I'm running into a consistent issue with my air conditioning. About 30 seconds after starting the engine, hot air blows out of my A/C for 5 seconds (I've timed it). After that, it behaves as normal. This happens every time I start it.

I've taken it into the dealer, but they claim to not be able to repro the issue. But then, they have a new service crew that I don't trust (the old crew moved to a new location that opened up 30 miles away).

I'm going to take it in again soon for other service. I'll make sure a tech sits in the car to experience what happens before I leave this time. However, if anyone can give me tips on what may be causing the issue, it would be appreciated.

My car is a 2005 Mini Cooper S convertible.

 

Not sure I completely understand your quandry.

Unlikely to have "icy cold" A/C soon after starting the MINI after being parked in a hot climate. If you were parked in the sun for while, and have auto climate settings. It takes a minute for the proper vents to open and close then for A/C to circulate, cool off the flow ducts and then send cool air into the compartment....

Another draw back is this new R134a. Not like the old R112 nor any wheres near as cold......

Or...is it that it does this when the A/C and circulaton settings are completely off when starting ?

 

It's the way the A/C works. My MA told me about it before I even got my car. Apparently it's a feature where there cooling system wont send you the temperature air you want, until it can; or something like that. So the 5 seconds of hot air is probably just the hot air that's in the system getting blown out...

Does that all make sense, sort of...

 

-=gRay rAvEn=-,

This happens even if I start the car cold. It can be parked in my garage overnight, I'll start the engine with the A/C on which will blow coolish air, then 30 seconds later I get hot air blowing from the vents for 5 seconds, then it gets cold. I have the temp set at 68 degree F.

Scooter09,

I swear this didn't happen for the first couple of years I owned the car. I wonder if something happened when I brought it in for maintenance and the software system was upgraded. That could have changed how the vents open and close as mentioned in gRay rAvEn's post.

 

We have the same thing with my wife's car. It will be happily blowing cold air and then start blowing warm air. Warm air as in heated air, I don't think it is just trapped warm air in the vents like the dealer says. I am pretty sure it purposely blowing warm air. We can make it stop by lowering the temp on the selection.

And just like you it didn't happen when new, started a couple of years later.

It's going in for service next week. I'm sure we'll get the same story and it's winter so we won't be able to recreate it.