A/C lag is horrible! Can an ECU update fix it?
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Joined: Jul 2002
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Originally Posted by kaelaria
Mine would *normally* almost do that as well - RPMs would bounce up and down slightly causing the engine to stumble and just about stall, just like the cold start problem.
"Dame mas gasolina"
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3rd Gear
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 253
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From: Charlotte, NC
Originally Posted by kaelaria
OK C4 is NOT crazy after all!!
THIS IS WEIRD. Tonight on the way home it was raining, and I used the a/c to keep the windows defrosted. This is probably the 10th time or so in the 3 months I've had the car that I've used it.
IT WAS COMPLETLEY NORMAL! I mean I could NOT tell if the compressor was engadged or not - EXACTLY like it should be and my other cars are! I was at almost every light turning it on and off, tapping the throttle, comparing lags, etc. Every take off was smooth and lag-free, just like with the a/c off. And yes it was working just fine! I was freezing my finger tips on the wheel and the windows were frosting over!
I have NO idea what has changed or what conditions were different. Outside temp was 77, the same as it usually is in the morning. I've had it on in the rain before (the primary reason I have had to use it - if I can have the windows down I always do). Nothing I can see was different.
As a real simple test, when I had the power lag, this was something I noticed to gauge it: At idle with the clutch in, quickly tap the throttle all the way to the floor and back up. With the a/c off, it would blip to 1500, and with the a/c on barely break 1000 - hardly begin to move because of the delay. Tonight they were IDENTICAL.
This is REALLY weird.
THIS IS WEIRD. Tonight on the way home it was raining, and I used the a/c to keep the windows defrosted. This is probably the 10th time or so in the 3 months I've had the car that I've used it.
IT WAS COMPLETLEY NORMAL! I mean I could NOT tell if the compressor was engadged or not - EXACTLY like it should be and my other cars are! I was at almost every light turning it on and off, tapping the throttle, comparing lags, etc. Every take off was smooth and lag-free, just like with the a/c off. And yes it was working just fine! I was freezing my finger tips on the wheel and the windows were frosting over!
I have NO idea what has changed or what conditions were different. Outside temp was 77, the same as it usually is in the morning. I've had it on in the rain before (the primary reason I have had to use it - if I can have the windows down I always do). Nothing I can see was different.
As a real simple test, when I had the power lag, this was something I noticed to gauge it: At idle with the clutch in, quickly tap the throttle all the way to the floor and back up. With the a/c off, it would blip to 1500, and with the a/c on barely break 1000 - hardly begin to move because of the delay. Tonight they were IDENTICAL.
This is REALLY weird.
But it could have simply been that the compressor was NOT engaged at the point you pulled out. The compressor kicks in and out as needed on most cars. I'm assuming it's the same for the Mini. So you may not see it 10 times out of 10. If it was raining and you were using it for defrosting, I'm assuming you weren't needing full potential of the compressor anyway.
Another point to mention for those that mentioned it, is that the fan **** (0,1,2,3,4) does not affect the compressor usage. Anything over ZERO is turned on, and the compressor performs the same pull on the engine regardless if it's set to Low fan or High fan.
6th Gear
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 2,143
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From: Florida
I use whatever premium fuel is available at the point where I'm empty, I don't have a favorite additive package, nor do I see any difference in performance between them with my mods.
During the times I have experienced the drag (which I have not yet again so far) it was during the same times as any other. Either on my way to work or on the way home. When I runt he a/c, it's always on LO, AUTO so yes the compressor was engaged everytime. I'm aware of it cycling when necessary, but I have never driven it under circumstances where it would need to disengage. I don't use it for climate control.
During the times I have experienced the drag (which I have not yet again so far) it was during the same times as any other. Either on my way to work or on the way home. When I runt he a/c, it's always on LO, AUTO so yes the compressor was engaged everytime. I'm aware of it cycling when necessary, but I have never driven it under circumstances where it would need to disengage. I don't use it for climate control.
[FONT=Calibri][SIZE=3]Resurrecting [/SIZE][/FONT]an old thread from years ago to see if anyone has found a fix to this. Its unbelievable the performace of the car in first gear with the A/C on.
The lag is much less noticeable with a 17% pulley!!
Honest...that is why most folks in my local motoring club have been going with the 17% reduction instead of the 15% IF you don't auto-x...It is cooler most of the year in the Northeast, but it helps tons!!
The fact that these motors make so little torque at low RPM's does not help....but a tune also helps that!! Basic Maintenance helps...Spark plugs....cooler ones for a pulley is a must!!
You are also likely feeling Heat soak, since the IC gets hot, and the AC lag......
You also might be feeling a bit of yo-yo (software updates DID solve this for many cars)....sure it has been said before....but heck to bring back a 5+ year old dead thread....at least we know you know how to use the search feature!!
Honest...that is why most folks in my local motoring club have been going with the 17% reduction instead of the 15% IF you don't auto-x...It is cooler most of the year in the Northeast, but it helps tons!!
The fact that these motors make so little torque at low RPM's does not help....but a tune also helps that!! Basic Maintenance helps...Spark plugs....cooler ones for a pulley is a must!!
You are also likely feeling Heat soak, since the IC gets hot, and the AC lag......
You also might be feeling a bit of yo-yo (software updates DID solve this for many cars)....sure it has been said before....but heck to bring back a 5+ year old dead thread....at least we know you know how to use the search feature!!
LOL!! I try!
3rd Gear
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 219
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From: Atlanta, Ga USA
Hot day help
The biggest improvement for me was replacing the factory Intercooler with an M7 DFIC. The factory Intercooler realy cooks when sitting in traffic on a hot day. When you open the throttle you suck a big slug of hot air in and this causes pre-ping - the knock sensor then instantly retards your spark and steels all your power. Any and all things you can do to keep the engine heat away from the IC or improve air flow around it when sitting still helps.
Good gas also helps. My car seems to prefer Amoco (BP) or Citgo - always premium. I have a 16% SC pulley and a 2% crank overdrive pulley - so about 18% SC rotational boost. I have oversize injectors and a flash, but really dont think anything gets involved in this issue but the hot air sitting in the IC.
Wesport
Good gas also helps. My car seems to prefer Amoco (BP) or Citgo - always premium. I have a 16% SC pulley and a 2% crank overdrive pulley - so about 18% SC rotational boost. I have oversize injectors and a flash, but really dont think anything gets involved in this issue but the hot air sitting in the IC.
Wesport
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