Weak A/C?

[hqly]

I've noticed that the air coming from my A/C is cool and not cold. It's comfortable but on hot days like the heatwave we got last week, it feels really weak. Is it a problem that can be solved? Can I have someone add more fridgerant? to it?

[p1driftfiend]

Simple question: What setting do you have the blower on, feet, feet and chest, or chest? (bottom or top vents)

The AC really lacks punch if you use anything besides the chest (top) vents. Blow the air directly at you, instead of your feet, and you'll feel a big difference. Since hot air rises, there is no point in blowing cold air at the ground level (feet).

[MirrorWorks]

I was wondering the same...I never really felt dissatisfied with the A/C until the heatwave the last couple of weeks in socal. All of my 4 previous cars (including my 1990 eclipse that was 11 years old when i sold it) blew colder. Most of them could blow so cold it made you uncomfortable, but the fit's coldest isn't enough on those 100+ days. I'm thinking its just the result of having a 1.5L which leads to having a smaller/pansier a/c compressor, but i could be wrong.

tre

[azanon]

Yes, the a/c is definitely weak, and i doubt there's anything you can do about it.

[07Fit00S2K]

Mine is adequate.

[Mr SEntra]

So, the AC isn't really that great? That's what I'm getting from the small sampling here. Just concerned from a future Fit owner.

[tak]

My friend's EP civic is the same way. Just doesn't get cold enough

[joe FIT]

my local dealer said that 43 degrees was as good as it will get, I used a digital thermometer and mine was 42.8. I then spent $200 at black diamond and had the windows tinted, and that seemed to help. and yes as others posted, on this car, closing the floor vents and only using the top vents can make it seem like the AC is working better. storm silver with black interior, it was like a greenhouse inside, even after running the AC the black dash is still hot 20 min later. I do use the collapsable folding window shades. recent temps have been over 110 with humidity, so cal USA.

[Mr SEntra]

I think with the windows tinted, I believe it would be pretty decent, at 43 degrees. I guess this is probably highly subjective. I love being cold, so that's why this is somewhat a concern for me.

[aziatiklover]

yea it's pretty weak here in texas I guess cuz the car is sitting outside all day and plus I dont have tint

[DrTomorrow]

Here in Arizona, where it gets really hot, the A/C seems to do just fine. We do have to keep the fan at 2, don't use the floor vents and keep it on internal recirculate to cool her down, but after a few minutes, she's cool enough - and we just drove from Phoenix to Las Vegas and back.

One thing: there is so much glass in the windshield that, depending on where the sun is / which direction you're going - a lot of heat can get in.

[garett]

something else to remember, for a small car like this, there is really an awful lot of space that the a/c has to cool off. additionally, there are large windows everywhere on this vechicle, which lets the sun in. window tint or at least window shades should help it out quite a bit.

i can already picture people swapping out thier a/c with a more powerful one from another vehicle

[edstroyer]

Definitely put the AC into "Recirculate mode". That makes a difference.

Instead of your AC pulling in and using the HOT outside air, it'll use the already cooled air from the cabin.

[hqly]

I never use anything but the too vent.. no feet and always recirculate..
it's just plain not strong enough.. i thought it might had been the fridgrant or whatever they pump inside it.. guess not

[kingdlx]

I have a white fit with tinted windows. The heat wave produced 115 deg. with humidity a/c works great on chest vent/ rec. after a few min. had to turn down to fan speed 1 and point vents away.

[FITforKRUG]

My a/c is as good as any other car I have owned. It's been very hot and humid here in Michigan and my a/c had done a very good job. Get your a/c charge checked. BTW, my fit is black on black and should be worst case for a/c performance.

[SlowHatchGrL]

Just to let you guys know, one of the techs at my work had the same problem with his Fit and well he checked the freon level and it was low. I forgot what the poundage was supposed to be but he filled it up to the correct level. They have also done that to another Fit recently. I'm not telling anyone to go to the dealer and have the 134a filled up but just sharing some info on what they did at my dealer.
I'm not liable for this info!!!!!!!

[nexus4400]

YES, AC is weak in this car. But you have to understand that the cold air has such a huge area to reach. I've tinted my windows and it makes a noticable difference. My uncle suggest I block off the rear hatch (where the rear headrests area) with some type of clear plastic.

[Jimmy101]

I was getting 42F out the vents.
THen I insulated the low pressure pipes
on the hose and got it down to 40F.

[Joe_Schmoe]

I have to agree that the A/C is not as good as it could be. I live in AZ and am used to what the heat feels like in a car. My Fit came with tint (as all cars should here) so that helps. When I test drove the base model it had no tint and the car never got cooled off and we sweated the whole drive. It almost turned me away from getting a Fit all together. The tint and sun shade keep it to the point that it just takes a few minutes to get it cooled off. But the A/C stays on 3 with recirc on just about all the time.