I've got about 3500 miles on my Fit now and I've got a question about how the A/C is supposed to act since this is my first Honda.

While driving down the road at a steady speed with the A/C on I get a short blast of warm air every couple of minutes the entire time it's on. It is almost like the system is cycling on for 2 -3 minutes & off for 3-4 seconds.

The A/C cools pretty well so I don't think it is low on refrigerant.

Most new cars have a sensor that turns off the A/C when the engine is put under enough of a load but I'm driving on a level road at a steady speed when this occurs. It also occurs at a pretty regular interval.

Does anyone else's car do this?

Jim

 

my fit works the same way.
I get about 48F @95F out the vents.

 

There is slide tab/switch which is better of on circulatrinside flow mkode,as opposed to the outside flow mode when turning the ac on.I usually drive for a bit with the window open for about 3 minutes to let cool air circulate all throughout the cabin getting rid of the stale hot air inside ( sort of like a inside flush )while driving at the same time with the ac on 3 or 4 dial,,...heck even 5 as it cools easier and faster that way,besides cooling with the windows close which will take a while 5mins. tops depending on the heat temp outside.

Trust me it works!!

 

All modern car a/c systems actually cycles on and off. If it's on all the time, the lines would actually freeze.

What's the ambient temp outside when it usually does what you describe?

 

I have not noticed mine doing that and my other cars don't do that. " short blast of warm air every couple of minutes ".

 

No problems with mine doing that. I'd ask the dealer.

 

Yeah I notice it a bit in my Fit and also in my previous Civic. I think it does it mostly when you put a load on the engine.

 

My a/c runs nice & cold. After it sits in the sun all day (with a sun reflector in the windshield) I blast it for a few minutes on "3", but then I can back it down to "1". For my car pool buddy I leave it on "2" and turn it to "1" when he gets out. We're getting temps in the 90s, and it's always humid, so I know my Fit's a/c is being put to the test. I keep seeing a/c complaints and wonder if the dealer is responsible for charging the units, and not everyone is doing a good job.

 

The AC compressor should cycle off/on depending on the load, and how fast the 'cool' is being dissipated in the evaporator. Factors include fan speed, vehicle interior temperature and external temperature.

You should either open your windows or use the fresh air setting when you first start the vehicle up and start driving. Once the AC has cooled down for a few minutes, switch to recirculate. That way, your AC's duty cycle can drop a bit by not having to cool down hot outside air. It only has to keep the inside air cool.

Keeping your fan speed low also reduces the work the AC compressor has to do.

 

The temps have been pretty warm since I've had it, mid 80's-mid 90's.

I know that putting a load on the motor will cause the A/C clutch to unlock but this is not the same thing.

It is a consistent cycle of cold air for 2-4 min and then a short blast of warm air for a second or two whild driving at a steady speed on level ground........It becomes more noticeable the hotter the outside temps are though.

Jim