A couple of work colleagues have recently mentioned how quickly the beloved Accord gets cold air pumping through the climate system (they both drive 3 series) in this hot weather - not something I particulalrly noticed before.
We proceeded to do a couple of back to back tests (because we are sad anoraks) with the beemers and it was true - the speed at which the cold air starts to come through is almost instant - literally after about 3-4 seconds in the Accord compared to a 30-40 seconds in the beemers - and even then it is not as cold as the Accord.
All cars have done similar mileages (5-6K) and settings on climate system were the same etc.
I do not know alot about these systems but that must be pretty impressive in terms of cooling efficiency.
Have any other drivers noticed similar.
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my old primera is instantly cold ........
wifes fiesta takes 30 secs in comparison
hyundai atoz still waiting for that to go cold....
non of these have climate but on/off switches...........
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Depends on the interior temperature of the car on my Mondeo. If it's above 40 deg C then I get a blast of very warm air from the ducts for about 10 seconds (until it cools the ducts) then icy cold, If it's 20 deg C or less then it's instant icy cold and in between it's warm for a few seconds then cold.
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Never had a problem with the five series, cool air almost instantly, to the best of my memory the 3 series was like that, maybe 'cos it was a diesel. The Landie is the best by far, open them front vents and it's straight there !
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open them front vents and it's straight there
super cooled flies and bugs in the chops you mean
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TourVanMan TM < Ex RF >
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All part of the experience ! (spit)
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Different cars have different spec air-con systems so obviously some perform better than others. Ford seem a bit weak to me and not very realible (you see a lot of 4-5 year old Fords with duff condensers etc), as do Euro-spec BMW & Merc (I suspect different systems are fitted to cars shipped to Middle East, Aus, US etc). Jap cars always seem pretty powerful on the cooling front, and long-lasting too - I service a couple of 10 year old Mitsubishi FTO's and took one for regassing a couple of months back (all original parts and no leaks) - they have staggeringly powerful cooling - gave me a headache after a few mins.
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The Rover 75 takes you to a three star freezer rating in seconds. Speaking of random cooling stuff, there's a dinky little radiator on the 75 Estate by the off-side rear wheel. I reckon it's to cool the brake fluid, dad disagrees. Any ideas?
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David, the radiator by the rear wheel is to cool the diesel fuel- don't ask me why!
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Ford seem a bit weak to me and not very realible (you see a lot of 4-5 year old Fords with duff condensers etc),
I would agree. The Mondeo's air-conditioning is in need of attention at 5 years old. Cuts in and out constantly until it's been running for about 10 mins when it will suddenly come on and stay on. From then on its fine, but a pain when it's been sat in direct sunlight in 30°C all day.
Cheers
DP
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I would agree. The Mondeo's air-conditioning is in need of attention at 5 years old. Cheers DP
Have you had it regassed yet DP ?
My previous 2001 Mondeo was OK when I traded it in 3 months ago at 5 years old, but I had regassed it the previous year ,at 4 years old, when I noticed the pump cutting in and out more often than usual. They do need topping up every so often due to natural losses.
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Different cars have different spec air-con systems so obviously some perform better than others. ... as do Euro-spec BMW & Merc (I suspect different systems are fitted to cars shipped to Middle East, Aus, US etc).
This was discussed on the Merc forums in the recent hot weather (as most Merc's, esp C Class, seem to struggle with the heat we had). People that had access to parts databases said that there are not different spec a/c parts for other parts of the world.
I must say that having had a Jeep Grand Cherokee on hire in Florida a few weeks ago, it was all it could do to cope with the heat and humidity, and didn't give the impression that the a/c was anything special.
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the speed at which the cold air starts to come through is almost instant - literally after about 3-4 seconds in the Accord
Perhaps that's to make up for the oft mentioned issue with Accords that they're very slow to warm up in Winter!
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Very pleased with the Toledo, nice and cold. Takes about 10 - 15 seconds for noticeably cold air to come through. (This was in the hot spell recently)
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Can certainly agree with Jap systems being powerful, my 2000 Accord is probably in need of an AC service as it is all original at nearly 6 years old, but the air from the vents is so cold i have to set it above maximum cooling.
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Interesting, this. It confirms that my memory is not playing tricks: the A/C coolth in a former colleague's Accord Coupé some years ago was distinctly more powerful than in the Golf and three MBs that I've owned since that time.
