considering ford c-max hybrid (how's the A/C?)

[keeplayer109]

Hi folks, I'm looking to buy a c-max. I live in the sacramento valley and its 100 plus degrees all summer, 113 is not unheard of. I transport my two corgi's a lot and I want to make sure the A/C system is good in the c-max. Any one have experience with the c-max a/c in high temps? My fit's A/C is ok but freezes and stops working after about 2 hours of run time. I then have to roast for 20 minutes while it defrosts.

[MetroMPG]

I can't offer anything about the C-Max, but I've never heard of A/C freezing.

Is that a common problem where A/C is run to that extent?

[keeplayer109]

Originally Posted by MetroMPG

I can't offer anything about the C-Max, but I've never heard of A/C freezing.

Is that a common problem where A/C is run to that extent?

I've read That some other folks have had the problem in their fits and some other honda models.

[digital rules]

Originally Posted by keeplayer109

My fit's A/C is ok but freezes and stops working after about 2 hours of run time.

Could be that the A/C isn't draining properly. Can you see water drip from underneath the car near the right front tire when the car is stopped?

[Russjd]

Originally Posted by keeplayer109

Hi folks, I'm looking to buy a c-max. I live in the sacramento valley and its 100 plus degrees all summer, 113 is not unheard of. I transport my two corgi's a lot and I want to make sure the A/C system is good in the c-max. Any one have experience with the c-max a/c in high temps? My fit's A/C is ok but freezes and stops working after about 2 hours of run time. I then have to roast for 20 minutes while it defrosts.

The Ford C-Max Hybrid has a GREAT A/C system while achieving +40 mpgs !
Love it !

[MobilOne]

How about running the Fit a/c using inside air rather than outside air? Would that work?

[S Keith]

Originally Posted by keeplayer109

Hi folks, I'm looking to buy a c-max. I live in the sacramento valley and its 100 plus degrees all summer, 113 is not unheard of. I transport my two corgi's a lot and I want to make sure the A/C system is good in the c-max. Any one have experience with the c-max a/c in high temps? My fit's A/C is ok but freezes and stops working after about 2 hours of run time. I then have to roast for 20 minutes while it defrosts.

That's typically a sign of low refrigerant.

Probably worth an evac and recharge to resolve.

[user removed]

ACs freeze when the amount of fresh air admitted is too great. Recirculate the same interior air and the humidity level goes down dramatically as the air repeatedly circulates over the evaporator.

Bottom line is, without humidity there is no supply of water to freeze.

My old Z car would only freeze up when the vacuum line to the recirculation flap was busted.

regards
mech

[jamesqf]

Originally Posted by Old Mechanic

Bottom line is, without humidity there is no supply of water to freeze.

The OP is in California's Central Valley, not the southeast. There generally isn't a whole lot of moisture in the air there - in the hotter parts of the day, it can average under 30% RH: https://www.currentresults.com/Weath...idity-july.php

Humidity inside the car could easily be higher, due to breathing, sweat, dogs panting, &c.

[elhigh]

AC systems freeze for a few reasons.

1) The refrigerant levels are low or else there is a restriction in the system. When levels are low the pressure drop on the suction side pulls the evaporation temperature of the refrigerant below the freezing point of water. If there is a restriction in the system the symptoms are similar, the compressor pulls pressures way down on the low pressure side of the circuit but cannot push more refrigerant in from the high side.

Causes: Low refrigerant levels, blockage in the plumbing or (more likely) the filter-drier canister. You can get the cheap pressure gauge/top-off can at the auto parts store or take it to a tech for a more thorough investigation.

2) Insufficient air flow. There has to be enough air flowing across the coils to blow enough heat onto them to prevent them frosting over.

Causes: air filter blockage, air duct blockage, blower running too slowly. These are the kinds of things that are easy for a shadetree mechanic to address on his own.

I live in the southeast and a LOT of what I do is HVAC repair. It's hot and muggy here 8 months out of the year, and just muggy the rest of the time. Humidity is the source of the frost but it is never the cause.