

Forgot to mention another thing I like about sunroofs.....If you keep a supply of gravel in the cup holder you can perfect a technique of flicking a piece through the sunroof without being seen. More or less like you flick a peanut to catch it in your mouth ( or is that just me ? ) Anyway, the stealth gravel flick is for use when being tailgated....... :-) Reply to this message | Report message

Tue 25 May 10 12:26   Aircon ~ first time this year - Zero

Have you seen the state of your roof? Reply to this message | Report message

Tue 25 May 10 12:28   Aircon ~ first time this year - Runfer D'Hills

I'm very accurate. Been training for years. Reply to this message | Report message

Tue 25 May 10 12:59   Aircon ~ first time this year - VxFan

Like some other comments, I leave mine on all the time (climate control) L'escargot, you say that you used it for the first time this year. IIRC you've got a Ford Focus. Doesn't the AC come on automatically every time you direct the airflow torward the windscreen to aid demisting? Reply to this message | Report message

Tue 25 May 10 13:01   Aircon ~ first time this year - Runfer D'Hills

One doesn't need to re-direct airflow to demist a Ford. Dear me no. One has quickclear for that of course..... Sniff.... :-) Last edited by: Humph D'bout on Tue 25 May 10 at 13:03 Reply to this message | Report message

Tue 25 May 10 13:04   Aircon ~ first time this year - VxFan

But does the quickclear remove condensation on the inside of the screen and side windows? Reply to this message | Report message

Tue 25 May 10 13:09   Aircon ~ first time this year - Runfer D'Hills

Yes.....and er...no.... :-) I just leave the AC on all the time like you anyway so condensation is rarely a problem. Reply to this message | Report message

Wed 26 May 10 07:02   Aircon ~ first time this year - L'escargot

>> But does the quickclear remove condensation on the inside of the screen and side windows? >> I direct the outer face vents onto the side windows to demist them. Reply to this message | Report message

Tue 25 May 10 13:06   Aircon ~ first time this year - Netsur

So.....I have: - Dual Zone Climate (although kept on the mono setting as Espadrille likes it as cold as me); Huge glass roof with blinds; Quickclear; and Seats that both warm you up and cool you down.... And it's still hot in the car when you return after it has been sat in the blazing sun for a few hours. Reply to this message | Report message

Tue 25 May 10 13:10   Aircon ~ first time this year - Old Navy

>> And it's still hot in the car when you return after it has been sat >> in the blazing sun for a few hours. >> Dont the windows open? They are good for letting hot air out. :-) Reply to this message | Report message

Wed 26 May 10 07:03   Aircon ~ first time this year - L'escargot

>> One doesn't need to re-direct airflow to demist a Ford. Dear me no. One has >> quickclear for that of course ..... One does indeed! I wouldn't buy a car without it. Reply to this message | Report message

Wed 26 May 10 08:57   Aircon ~ first time this year - Old Navy

>> >> One doesn't need to re-direct airflow to demist a Ford. Dear me no. One >> has >> >> quickclear for that of course ..... >> >> One does indeed! I wouldn't buy a car without it. >> So last year, dear. Modern cars like mine have Positive Temperature Co-efficient heaters built into their heating systems to provide instant heat. Reply to this message | Report message

Wed 26 May 10 09:18   Aircon ~ first time this year - L'escargot

>> So last year, dear. Modern cars like mine have Positive Temperature Co-efficient heaters built into >> their heating systems to provide instant heat. I wish I was rich enough to be able to afford a car that was newer than my 2003 Focus. Reply to this message | Report message

Wed 26 May 10 11:49   Aircon ~ first time this year - Old Navy

>> I wish I was rich enough to be able to afford a car that was >> newer than my 2003 Focus. >> Far from rich. Just of the if you can't afford to pay for it don't buy it generation. Save for five years, buy a car, start again. I get the interest (for what it's worth these days) not someone else. :-) Last edited by: Old Navy on Wed 26 May 10 at 11:54 Reply to this message | Report message

Tue 25 May 10 13:04   Aircon ~ first time this year - Old Navy

My Focus would have done that if the aircon had not been on, It did not have auto climate control but the temperature control knob has a similar effect. Quickclear is for ice, aircon is for condensation, Ok the QC helps for a quick defog but that is only on an initial start on a damp day. Last edited by: Old Navy on Tue 25 May 10 at 13:08 Reply to this message | Report message

