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[Clarkey]

Have a 01 3.2 with climate control. It's that time of year again when inside windows are very difficult to clear. A/C compressor was leaking gas which made the problem worse. I replaced it with one from the scrappy but that was almost as bad as the one I took off. Don't think there is much point trying another s/hand one so was wondering is there a reconditioned A/C compressor available that comes recommended?
Cheers,
James.

[pauls]

I thought windows misting up was due to the carbon/pollen filter needing to be changed

[RobG]

I thought windows misting up was due to the carbon/pollen filter needing to be changed

Doesn`t help having no A/C

[Clarkey]

Pollen filter is new and bulkhead drain is clear.

[RobG]

Re-con compressors are anything between £150-250

[TheBoy]

I thought windows misting up was due to the carbon/pollen filter needing to be changed

Doesn`t help having no A/C

This time of year, the AC will switch off, which is usually the first sign that its chilly out. Normally quickly followed by CID warning.

[TheBoy]

Keep the vents in OSR cubby hole free to reduce misting

[Kevin Wood]

I find I need the AC on to keep the windows clear this time of year. Climate doesn't shift enough air to do it unless I hike up the fan speed, and direct the air to the screen manually. A pain, because it blows a gale through the car all summer, and I have to manually turn it down.

Oh for a 3 knob manual setup.

[dbdb]

wiping the inside of the glass with a detergent solution will help noticeably, one drop of washing up liquid on a wet cloth.

[dbdb]

air con will provide dry air but the drawback with using it a lot (apart for the 5%-10% increase in fuel consumption) is that after you switch it off you will get more damp air coming through, damper than had the air con never been on, as the air flows over the wet air con elements. 

[zirk]

Rarely use the Aircon, except giving it a run here and there, good old hot air and partially open windows works for me.

[Andy B]

Rarely use the Aircon, except giving it a run here and there, good old hot air and partially open windows works for me.

I almost always run the climate in 'AUTO'  It's there, so I use it. 

[dbdb]

It's not clear to me if 'auto' mode runs the ac compressor when it is colder outside than you want the inside to be.  The manual implies it does.  Ignoring demisiting for the moment common sense would say it switches off the air con when you have the heater on but I suspect it just runs both and uses the heater to overcome the air con. The reason for this would be to provide dry warm air rather than just warm air at ambient humidity.

If I'm right the big drawback is a constant 5%-10% extra on your fuel bill.  Remember these cars were designed when petrol was 40p/litre. Does anyone know the definitive answer to this?  Easy to test I suppose - set the climate control set to 'auto' and temperature to 'hi' and hold your hand on the air con ally (not the EGR pipes!) in the engine bay.

[Andy B]

It's not clear to me if 'auto' mode runs the ac compressor when it is colder outside than you want the inside to be.  The manual implies it does.  Ignoring demisiting for the moment common sense would say it switches off the air con when you have the heater on but I suspect it just runs both and uses the heater to overcome the air con. The reason for this would be to provide dry warm air rather than just warm air at ambient humidity.

If I'm right the big drawback is a constant 5%-10% extra on your fuel bill.  Remember these cars were designed when petrol was 40p/litre. Does anyone know the definitive answer to this?  Easy to test I suppose - set the climate control set to 'auto' and temperature to 'hi' and hold your hand on the air con ally (not the EGR pipes!) in the engine bay.

Airconditioned air doesn't need to be cold, it can be warm too. As you say, you get warm dry air. As above, the compressor cuts out when ambient is cold to stop condensate from freezing.

[Entwood]

I don't know where you get 5-10% as a fuel burn for using aircon ... I believe the compressor uses between 3 & 5 HP under max load .. as my engine is capable of 217 HP, if I''m driving at 1/2 throttle thats 108 HP then 3 - 5 HP of that is certainly NOT 5-10%.

Another way of looking at it is, after the aircon has been running for a while to settle down, drive at a constant throttle with the aircon ON and look at the instant fuel consumption, turn the aircon OFF and see by how much it changes .... very little IME.

Some years back a study was published that expounded the theory that driving with the windows open uses more fuel than the air con due to the increased drag, but I cannot prove that one way or the other.

All I know is ... air con to auto all the time .. nice and comfortable...