Hi is this normal to have lower engine performance when the air con is on.

I only tried using the air con for the first time today and I noticed quite a drop in performance especially when accelerating in first and second gear. The engine seemed to be unhappy when reaching number 4 on the rev counter.

Anyway I switched the air con off later on and the car was running fine with no strange noises from the engine.

 

Yes. It's common on smaller engines to loose a noticeable amount of performance with the A/C on. The MINI is no exception.

 

Rev it up a little more before taking off. That'll cure the doggy response. Don't have to rev it much, but you'll have to make a special effort out of it.

 

I've got to say, my 2003 Cooper is HORRIBLE with the air on, to the point where it is actually just a pain to drive the car around town with the A/C on. The engine lags horribly. Whenever I have gotten the software updated, that seemed to cure it for a few weeks, and then it goes right back to being terrible. I can accept that it's a small engine, but my wife's Toyota Matrix is only 130 HP and it has no noticeable lag with the a/c on at all. I haven't had the ECU updated in a while, so if anyone on here can say that a software update will provide a long term cure, I'll be taking it in for that. Until then, I am foregoing a/c in all but the hottest of weather!

 

Is there no vacuum cut off for the AC clutch? Most cars that I've driven let the AC clutch freewheel when acceleerating hard.

 

thats what you get with a 1.6L engine! You just have to go topless and that way you dont need the AC!

 

I think it's set at 3 or 4 seconds of full throttle before the AC de-clutches.

 

We have a 2003 also. Our A/C was not putting out very much air,cold or warm. I replaced the Micro Filter. It was Filthy & blocking the Air flow to the
inside. Made a BIG difference.

 

When you say micro filter, is that the cabin filter? I may have to try that!

 

i wonder if putting in those huge capacitors on the battery would
help.

 

Yes , the Cabin Filter.

 

If you are not, keep the car in a lower gear with the air on, need to keep the rpm's up. That should help take care of the lag problem. We're not driving V-8's with a lot of low rpm torque.

 

The main issue I have is when taking off from a stop in 1st gear, so there is no gear lower than that. Keeping the revs up (more than usual) does do the trick, but it is just a pain to have to do that all the time in stop and go driving.

 

Just quickly turn the ac off right before the light goes green and switch it back on after you shift to second.

 

I hope this doesn't sound argumentative, because I don't mean it that way, but it is ridiculous to have to do that every time you stop. Again, like keeping the revs up, it's not a BIG deal, but just enough of an annoyance to be a PITA!

I'm not trying to lead a parade of belly-aching, heck my last vehicle did not even have a/c!

 

Hrm, my 2003 MCS does not seem to lag as bad as many are complaining about here. Yes it is slower but its still very quick of the line. This is not just isolated to a 1.6 liter mini cooper. My 4.5 liter V8 jeep which has very nice power does it as well.

 

the car kicks on an extra pully, so your engines working harder while you are more comfortable. you better hug your engine and say sorry ASAP!