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Go to Tokyo in summer, and you'll see why. The humidity makes what we've had recently seem comfortable.
I remember getting off the plane at 7:00 at night and having my clothes instantly stick to me. It's not pleasant.
Cheers
DP
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Oh dear! Are these topics designed to make one feel inferior? When I see claims such as these, I think to myself that there must have been something wrong with my last and current cars (new shape Golf with semi-auto 'climatic' aircon).
The Aircon in my car, like the majority, I would imagine, has to cool the car after it has been left out in the hottest of weather that this country can now throw at it and as a result cause the interiors including all the 'fabric' of the car to reach goodness know what degrees celcius.
I have to say that after starting mine and blowing the never ending hot air from all the vents it still takes about 3 odd miles (maybe slightly more) to get the interior to the icy temperatures that I like (my partner doesn't). I usually have the blower on maximum and the recirulation 'on' sometimes to speed things up and have my personal vents aimed at my body (not my face for fear of some muscle palsy developing). Of course, had the car been garaged or kept in the shade then the problem would have been lessened to a greater extent.
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The Golf is pretty good actually (especially if you put it on recirculate when you first get in on a hot day)...but it's not a patch on the Accord, where the cold air is almost instant.
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Cooler than the coolest cool man from Coolchester ...
.... er wife's Clio provides instant cool air, the Mondeo takes a little longer though is very efficient on hot day.
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About 10 secs to blow cold air in my car and after a few minutes I have to turn it down as it's getting a bit too cold for me. (2004 Megane)
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40 seconds and 4.0c
Yay its fixed!
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TourVanMan TM < Ex RF >
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Excellent - just make sure Nicole's is as good when she gets the new one - or it will be your fault it's not.
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Interesting thread.......
The only cars I've had with air-con have all been japanese - but UK bult jap cars. All have had excellent air-con,very powerful and as people say cold air almost instantly.
But recently I bought a grey-import Celica convertible (jap built I assume) , just as a "High Days and Holidays car" in addition to my regularly vehicle - the air con on this is even more powerful, even on the "eco" mode I usually end up turning it off after 10mins on one of these very hot/humid days because I come iup in goose-bumps.
My sister also has a 5yr old Mondeo - guess what the air-con has just failed !
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The touran has a SIGNIFICANT problem with the design of the aircon. The condensor lives right in the front of the car, under the radiator - so its low. Its is fed with air from the front via two rows of very large vents. They are under the bumper line and very low down. The vents are approx 1.5" in size with no mesh or protection and I can poke anything 1.5 inches in diameter into the face of the condensor. anywhere along the width of the bumper.
It is therefore no suprise that mine had a stone in the condensor (£600 fitted to you sir) and the fact that there is a waiting list for them, and a very healthy trade on e-bay in Touran condensors I suggest this is a far from unique problem. Not checked the mouth of a new golf yet, but i suspect being the same platform, it has the same issue.
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TourVanMan TM < Ex RF >
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Do what i do........... wait until the hottest day of the year..... get impatient with the climate control and convince yourself there's something wrong with it.......... become very pedantic and insist (to yourself) that everything must be in top working order, so spend a while on the phone booking it in somewhere (because everyone else is booking theirs in aren't they)...... spend most of the morning in traffic, because the nearest place avilable is not that close....then find there was sod all wrong with it.... it was just that 33/97 degrees all day, meant the leather and plastic inside was piping hot and would take a while to cool down and of course it won't be as efficient as it normally is.
At least they didn't charge me....but the look i got from the technician still haunts me.
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You are correct in everything you say. I have, sometimes convinced myself that my aircon is malfunctioning but it has always been found to be working 100%. The trouble is that one becomes paranoid about such things.
It only requires one to turn the aircon off to then realise just how effective it is and how uncomfortable it must be for those who are suffering in their non-aircon(ed) vehicles - surely the most useful accessory that has been introduced across practically the whole range of motor vehicles in the last 10 years or so - not so for the environment, though!
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Just crack the window down an inch and put the tips of your fingers out into the airstream coming past. That's usually enough of a test.
Aircon was one of those things that I could never understand the need for on a car, but now I've got it, I find it very difficult to be without.