Tue 25 May 10 13:08   Aircon ~ first time this year - BiggerBadderDave

I've got aircon and a sunroof and when Mother in Law is in the car I wind the windows down as well. She hates it. She holds a scarf to her ears. Reply to this message | Report message

Tue 25 May 10 13:10   Aircon ~ first time this year - Runfer D'Hills

Does she have personal odour issues ? Reply to this message | Report message

Tue 25 May 10 13:11   Aircon ~ first time this year - BiggerBadderDave

She likes to gob out the window Reply to this message | Report message

Tue 25 May 10 13:56   Aircon ~ first time this year - VxFan

>> Does she have personal odour issues ? I'd have thought holding her nose and not her ears would have been more appropriate. Reply to this message | Report message

Tue 25 May 10 14:03   Aircon ~ first time this year - Alanovich

>> I've got aircon and a sunroof and when Mother in Law is in the car >> I wind the windows down as well. She hates it. She holds a scarf to >> her ears. >> Do I detect the famed Slavic fear of draughts? My Balkan in-laws are obsessed with and terrified of draughts, they are blamed for just about every known human ailment. Reply to this message | Report message

Tue 25 May 10 14:57   Aircon ~ first time this year - BiggerBadderDave

"Do I detect the famed Slavic fear of draughts?" Absolutely. Yesterday I drove her and the kids to an indoor activity centre (all of 300 metres away, if that). It was too far to walk, too cold to not wear a scarf (28 degrees and rays belting down in a black leather car that had been sitting in the sun) and of course she subjects the kids to the same torture - coats and hats. And 300 metres in a car with the window down... you'd think I'd given her smallpox judging by the fuss. What I wouldn't give for a ragtop right about now. Reply to this message | Report message

Wed 26 May 10 09:21   Aircon ~ first time this year - L'escargot

>> Quickclear >> is for ice, aircon is for condensation, My Quickclear is for condensation, frost, ice and snow in that order. Reply to this message | Report message

Wed 26 May 10 07:00   Aircon ~ first time this year - L'escargot

>> L'escargot, ........... you've >> got a Ford Focus. I have. >> Doesn't the AC come on automatically every time you direct the >> airflow torward the windscreen to aid demisting? Nope. Only when you press the appropriate button. Reply to this message | Report message

Wed 26 May 10 07:09   Aircon ~ first time this year - L'escargot

>> Sunroofs are noisy .... My hearing isn't that good! >> ........... and steal headroom. I'm not that tall. >> Only useful if you dont have aircon. I like the extra airflow through the car that you get when the subroof is tilte open. >> L'es, did you not travel anywhere on Saturday or Sunday in the car? >> Nope. Reply to this message | Report message

Tue 25 May 10 14:14   Aircon ~ first time this year - Victorbox

One useful thing I did learn from HJ was to use the aircon for a minimum of 10 minutes a week, 52 weeks of the year to keep it all nicely lubricated. SWMBO's car with aircon is still as good as new after 8 years. Reply to this message | Report message

Wed 26 May 10 08:08   Aircon ~ first time this year - L'escargot

>> One useful thing I did learn from HJ was to use the aircon for a >> minimum of 10 minutes a week, 52 weeks of the year to keep it all >> nicely lubricated. SWMBO's car with aircon is still as good as new after 8 years. >> (1) If I use the aircon when the weather is cool/cold, until the residual moisture (it's impossible for it to all drain out) in the system has evaporated it comes back into the car and causes condensation when the aircon is switched off. (2) My car's Owners Guide says to switch the aircon off when it's not needed, and I chose to believe the manufacturer's recommendations rather than anyone else's. (3) My aircon is still as good as new after 7 years of not being used when it's not been needed. Reply to this message | Report message

Wed 26 May 10 08:59   Aircon ~ first time this year - CGNorwich

The thing I really miss a sunroof for is carrying tall lengths of timber! Reply to this message | Report message

Wed 26 May 10 10:26   Aircon ~ first time this year - VxFan

>> (1) If I use the aircon when the weather is cool/cold, until the residual moisture >> (it's impossible for it to all drain out) in the system has evaporated it comes >> back into the car and causes condensation when the aircon is switched off. Well use the quickclear screen to get rid of the condensation then :o) Reply to this message | Report message