3rd Generation Specific (1993-2002) 1993-2002 Discussion including performance modifications and Technical Support Sections.
Sponsored by:

So Whats The Deal With The Ac??

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Aug 3, 2006 | 09:13 PM
  #1  
93rx74lyfe's Avatar
Thread Starter
Ronald..
Tenured Member 15 Years
iTrader: (1)
 
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 2,013
Likes: 1
From: Fairfax/Manassas VA
So Whats The Deal With The Ac??

when i run my ac the temp goes from 190ish to 210 or 220 in seconds. is this normal? also im very confused if, or how long i can run the defroster/heat because the guys at RP said i could over heat the engine! is there a way i can run my ac, because this 100+ weather is killing me!
Reply
Old Aug 3, 2006 | 11:30 PM
  #2  
93rx74lyfe's Avatar
Thread Starter
Ronald..
Tenured Member 15 Years
iTrader: (1)
 
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 2,013
Likes: 1
From: Fairfax/Manassas VA
anybody......
Reply
Old Aug 4, 2006 | 01:43 AM
  #3  
xblazinlv's Avatar
Ferrari Red Hotness
Tenured Member 10 Years
 
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 964
Likes: 0
From: Las Vegas
When you turn on the a/c, the condenser puts out hot air in front of the radiator. That's why it gets hotter.

Turning on the a/c should turn your fans on hi-speed as well. Do you have the stock radiator still?
Reply
Old Aug 4, 2006 | 07:16 AM
  #4  
matty's Avatar
Lives on the Forum
Tenured Member: 25 Years
Liked
Loved
 
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 5,014
Likes: 40
From: CT
my car does this as well.
Reply
Old Aug 4, 2006 | 07:27 AM
  #5  
GoodfellaFD3S's Avatar
Original Gangster/Rotary!
Veteran: Army
Tenured Member: 25 Years
Liked
Loved
iTrader: (213)
 
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 30,804
Likes: 646
From: FL-->NJ/NYC again!
Make sure your fans are working properly.

I removed my a/c back during the texas summer of 2001 and haven't looked back. My motor runs nice and cool with the fluidyne exposed to all that incoming air. Of course, I have a company car with rockin' a/c, so it's not really an issue for the FD be a/c-less
Reply
Old Aug 4, 2006 | 07:59 AM
  #7  
moehler's Avatar
Rotary Freak
Tenured Member: 20 Years
Liked
iTrader: (12)
 
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 2,319
Likes: 32
From: South Jersey
Originally Posted by GoodfellaFD3S
I removed my a/c back during the texas summer of 2001 and haven't looked back. My motor runs nice and cool with the fluidyne exposed to all that incoming air. Of course, I have a company car with rockin' a/c, so it's not really an issue for the FD be a/c-less
Same here . Car runs much cooler and I hated the way it driived with the A/C anyways.
Reply
Old Aug 4, 2006 | 08:19 AM
  #8  
matty's Avatar
Lives on the Forum
Tenured Member: 25 Years
Liked
Loved
 
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 5,014
Likes: 40
From: CT
yeah i dont liek having the ac on either. its a weekend car so i only need to drive it when conditions are nice. i will removes the ac one day. is hard to do?
Reply
Old Aug 4, 2006 | 10:21 AM
  #9  
adam c's Avatar
Cheap Bastard
iTrader: (2)
 
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 8,368
Likes: 50
From: San Luis Obispo, Ca
I love my AC. Wouldn't think of removing it. It would really suck to be driving in my nice car, and hate it because its too hot. Get a fan switch to keep the engine cool .

FYI, did you know that your car will get better gas mileage on the freeway with the AC on?? Thats right!!! The improved aerodynamics of the car, at freeway speeds with the windows up, more than makes up for the extra load of running the AC. That's a fact !!
Reply
Old Aug 4, 2006 | 10:33 AM
  #10  
matty's Avatar
Lives on the Forum
Tenured Member: 25 Years
Liked
Loved
 
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 5,014
Likes: 40
From: CT
Originally Posted by adam c
FYI, did you know that your car will get better gas mileage on the freeway with the AC on?? Thats right!!! The improved aerodynamics of the car, at freeway speeds with the windows up, more than makes up for the extra load of running the AC. That's a fact !!
did u see that on myth busters? lol. i could have sworn they couldnt reach a definitive answer.
Reply
Old Aug 4, 2006 | 11:21 AM
  #11  
F0RSAKEN's Avatar
Cheese
Tenured Member 05 Years
 