I almost had a hissy fit when I had to drive the Fiesta (no aircon) to work during one of those hot days because SWMBO needed to use the Mondeo to ferry some kids about.
Selfish, moi? ;-)
Cheers
DP
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Stupid question I know, but why don't rest of the world manufacturers use the same systems as the Japanese? But then again... why don't they build their cars as well as the Japanese.... oh forget it...
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I guess it comes down to cost. It is not as hot and humid (usually) in Europe as in Japan for example, so a cheaper / less powerful system will be perfectly adequate for most people. Like everything else in a car, the air-con system will be specced to the lowest possible price to give adequate performance in the main target market.
In Tokyo where the summer temperature can hit the low 30's with 90% relative humidity (the AVERAGE is 75%), and the traffic barely moves, European air-con wouldn't cope. Australasia is also a big export market for the Japanese car industry, and again the summer temperatures and humidity in some parts of the place is just terrifying.
That, plus as you say Japanese do know what they're doing on the engineering front.
Cheers
DP
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You're right DP re the climate,
I remember visiting a mate in the Middle East a few years back, his company car (Ford Explorer) had two air con systems, cos one couldn't cope.
It also had to have fire extinguishers and a roll cage? which was a bit off putting
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40 seconds and 4.0c Yay its fixed! ------------------------------ TourVanMan TM < Ex RF >
As measure by what, regarding this phenomenal temperature attainment in such a short period of time?
Just jealous, that's all.
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I tend to roll down the windows for the first half a mile if the car's been in the sun to take the edge off it, then use the aircon. Do any cars have cooled seats?
Steve.
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Xantia HDi.
Buy a Citroen and get to know the local GSF staff better...
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>>Do any cars have cooled seats?
The Higher spec mondeos do but apparently they're not that good.
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>>Do any cars have cooled seats?
The Mercedes S-Class does as well. There are a bank of little fans in the seat frame which blow through perforations in the leather. The seats have a "massage" function as well.
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As measured by a digital thermomter probe on the central air vent
(moving along)
It creeps up to 8.5c stationary
Outside ambient was 22.5c
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TourVanMan TM < Ex RF >
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As measured by a digital thermomter probe on the central air vent
Your measurements, whilst valid, don't indicate comfort feel, say, in the vicinity of the driver or passenger which I admit is difficult to measure. Surely in an ideal state it would be the temperature of the cabin which is relevant although I appreciate that the angle of the sun is important and whether you can feel its heat on your body as this has an influence on how cool and comfortable you feel.
I've no doubt that my car's vent temperatures are very cool too but it is how this can be translated to the overall feeling of coldness in the cabin that matters, surely? I know that I have tried directing practically all the cold air at footwell level thus assuming that a blanket of cold air would form and gradually push its way upwards and surround me and passenger in coldness. Despite this, I still like to feel my upper body refreshed by dehumidified and cold air at face level with the proviso that not too much is actually on the face for fear of causing facial neuralgias or palsies.
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I have dual zone climate control, and I have a digital thermometer with a probe on 10 meter fly lead.
Where do you want me to measure? I can only do temperature, not humidity I am afraid.
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TourVanMan TM < Ex RF >
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I have dual zone climate control, and I have a digital thermometer with a probe on 10 meter fly lead.
A difficult one, that.
I suppose one should have the probe in something like a Stevenson Box to nullify the effects of currents of cold air directly on the temperature probe. How cool one feels is very subjective as I know from my partner who always feels cold when I feel hot. Perhaps you should have your probe in the region of your head or upper body - who knows!
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you are leading me on now OG, you know as well as I do that an inanimate object that has no internal heating or cooling (my probe) is not affected by factors such as wind chill.
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TourVanMan TM < Ex RF >
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you are leading me on now OG, you know as well as I do that an inanimate object that has no internal heating or cooling (my probe) is not affected by factors such as wind chill. ------------------------------ TourVanMan TM < Ex RF >
Tut, tut how remiss of me especially as I'm a 'scientist' or was in my working life - analytical and polymer chemist in fact.
Yes of course a dry digital probe is not going to be influenced by wind chill. Perhaps I should try and get a Psychrometer (had one at work - Oh those heady days when I was vital and intelligent) and do my own tests, the only problem being, the operation of such a device in an enclosed space such as a car's interior.
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