02 AC question

[migojoe]

Used the A/C for the first time today (goit my X on halloween last year). It never really got very cold here over the winter so I didnt use the heat on high (blower) settings so I have not noticed it untill now.

Seems like the blower, when used in "outside air" mode is not very powerful. It is noticably stronger on "recirc" mode. Is it just me?

Aside from that I need to head back to the dealer for a recharge... its not blowing very cold either.

-Earl

[Schludwiller]

Your A/C will be "colder" if you have it on recirc because you're progressively chilling the air inside your truck. If the outside temperature is warmer (and you don't have recirc on) then the AC will have less effect because you're chilling warmer air.

When you first get into the truck and it's hot inside then opening the windows and flushing out the hot inside air will work better until things even out, then roll up the windows and turn recirc back on.

That is if I understand what you mean by "powerful"

[OffroadX]

He's talking about the perceived output from the fan, not the temp.

It's really not much stronger (if at all), just noisier, in recirc mode. It's louder because you're hearing the air being drawn into the system too. There's probably less restriction in recirc mode as well, so the flow might be a tad better.

Brent

[migojoe]

Schlud: I guess I should have said "It doesnt blow hard enough" but we dont need to go there ;P

Your right and as far as I can remember (I'm a mechanical engineer, did a little HVAC back in the day) most A/C's are designed to keep people happy about 80% of the time. If they were desinged to keep people happy 100% of the time they would approach the cost of the vehichle/house (well not quite but you know what I mean).

Brent: thats what I was trying to say. It seems to have gotten a little colder after a little use but still doesnt seem cold enough. Back to the dealer it goes.

Thanks foir the feedback.

Earl

[hobbes69]

I test drove an Xterra at the dealership and found the air to be very cold even when not on recirculate. Now it wasn't super hot outside yet but it seemed to work really well.

Richard

[Schludwiller]

After I reread your post I realised what you meant (had my "slow" hat on that day), but I figured I would leave it for anyone who has the other problem and stumbled across the post.

Now regarding your post, there was a thread a year ago on XOC about plastic sheeting covering the air intake shroud (the black plastic vents by your wipers). Some people were punching holes into it to improve their cold air volume. I wonder if that plastic is restricting your airflow when using outside air. Just guessing. Let us know what you find out.