» Site Navigation | | » Recent Threads | 1999 M3 Swap 09-07-2023 10:10 PM 05-02-2024 08:18 PM 6 Replies, 328,696 Views | | | | | | | 06-21-2006, 10:33 AM | #1 | Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Dublin Posts: 66 | Running air con with the windows open Is a big no-no due to it messing up the air con thermostat isn't it? I've accidently opened the window once or twice. How long does it take before damage is done? Also what temp should the air be at when its set to the coldest setting with the a/c running? | | | 06-21-2006, 12:35 PM | #2 | Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Asheville NC Posts: 669 | never ever heard this. If you run with the AC on you're just wasting energy... | | | 06-21-2006, 02:02 PM | #3 | Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Marion, IA Posts: 388 | I do it sometimes because I like my windows down, but I don't want to cook either. I have never had it hurt anything, my AC is as cold as ever. I usually just do this for a few minutes until the car cools off a bit and then I turn off the AC or roll up the windows. What I do more often though is run the heater in the winter with the windows down. | | | 06-21-2006, 02:24 PM | #4 | TRETEN IRGENDEINES ESELS Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Rhode Island Posts: 3,687 | Nothing will happen by doing this. __________________ 98 Avus Blue 318 ti Active clear outs all around,stealth turning signals,blue led interior lights, 35% tinted windows,K&N air filter, 12" Kenwood Sub, MTX Thunder Amp,Alpine cd changer, Leatherz Armrest,ACS Pedals/Handbrake/FloorMats & Vitesse Tuning Carbon Fiber B-Pillars/CF Spark Plug Cover, New 16" MSW Typer 14 Rims on Goodyear Triple Treds www.myspace.com/avusblueti | | | 06-21-2006, 03:06 PM | #5 | Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Cincinnati Posts: 890 | A vehicle air conditioner ideally should output around 35-36 degrees at the vents with re-circ on. Given that your car is 7-11 years old, its probably lost a step. __________________ SOLD!!! 1999 332ti //M Sport Titanium Silver M3 S52 3.2 I-6 Engine, M3 Clutch w/ ti Getrag Trans, Z3 3.15 LSD medium case diff and half shafts, OEM Hatch Spoiler, Eurosport HP Underdrive Pulleys, FDM, 17" DS1 rims, M3 Front Struts & Springs, M3 Instrument Cluster, 3-spoke //M steering wheel with tri-color stitching, SSK, CCFL Angels in Depo projectors with 5k HIDs | | | 06-21-2006, 04:38 PM | #6 | Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Jacksonville, Florida Posts: 322 | I've never heard of any problems with driving with the AC on and windows open... I'm the same as "tastade".... so often I'll just ride with the windows down and heater on in the winter! | | | 06-21-2006, 05:36 PM | #7 | doesn't care about you. Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Denver, CO Posts: 3,925 | Quote: Originally Posted by Actin Is a big no-no due to it messing up the air con thermostat isn't it? I've accidently opened the window once or twice. How long does it take before damage is done? Also what temp should the air be at when its set to the coldest setting with the a/c running? | It doesn't matter. The AC is a sealed unit, air is simply blown over the exchanger to make cold air. Now if your interior was filled with compressed freon.....that would be a problem. __________________ '99 Dinan M3 | | | 06-21-2006, 05:52 PM | #8 | Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Asheville NC Posts: 669 | Quote: Originally Posted by DustenT It doesn't matter. The AC is a sealed unit, air is simply blown over the exchanger to make cold air. Now if your interior was filled with compressed freon.....that would be a problem. | if that's the case, you'd have bigger problems than your ac not working well! | | | 06-21-2006, 06:29 PM | #9 | TRETEN IRGENDEINES ESELS Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Rhode Island Posts: 3,687 | Quote: Originally Posted by campaiar A vehicle air conditioner ideally should output around 35-36 degrees at the vents with re-circ on. Given that your car is 7-11 years old, its probably lost a step. | Actually the air coming out of the vent should be inbetween 65-68 degrees,thats with the heat control turned all the way counter clockwise.. If your a/c is putting air out at 35-36 degrees your cars a/c has serious problems. Thats 5 degrees above freezing. Even new cars don't go that low. You want to