Will the A/C run in cold weather ?

frohnho · #1 02-14-2007, 01:08 PM

Hi I have a problem with my 2006 A/C. I am testing it before a trip to florida but it will not run. The A/C will turn on and run if the car is in the garage or if I allow the car to run with out driving it. As soon as I drive the indictator light flashes and goes off. If I try to turn it on again the light flashes and turns off. Is it possable that the A/C will not run if it is too cold, It is about 5 degrees in NY now. I am thinking that with the car running the engine compartment warms up and allows the A/C to run but when I drive it gets cold under the hood and shuts off the A/C. I have talked to the dealer but they don't seem to understand the problem. Thanks in advance.

'97ventureowner · #2 02-14-2007, 02:16 PM

It has to be above a certain temperature outside for your a/c system to operate. I believe it's over 45 degrees, or around there. I always try to run my a/c during the winter months when we get a warm spell,( I'm in NY also and it's 9 degrees now

). I usually have to wait until the outside temp is at least 50 for it to get cold and operate. It is a good practice to run your system occasionally weather permitting in the winter if you live in colder regions.

EDIT: Is there reason to believe your a/c may not work once you get into warmer areas? How did your system operate prior to winter? I'm going to Florida with my family next week and I am driving my 2006 Uplander. My system worked well into early January as I kept checking it whenever it was warm enough to do so. Chances are your system is fine as it is relatively new.

BNaylor · #3 02-14-2007, 02:28 PM

I recall it was 40 degrees F for previous generation Impalas including defrost mode. For later not sure but there should be an annotation in the Chapter of the owner's manual that covers your HVAC/climate control.

crazy Jim · #4 02-14-2007, 03:12 PM

interesting thread, I noticed my Grand Ams A/C would not work very well when it is cold but during the summer it'll freeze me out of the car.

'97ventureowner · #5 02-14-2007, 03:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by crazy Jim

interesting thread, I noticed my Grand Ams A/C would not work very well when it is cold but during the summer it'll freeze me out of the car.

Yeah, I can imagine trying to run a a/c system in this weather. Some of my vehicles run so cold you should see the ice that forms under the hood

. I can see just how much worse the buildup would be if it could run at these low temps.

frohnho · #6 02-15-2007, 08:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by '97ventureowner

It has to be above a certain temperature outside for your a/c system to operate. I believe it's over 45 degrees, or around there. I always try to run my a/c during the winter months when we get a warm spell,( I'm in NY also and it's 9 degrees now

). I usually have to wait until the outside temp is at least 50 for it to get cold and operate. It is a good practice to run your system occasionally weather permitting in the winter if you live in colder regions.

EDIT: Is there reason to believe your a/c may not work once you get into warmer areas? How did your system operate prior to winter? I'm going to Florida with my family next week and I am driving my 2006 Uplander. My system worked well into early January as I kept checking it whenever it was warm enough to do so. Chances are your system is fine as it is relatively new.

I have no reason to think the a/c won't work but I have never used the a/c. I got the cat in the fall and have not needed to use a/c yet. In fact It took me a few minutes to figure out how to turn it on, LOL. The car only has 2,000 miles on it so I think everything should be fine with the system. The dealer checked it and said the a/c system has the right preasure and is not leaking. They seem to have no idea about it not working in cold weather, maybe I need a new dealer. Thanks for the quick answers guys.

la1 · #7 02-15-2007, 09:05 PM

I always thought the A/C ran intermittently when ever the heat was on. No matter what temp. It was supposed to remove moisture. Turn on the heat and watch the clutch on the compressor cycle every now and then.

gw84 · #8 02-16-2007, 09:11 AM

You guys have fun testing the theory that it won't run in cold weather. I"M BUSY on that one!! Anyway, I know it's Florida, but it isn't THAT warm right now is it? It's February for cryin' out loud. I can't imagine it being over 70.

frohnho · #9 02-16-2007, 04:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gw84

You guys have fun testing the theory that it won't run in cold weather. I"M BUSY on that one!! Anyway, I know it's Florida, but it isn't THAT warm right now is it? It's February for cryin' out loud. I can't imagine it being over 70.

#1 It is not a theory, I have a new car and the a/c will not turn on.
#2 I didn't ask if you thought I need the a/c
#3 I go to Florida every year in February and it allways gets over 80 and
sometimes close to 90 where I vacation.

gw84 · #10 02-16-2007, 09:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by frohnho

#1 It is not a theory, I have a new car and the a/c will not turn on.
#2 I didn't ask if you thought I need the a/c
#3 I go to Florida every year in February and it allways gets over 80 and
sometimes close to 90 where I vacation.

No need to get an attitude here.

I didn't realize that it stayed that warm in Florida year round....I think it's time for a vacation...I wanna go to FL . good luck with your A/C

GMMerlin · #11 02-17-2007, 12:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by frohnho

Hi I have a problem with my 2006 A/C. I am testing it before a trip to florida but it will not run. The A/C will turn on and run if the car is in the garage or if I allow the car to run with out driving it. As soon as I drive the indictator light flashes and goes off. If I try to turn it on again the light flashes and turns off. Is it possable that the A/C will not run if it is too cold, It is about 5 degrees in NY now. I am thinking that with the car running the engine compartment warms up and allows the A/C to run but when I drive it gets cold under the hood and shuts off the A/C. I have talked to the dealer but they don't seem to understand the problem. Thanks in advance.

You do not have a problem with your A/C.
It is operating as designed.
On GM vehicles, the computer controls A/C operation. The computer will not turn on the A/C compressor when the outside temp sensor reads about 40 degrees.

'97ventureowner · #12 02-17-2007, 03:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gw84

You guys have fun testing the theory that it won't run in cold weather. I"M BUSY on that one!! Anyway, I know it's Florida, but it isn't THAT warm right now is it? It's February for cryin' out loud. I can't imagine it being over 70.

To me living in Syracuse, anything right now over 32 degrees would be HOT. It has snowed something like 42 days in a row and I can't remember the last time the temp was above freezing. Today it may reach 20 degrees, woo hoo heatwave! I was planning on leaving for Florida today, but that storm we got in the past few days nixed those plans quickly. Now we'll try for April. Where we were headed (Largo) is in the high 50s low 60s which is fine for me at the moment.

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