Why is air con not covered by service or warranty in this day and age.

motorguy

fred246 said:

I turn it off sometimes when I need loads of power 

Sounds like theres something wrong. 

I'd get it to a mechanic ASAP.

BOWFER

motorguy said:

fred246 said:

I turn it off sometimes when I need loads of power 

Sounds like theres something wrong. 

I'd get it to a mechanic ASAP.

Agreed.
The only time I've ever seen aircon affect an engine is in tiny engined cars (1000cc or less).
You'd audibly hear the compressor make the idle speed go down, or notice it on the rev counter.
But once past idle, end of problem.
And in bigger engine cars, zero affect when the compressor comes on.

motorguy

BOWFER said:

motorguy said:

fred246 said:

I turn it off sometimes when I need loads of power 

Sounds like theres something wrong. 

I'd get it to a mechanic ASAP.

Agreed.
The only time I've ever seen aircon affect an engine is in tiny engined cars (1000cc or less).
You'd audibly hear the compressor make the idle speed go down, or notice it on the rev counter.
But once past idle, end of problem.
And in bigger engine cars, zero affect when the compressor comes on.

Yeah the car is probably poorly maintained

Ditzy_Mitzy

coffeehound said:

I had to micro-manage the a/c on my last car.  Even though it was a 2-litre, so you'd think wouldn't be affected, the engine management appeared to alter the mapping when a/c was selecton on, giving odd engine behaviour.  It definitely drove better around town with a/c off.

It wasn't a Ford, was it?  I've got a two litre Focus and it did exactly the same thing.  It got to the point that having the air conditioning on round town was an unacceptable nuisance, so I only used to use it when running on the motorway.  The compressor bearing has since gone, so I've had it disconnected completely and simply open the window!  Learn to enjoy being warm, I say, nobody really needs air conditioning in a country where it rarely tops eighty degrees.  

Ganga

I hired a very small car in Greece ,the engine was only three cylinders ,the guy who hired it too me said " turn the air con off when going up hill " but i think he was only kidding as it worked fine.

BOWFER

Ditzy_Mitzy said:

 Learn to enjoy being warm, I say, nobody really needs air conditioning in a country where it rarely tops eighty degrees.  

This just illustrates people thinking aircon is only there to cool you down.
It serves a really important demisting role in winter too, cars without aircon take far longer to demist and stay mist free.
Far from saying "nobody needs aircon here", I say aircon is an absolute necessity and I wouldn't even consider a car without it.
Even when shoppnig for a <£5000 used car for our daughter, aircon was a must.

photome

Ditzy_Mitzy said:

coffeehound said:

I had to micro-manage the a/c on my last car.  Even though it was a 2-litre, so you'd think wouldn't be affected, the engine management appeared to alter the mapping when a/c was selecton on, giving odd engine behaviour.  It definitely drove better around town with a/c off.

It wasn't a Ford, was it?  I've got a two litre Focus and it did exactly the same thing.  It got to the point that having the air conditioning on round town was an unacceptable nuisance, so I only used to use it when running on the motorway.  The compressor bearing has since gone, so I've had it disconnected completely and simply open the window!  Learn to enjoy being warm, I say, nobody really needs air conditioning in a country where it rarely tops eighty degrees.  

I disagree, driving 200 miles every day with climate control permanenetly on set at 20 (usually ) drys the air in the winter and  cools of course in summer. I would have very uncomfortable days without it

BOWFER

photome said:

 I would have very uncomfortable days without it

Agreed, what use is an open window if the air outside is humid and clammy?
Summer is for windows UP and nice cool, dry air. 

coffeehound

Ditzy_Mitzy said:
It wasn't a Ford, was it?  I've got a two litre Focus and it did exactly the same thing.  It got to the point that having the air conditioning on round town was an unacceptable nuisance, so I only used to use it when running on the motorway.  The compressor bearing has since gone, so I've had it disconnected completely and simply open the window! 

No it was a subaru.  I wonder if the bearing going south on yours was causing it to drag on the engine?

TadleyBaggie

I agree, no need for air conditioning in the summer...but there again I do have a convertible.