How often do you use your AC?

[McSwede]

I thought there’s oil inside the AC system to stop the pipes corroding?

There is, plus most ac pipes are alloy.

I was lead to believe that it's the seals that dry out and then the gas escapes.

[McSwede]

Set desired temperature on dial. Leave on auto mode. What else is there to think about?

This ffs.

Exactly! But then you get in the car after the wife's been driving it. Settings and temps all buggered about with. Numpties!

[Orange Cola]

A/C on all the time, I was driving round in the Mustang last summer with the roof down and the A/C still on it was that hot

[Foz]

Used my AC for the first time, in a long time today.

I didn’t die, my pipes hadn’t corroded and I noticed no difference in the mpg.

As for cars being unusable without it, unless 5 people and a
Dog get in after standing in the rain for hours I have never had an issue with the normal climate in wet weather.

If you use AC then switch it off then yes the screen mists up but it soon clears, to not return

[Richard]

This reminds me, the button for the AC has stopped illuminating in my car

I wonder if it’s the button or light or AC unit that’s broken

[McSwede]

This reminds me, the button for the AC has stopped illuminating in my car

I wonder if it’s the button or light or AC unit that’s broken

It's a FIAT so it's probably both

Fix
It
Again
Tomorrow

[Richard]

I think the AC unit is actually nice a reliable Mazda part

[Marv]

I think the AC unit is actually nice a reliable Mazda part

When I went on the factory tour at Mazda HQ in Hiroshima, it was a bit weird seeing a 124 Spider roll down the production line along with other Mazdas.

[mik]

After all this - my aircon failed today and a spanner appeared in the dash.

Fault code B1422, which is apparently triggered if the car thinks the compressor speed isnt aligned with the engine rpm and kicks the compressor out of action.

Cleared it when I got home. Aircon is back.

If it becomes an ongoing issue Matt is getting the repair bill

[Barry]

What's this A/C you all speak of? <sadface>

(Was an option on the EP3s, which mine doesn't have)

[Matty]

After all this - my aircon failed today and a spanner appeared in the dash.

Fault code B1422, which is apparently triggered if the car thinks the compressor speed isnt aligned with the engine rpm and kicks the compressor out of action.

Cleared it when I got home. Aircon is back.

If it becomes an ongoing issue Matt is getting the repair bill

Well, in summary of this thread, it's either because:
1. You've used it too much/too little
2. You have rusty pipes
3. You should have set it to 19.5 and let the system do its thing, ffs

[mik]

What's this A/C you all speak of? <sadface>

(Was an option on the EP3s, which mine doesn't have)

Is that why yours came with tbd self-opening windows option?

[nuttinnew]

I use ac plenty. A moan I do have about it - in the VAG cars I've had at least - is the lowest temp setting is 18°, and when it's cooler but humid I don't want it to heat, just dehumidify. Curiously the semi-auto Climatic might be better than the fully auto Climatronic for that. I could moan more about people and ac but I'll mention only one; the number of cars I see about with severely misted windows that I know have ac fitted and would clear them in no time

[Mito Man]

Yeah but each time you don’t use AC you save a penguin. A bit of impaired visibility is a small price to pay when you think about the penguins.

[Barry]

What's this A/C you all speak of? <sadface>

(Was an option on the EP3s, which mine doesn't have)

Is that why yours came with tbd self-opening windows option?

I can only assume it's a back up option in case anyone is tight fisted enough not to spec the car properly.

[Gavin]

Think the Volvo needs an inspection to see if any seals have given up the ghost, not wanting to pay for a new compressor or condenser but happy to re-gas as from Scotland to Oxford and back over the bank holiday weekend was not fun with black leather seats and high 20s!

[DaveE]

I rarely use our car (my wife commutes in it everyday though).

On Sunday I had to drive from Brighton to collect my Aunt (near Heathrow) and then drive her back down to mid-Sussex.

The roads were fucked, and so it seems is our AC - not happy.

Apparently this is my dept - even though I basically don't use the car - somehow I should have a) known it wasn't working and b) had it fixed

It wasn't a very pleasant journey (over 4 hours in all, lots of stop/start and traffic jams, and temps up to 27C at times)....

[Jimmy Choo]

The Air con in the 166 was always on. After it was rear ended and sat for 3 months, the seals had gone and it wouldn't hold any pressure.

Any of my cars that have air con have it on all the time.

[Richard]

This reminds me, the button for the AC has stopped illuminating in my car

I wonder if it’s the button or light or AC unit that’s broken

Fixed it

Just had to actually turn the fans on

[Swervin_Mervin]

I barely ever use it - having contact lenses I find it dries my eyes out fairly badly. Besides, if it's warm, I like to feel warm - I spend enough of the year complaining it's not warm, so I'm going to enjoy it when it is. If it gets unbearable, then the a/c goes on until the edge is taken off.

Probably use it more in winter for demisting tbh.