I have searched and found not much so here goes...

After start up, I notice a smell like burn rubber/ skunk coming from vents. If I start the car with air off, the smell comes when I turn on the air.

I am not upset cause I love the car and I am sure the smell will go away soon. Just checking...

 

Are you keeping the air recirculation setting on or, once the car interior is warmed up, do you go to the fresh air mode?

 

I find when you turn on the A/C, the smell happens for a while and then goes away. Same thing when you turn it off. I have noticed this on other cars too.

My solution is to not mess with the manual A/C on/off control, and just keep it in "Auto" mode. The AC is on most of the time, but that's a good thing: it keeps the air less humid and comfortable, the windows don't fog up, and it doesn't make a noticeable difference on available power.

 

My A/C don't smell thank god

 

I always turn the A/C off. Doesn't the A/C drain power and increase fuel consumption?

 

The effects are negligible. It's much more comfortable with it on, in any weather. I doubt you'd be able to detect a difference in power or fuel consumption with the A/C on (but I haven't done a scientific test on this so I could be wrong).

After playing with the controls, I have learned just to keep everything on "Auto" and it's always comfortable and I don't think about it. (Sometimes when the sun is strong and I'm wearing a hjacket, I have to turn down the temp a bit, but other than that no messing around.)

 

I wouldn't think that the air-conditioning compressor would run anyway if the temp control system were calling for heat. Does anyone know? I'd sure hate to put an extra 7 or 8 months of wear and tear on the compressor each year because I didn't punch the A/C button to "off".

WayneTN

 

Good point! I'd be very interested to know as well. As a precautionary measure, I have been leaving the A/C off when the heat is running. Due to the cold Canadian winters, I use the heat quite often and would not want the A/C to counterbalance the heat once the car gets warm.

 

No, it doesn't cool and counteract the heat when it's "on". The car warms up just fine! I'm not sure how much regulation there is with the compressor, or at what temp it actually shuts down, but there is definitely no cold air coming out unless it's required. Other cars with climate control don't require you to turn the A/C off, you just set the temp and forget it. My Mercedes SLK has an "economy" button that you can use to disable the A/C compressor (which I never use) -- this is what turning off the A/C is like. I think the best way to use it is keep it in auto mode and don't try to figure out when to turn things on and off. It just works!

 

I have read (dont ask me where) that you should always start your car with the A/C off. I turn it to the off position everytime I get out and turn it on after I start it. Has any one else heard this?

 

Ok here is a situation:

It's -35 degrees out. I somehow make it to the car and start her off, leaving the heat at max. A/C light is on since it's on Auto. The car warms up. I start driving and forget to set the heat back to a comfortable setting. Does the A/C kick in to counteract the heat?

ScottC - I have also heard the same thing. Could someone confirm?

 

living in miami its hot as hell year round sometime we get cold fronts in that last about a week i drive with the ac on everytime but when theres cold air outside i just roll down the window i have noticed that yes the ac lowers your gas mileage and also robs a little power from the car those cold front weeks are very noticble ont he gas mileage

 

Ok, I'm not sure exactly how it works, but with the AC on the air gets dehumidified. So, on a snowy day whent he windows may fog, I think it is good to have the AC button on. There is a paragraph in the owners manual about this.

 

I've been turning off the AC after I start the car and getting a wet smell. I am not turning it off anymore because of the smell and the fact that it does clear your windshield when its fogged.

I don't believe it will shorten the life of the AC and the compressor should run at a very low level, if at all, in automatic. The smell could be moisture trapped inside the system which would not be good, mold and other particles could be trapped there. I'm just going to leave it on and ignore it unless it starts blowing cold air on a freezing day.

 

Fair warning: engineer talk ahead!

Ok, without getting into the physics of air or pulling out a psychrometric chart (don't ask), when the temperature of the windows is below the dewpoint temperature of the air inside the car, the windows can fog. If you operate the car with the air continually recirculating, moisture inside the car can build up, primarily due to your breathing, and fogging can occur easier.

There's several ways to prevent fogging. In the winter just push the button that toggles from recirculated air to fresh air and most of the time this dryer, tempered, fresh air will solve the problem - unless it's abnormally humid outside. If they still fog, or if you want to speed up things, you could run the A/C to remove moisture. The air passing over the cold evaporator coil will give up moisture, which drains outside, and the dryer air un-fogs the windows. Raising the temperature inside the car has the same effect since the dewpoint temperature goes up.

In both winter and summer I start out with the air being recirculated so you can get the cabin at the desired temperature quicker - then, once I'm there, I go to the fresh air mode for continued control.

Sorry for the tech talk. But that's what happens when you get an engineer started!

WayneTN

 

I never use the recirc and hope this system does not cycle it. I mean if you blow a big one, then it gets drawn into the system and blown across the evaporator core which may have dust that will hold the noxious hydro-carbons you made.

Also, you can leave the a/c on when you start up. This starter could flip a Mack truck on its side. Turning it off is old school from when batteries and electrical systems sucked. Almost as old school as pumping the gas 3 times before cranking.

Revisiting my original post- the smell is now gone and I am happier than a monkey with a donut.

Thanks for the replies...

GL