Air Conditioner on my Elise

ELISEINMIAMI · #1 (**permalink**) 05-04-2005, 04:31 PM

Anyone have any ideas on how to make the a/c in my Elise actually cool down. Im in FL so it gets real hot down here!

dermot · #2 (**permalink**) 05-04-2005, 07:49 PM

Have you spoken to your dealer? Is the AC actually working or just not cold enough?

Derm

ELISEINMIAMI · #3 (**permalink**) 05-05-2005, 04:30 PM

AC is working just wont cool the car down unless its cool out of at night, midday noon time man its just plain not cutting it, Im taking the car in next week to have the first service done, and I will let them know.

Tonywa · #4 (**permalink**) 10-31-2005, 06:47 AM

My experience with Brit and German sports cars is that the AC units are not up to the task in sunny, HUMID, Florida. My Elise AC froze on the way home form the dealer (Sept. 04). I took it back in for a check and they found no problems. I was told to run the temperature setting 2-3 notches off of cold and NOT to use the recirculate feature. What this does is mix in a bit of heated air to the evaporator to MINIMIZE freezing (does not eliminate). You can add more heat to eliminate freezing, but you're defeating the purpose, which is to cool the car. It does help, but the car is still pretty uncomfortable from May thorough September. It cools fine in the winter

. I understand there is a mod that moves one of the temperature senders that helps prevent freezing, but I'm sure that has nothing to do with the overall cooling capacity of the system.

Talked to a Lotus factory rep at Lakeland track day (10/29/05) and he readily admitted the AC was inadequate for FL, but no fix in-sight. On the upside, he confirmed that the factory supercharger project was alive and well and that it was going to come out very very nice and would be retrofittable (YEAH!).

Hot but Happy!!

Tony

05 Elise (#0062)
04 Mini Cooper S (with secret sauce!)
69 Lotus Elan S/E
60 AH Bugeye Sprite

ELISEINMIAMI · #5 (**permalink**) 11-07-2005, 03:30 PM

Well still no A/C fix, Just picked up my car from the collection in Miami, it was there for 3 weeks this time (1 week because of hurricane wilma) They did the service bulliten, they recharged the system and they ordered a recirculation module (not in yet) basically when I hit the recir button it would not light up. So bitched and complained, and they have offered this solution, they want mne to bring the car in, replace the evaporator, and evacuate and recharge the system with freon. Lets see. I know it sound like i'm being anal, but if the freakin a/c is ****, then just sell the car w/o it and save us all some money! I still love my Elise, and I can't seem to think of a suitable alternative to it (that I can afford)...

ELISEINMIAMI · #6 (**permalink**) 12-06-2005, 09:56 AM

After 22 days at the dealer finally got my car back! They replaced the AC evaporator (allegedly redesigned unit), ac control module, temp probe, AC lines, recharged system and now it seems to cool the car! One byproduct of this is that now you turn the fan on and the AC button comes on by default! Will post again as I only got it back today!

Ben Chu · #7 (**permalink**) 09-18-2007, 01:32 AM

I have an 2007 Elise. I felt the AC was not working like regular cars are supposed to be. I live in Hawaii and it usually hot. My car has less than 1000 miles on it. The AC works good and feel cold in the morning but as I drive it especially in traffic the AC feels slightly cool but never cold. I read about a technical bulletin about changing the AC probe of the 05 to a different position and I checked and it was already in the updated position. I took the car in to the dealer and they said the freon level was only slightly low and topped it off. It really does not make much of a difference. I noticed in traffic if the rpm is less than 3000 the AC is not cold or only slightly cool. I trade up from a 95 Acura NSX and the AC was really cold on that car. I have had small economy rental cars feel colder than the Elise. I don't know if it is an inherent characteristic of the Elise to have a marginal AC system but it sure seems that way. I would have thought if it was marginally defective in 2005 that by 2007 they would have corrected the problem. Other than a ****ty AC system I like how the car handles. The car could use more horsepower and torque. They should have put the 240 HP engine from the Honda S2000.

ELISEINMIAMI · #8 (**permalink**) 09-18-2007, 07:59 AM

Hey Ben Congrats on the car! But yes the AC system sucks and it still sucks in mine. I would imagine that the only solution would be to turn to the aftermarket and modify the stock system to better cope in humid, hot climates like we both live in. I wish I had better news. I have heard of people bypassing the heater system and reporting that this helps but I have no personal experience with this. Take care Man!

**Robert@LotusofGreenwich** · #9 (**permalink**) 09-20-2007, 12:36 PM

typically the adjustment of the in duct sensor is all that is required to resolve the problem.

Ben Chu · #10 (**permalink**) 09-20-2007, 05:39 PM

Robert,
any idea if the 2005 and the 2007 have any difference in the way the AC is set up. Are there any upgrades? Any major changes between the 05 and 07? Thanks Ben

njcu · #11 (**permalink**) 11-22-2007, 02:43 PM

just run it fast with the top off... works for me =) except when it's raining... or when in traffic... I gotta get outa miami *sigh*