when parking and turning off the car? I tend to turn off my ac and radio but was wondering if it is not good to leave them on.

 

I never have turned them off and have had sevrarl cars run well past 250k miles

 

radio i dont mind but a/c i alwasy shut off seconds before shutdown.... i dont know if it matters or not but thats just me..

 

I have always thought that start/stops situations can't be good for the AC compressor, so I always turn my AC OFF. The noticeable "clink" sound that it makes when it engages is not very reassuring.

 

I don't see any damage being done from leaving the radio on but the ac is questionable.

 

A mechanic out in Salt Lake City(when I was out there) said it's a good habit to get in to to turn off all the electronics before shutting down the car, the thought behind it was that when you turn the car on and the car is using more electricity (as compared to having them off) which strains the alternator.

Sounds reasonable but I don't know how practical…

 

I've always turned things off just before I turn the ignition off. Radio, because I don't want to have it blare out at me the next time I turn the key on, and the A/C so there is less of a chance of it being engaged and getting damaged when the engine whirs to life.

Probably an old wives tale, but I've always done it...

 

I've heard that people turn off their AC about a minute or so before turning off the car to allow any condensation in the vents to evapotate otherwise the next time you start the car you get that AC vent odor if you just let the moisture sit in there. Not sure if its true though since I rarely use the AC in my Z.

 

Some good info here. I think I'm going to start turning them off just to be safe.

 

I do this, it keeps the mildew smell from forming in your vents and its easier on the compressor when starting the car.

 

^Good info. I always wonder why my AC stinks whenever I switch it on.