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 769
Likes: 0
From: Lynnwood, WA
Originally Posted by matty
did u see that on myth busters? lol. i could have sworn they couldnt reach a definitive answer.
Less drag = better fuel efficiency....
Reply
Old Aug 4, 2006 | 11:46 AM
  #12  
skotx's Avatar
Registered Abuser
Tenured Member 10 Years
 
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 633
Likes: 0
From: Louisville, KY
My car used to over heat with the A/C on. I discovered that the relay responsible for kicking the fans up to high speed was completely missing. You never know what goofy stuff the previous owner did to your car.
Reply
Old Aug 4, 2006 | 11:47 AM
  #13  
93rx74lyfe's Avatar
Thread Starter
Ronald..
Tenured Member 15 Years
iTrader: (1)
 
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 2,013
Likes: 1
From: Fairfax/Manassas VA
Originally Posted by xblazinlv
When you turn on the a/c, the condenser puts out hot air in front of the radiator. That's why it gets hotter.

Turning on the a/c should turn your fans on hi-speed as well. Do you have the stock radiator still?
i have a big Koyo radiator, but have not done the fan mod yet. what about in the winter, is it okay to run the heat without messing with the engine because im sure this winter is going to be cold
Reply
Old Aug 4, 2006 | 11:58 AM
  #14  
matty's Avatar
Lives on the Forum
Tenured Member: 25 Years
Liked
Loved
 
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 5,014
Likes: 40
From: CT
Originally Posted by skotx
My car used to over heat with the A/C on. I discovered that the relay responsible for kicking the fans up to high speed was completely missing. You never know what goofy stuff the previous owner did to your car.
my car was stock with 15k miles when i bought it.

where is this relay?
Reply
Old Aug 4, 2006 | 11:59 AM
  #15  
matty's Avatar
Lives on the Forum
Tenured Member: 25 Years
Liked
Loved
 
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 5,014
Likes: 40
From: CT
actully does anyone know how i could tell if my fan kicks onto high?
Reply
Old Aug 4, 2006 | 12:09 PM
  #16  
adam c's Avatar
Cheap Bastard
iTrader: (2)
 
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 8,368
Likes: 50
From: San Luis Obispo, Ca
You should be able to hear the change in speed, from outside the car. Pop the hood, and let the car idle until the fans come on. Have someone else turn on the AC. You should hear the fans go to a higher speed. You should also be able to feel more air pressure when they go higher.
Reply
Old Aug 4, 2006 | 02:48 PM
  #17  
xblazinlv's Avatar
Ferrari Red Hotness
Tenured Member 10 Years
 
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 964
Likes: 0
From: Las Vegas
Originally Posted by 93rx74lyfe
i have a big Koyo radiator, but have not done the fan mod yet. what about in the winter, is it okay to run the heat without messing with the engine because im sure this winter is going to be cold


Running the heater actually makes the car run cooler

So no issue there

Have you tried running a little bit more water in the mix with a bottle of water wetter? Or do you run 50/50 antifreeze to water?
Reply
Old Aug 4, 2006 | 03:50 PM
  #18  
skotx's Avatar
Registered Abuser
Tenured Member 10 Years
 
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 633
Likes: 0
From: Louisville, KY
Originally Posted by matty
my car was stock with 15k miles when i bought it.

where is this relay?
The fans relays are located on a bracket on the passenger firewall. There should be four of them.
Reply
Old Aug 4, 2006 | 04:57 PM
  #19  
Speed of light's Avatar
Form follows function
Tenured Member: 20 Years
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
iTrader: (8)
 
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 1,231
Likes: 47
From: Now in Arizona
I use the A/C all the time and my '93 doesn't run significantly warmer [now] with the A/C on. This is with the STOCK radiator, thermostat and a 50/50 antifreeze/water mix. No tricks or fancy radiators and it works just fine, even 100+ days while going uphill. Seriously.

What did make a big--and surprising--difference in stablizing operating temps on this car was the relocation of the battery out of the engine compartment (to the bins). I suspect that it substaintially improved airflow through the radiator by getting some of the clutter out of the engine compartment. I have long contended, as have others, that it's not the size of the radiator that is responsible for the FD's cooling issues; rather, it is the lack of airflow over the radiator and condensor that has been problematic.
Reply
Related Topics
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
Smokeyfb33
Old School and Other Rotary
10
Oct 1, 2015 12:10 PM




All times are GMT -5. The time now is 09:16 AM.