I believe the large window area makes it tough for the AC...especially the large windshield with the aircraft carrier dash beneath it absorbing heat and re-radiating it into the cabin. There have been some good suggestions already about using fan speed 1 or 2 and I don't think it will be a serious problem in the end. I'll bet tint and a sun/heat shield for the windshield would help tremendously. Once you ventilate the car after it's been sitting idle to get the 140+ degree F air exchanged, the AC should keep up. That being said...if the sun is beating down on the dash while driving and you can't get relief, a lighter color dash cover would help reduce the heat load. Also, wearing light, loose-fitting clothing will help but now we're going down a slippery slope.

 

AC works great so far. I'm guessing people in more humid areas will have more issues though.

 

Oh yeah, this is why I escaped from Buffalo years ago

 

All gens of Fit struggle under high heat. The greenhouse/fishtank/small displacement engine/compressor clutch mapping in drive at a dead stop all conspire to make the Fit's A/C nominally effective, and in some conditions downright ineffective.

Factory tends to undercharge refrigerant, in which case owner should verify adequate charge with dealer service. Single most effective thing to improve A/C performance is high quality tint and the type that ususlly works best is the ceramic variety.

 

Ive driven my Fit in some 90 degree whether and IMO the AC does struggle to keep up. I think the previous posters offered good explanations. Im going to have my dealer check the AC refrigerant level just to make sure its full.

 

Drove in 86 degree weather today....No issues.

 

I wonder how much of this is personal preference.


We drove today in 90 degree heat and were just fine. Then again we leave our A/C on 80 at home.


If you like it cold I can see the Fit wouldn't cut it the way it does for us.

 

I'd say the AC is about average for a small car and should be able to cool the cabin adequately on the hottest days if you perform a few steps: window tint, dashmat, sunshade, and NO econ. Keep the fan speed at 1 or 2 and it should hang in there. Currently it's 106 and we're just getting started in the desert. I do miss that 16mpg SUV sometimes, that dual air could cool a house.

 

Been over 100 for several days here. If I have the A/C on high, gets too cold. Get thee to a dealer and get it fixed!

 

Oh Oh. Been waiting for the WTF have I done moment. Happened way earlier than I thought.

The a/c sucks. First hot day.. 98F... got home, pulled out my temp gage... 60F at stop lights... 55F around town.. and bounces between 50-55F on interstate. Problem is, it should be in the mid to low 40s. Bigger problem is the compressor is cycling.. meaning.. she's probably doing all she can do.

From looking at service guides... about half way down the page it gives an example... 79F intake yields 61F output... uuuuu...

http://civic.hondafitjazz.com/a00/ht...000FEAT00.HTML

I'm an old fat guy. This is not acceptable. First I can get in dealer is over a week away.

 

Not claiming anything.. it's a new car.. a/c not really used until this week... had to make road trip on Thu...100 interstate miles of 75-85mph...

Now the a/c is not cycling.. and blowing 45-50F consistently..

Not sure if rings on the compressor pistons needed seating, or my imagination..

Time will tell.

 

Hot round trip in the LX - Jacksonville, Fl. to Columbus, Ga. and back. Air on 1 or 2 with AC dial at 9 or 10 O'clock cold. Absolutely NO issues. Comfortable and cool there and back. Didn't even think about it. Thought about this thread though. I feel badly for folks who are having troubles with the AC. No troubles for me. Great car. It loved the hills on a little side trip into Alabama.

 

Got my windows tinted few weeks ago, helps a lot.

 

Yes mine are. Plus, a good sun shade.

 

113 degrees today. A/C so cold it will freeze you out.

 

Folks, get a good tint with heat blocking ceramic particles if you have to park your car in the sun vs garage-kept. Contrary to popular belief, the tint doesn't have to be that dark either, so those with vision problems or worried about local legal tint levels have little to fear. Makes a tremendous difference while parked since your car's interior absorbs all that heat and it takes a long time to get rid of.

 

99 and humid yesterday and it was able to maintain around blower setting 2-3. I was comfortable within 10 minutes after the car was sitting in the heat all day. I did have a shade and cracked all 4 windows.

I'll try again today without the shade to see how much worse it is

 

I fully agree.

 

Driving home today in Jacksonville, Florida. 100 degrees. Cool as a cucumber in my LX. This is really a non issue. AC is well up to speed.

 

Same here at 100F