use the re circ once the temp in the car is cool then it will just re circ the air inside. My car still puts out about 66 degrees. __________________ 98 Avus Blue 318 ti Active clear outs all around,stealth turning signals,blue led interior lights, 35% tinted windows,K&N air filter, 12" Kenwood Sub, MTX Thunder Amp,Alpine cd changer, Leatherz Armrest,ACS Pedals/Handbrake/FloorMats & Vitesse Tuning Carbon Fiber B-Pillars/CF Spark Plug Cover, New 16" MSW Typer 14 Rims on Goodyear Triple Treds www.myspace.com/avusblueti | | | 06-21-2006, 07:21 PM | #10 | Senior Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: Indianapolis, IN Posts: 228 | Quote: Originally Posted by Tyler Nothing will happen by doing this. | Actually, not true for some cars. Apparently not ours, but for my '99 mazda protege ES... Quote: Campaign Number: 00V301000 Date: 2000-Oct-05 Component: Equipment: Electrical: Radio/tape Deck/cd Etc. Defect Summary: VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH A PARTICULAR FACTORY INSTALLED AUDIO UNIT. IF THE VEHICLE IS OPERATED AT LOW SPEED IN A HOT AND HUMID ENVIRONMENT WITH THE WINDOW OPEN, AIR CONDITIONER RUNNING, AND AUDIO ON, CONDENSED WATER ON THE A/C DUCT SURFACE COULD DROP AND ENTER INTO THE AUDIO UNIT, CAUSING A SHORT CIRCUIT. Consequence Summary: IF THE SHORT CIRCUIT OCCURS AT ONE SPECIFIC SET OF TERMINALS, THE REAR RIGHT LOUDSPEAKER CAN OVERHEAT AND, IN SOME CASES, CATCH FIRE. | | | | 06-21-2006, 07:44 PM | #11 | Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Asheville NC Posts: 669 | but that's not damage to the AC unit... that's a poorly designed condensation system causing damage to something else... | | | 06-21-2006, 07:56 PM | #12 | Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Athens, Ohio Posts: 121 | Wow...way to go Mazda. I can't imagine that BMW would build a car that if you accidentally ran your ac and your stereo with your windows down, your rear speaker could catch on fire. I can't help but giggle as I type it just thinking about it. That's perhaps the most ridiculous design flaw I've ever heard of. | | | 06-22-2006, 10:05 AM | #13 | Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Dublin Posts: 66 | ^^^ sure is a crazy design flaw lol. Anyway great info as always folks thanks! | | | 06-22-2006, 01:40 PM | #14 | Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Marion, IA Posts: 388 | Quote: Originally Posted by Tyler Actually the air coming out of the vent should be inbetween 65-68 degrees,thats with the heat control turned all the way counter clockwise.. If your a/c is putting air out at 35-36 degrees your cars a/c has serious problems. Thats 5 degrees above freezing. Even new cars don't go that low. You want to use the re circ once the temp in the car is cool then it will just re circ the air inside. My car still puts out about 66 degrees. | Note that condensors in AC units do ice over on occassion (usually from a problem). It wouldn't surprise me if the air could get down to 35 degrees, I know my hands go numb if I point the vent at my hand on the steering wheel. Now I am going to have to go home and measure my as temp after work. But I am guessing mine get down around 40 or 50 F. I had an old 300zx where the condensor would ice over after an hour of operation and the AC would stop working. I would turn it off for 10 minutes and it would be good for another hour. This only happened in very hot and humid climates. This is also what causes that pool of water under your car when you stop after your AC has been running (condensation running off). I hate it when I am at a gas station and someone goes "look, your car is leaking fuel!" Then I have to explain to them that it is condensation from the AC. At least they are trying to be helpful. | | | 06-22-2006, 01:41 PM | #15 | Senior Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: Indianapolis, IN Posts: 228 | Quote: Originally Posted by andyman7931 but that's not damage to the AC unit... that's a poorly designed condensation system causing damage to something else... | You seem to have missed the point of the humor in my post. However I should have been more clear that I was not being argumentative. | | | | | Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests) | | Posting Rules | You may not post new threads You may not post replies You may not post attachments You may not edit your posts HTML code is Off | | | |