AC function question. Might be overthinking.

I’ve noticed some ac behavior that has me wondering if it’s normal, or if Im thinking too much into it. I park in a garage, when I leave and turn the ac on (outside temp 90+), it cools down really fast (on vent) and gets freeze you out cold, even on higher climate settings (I wish I just had the hot/cold knob). It stays this way during the drive. However, when I park for a little while (like a store for 30+min or so) and come back and turn the ac on, it doesn’t seem to get nearly as cold on vent (like it was before) even after driving for a while. It’s working, just doesn’t feel the same level of cold. The only thing that changes that is putting it on recirculate. As soon as I do that it starts getting properly cold again.

The truck isn’t really excessively hot to me in this circumstance, and I guess I’m thinking the outside temperature is the same, shouldn’t it get just as cold? I know recirculate normally gets the air colder, and there’s probably a small differential for sitting in the sun for a bit, but it’s still seems mostly the same. What am I missing? I’m going to have to bust out the ir gun so y’all don’t think I’m crazy.

 

I don't run my AC on vent. Recirculate only. That way I am only cooling the air inside my truck. Why would anyone want to cool the hot air from outside? It just makes the compressor work harder.

 

Perfectly normal. It’s called the greenhouse effect.

I’m in Florida where it feels like the surface of the sun for most of July and August.

I would recommend when you get into the vehicle, drop the windows to let all that trapped heated air out and it will usually take half the time to cool down. Or…

While you are walking to the vehicle, unlock it with the remote, and then hold down the unlock button on the fob and it will drop the windows and open the moonroof.

 

One more thing to add is the airflow outside the car. When driving, the extra air moving over the condenser helps the AC out. When parked, only the radiator fan pulls the air, which is why you may notice this only when parked

 

I only pull outside air in those first few minutes, when inside air is hotter due to having been trapped and heated all day. That's less necessary in my 4R, since I use a windshield screen and the ventshades let me keep the windows cracked without letting in the afternoon thunderstorms. I don't have either of those for my Outback.

 

Most of the time it's too cold when you leave it in recirculate, and you have to start getting into the heat to level it out. The air also starts getting stale to me after a while. I just like outside air better most of the time.

 

Thanks. Yeah, I'm also in FL, so I'm accustomed to the 'cars hot as shit' routine. In the case I'm describing, the cab really isn't that hot, and I'm not trying to cool the hot(er) air in the cab by starting on recirc.

 

In this case it stays around the same level of cold even after driving for a little bit. I dont have the expectation that it would be cold right off the bat parked. I have considered if the condenser was just hot and needed to cool off, but like I said, as soon as I put it on recirc. its like it immediately wakes up.

 

Here is what I do if my 4R is sitting outdoors for a while in 90+ heat: When I first start the engine, I roll down ALL the windows, including the tail gate, and turn the A/C on high. After the engine warms up and I'm ready to drive, I roll up all the side windows - but leave the tail gate window open for the first 1-2 miles while driving. That seems to pull all the remaining hot air out of the cabin. Then I roll up the tail gate window and the cabin starts to cool off very quick. It does work. I learned this from other Forum members here. Another great feature of having that roll down back window. Only on a 4R I believe.

One Note: After that first couple miles, don't forget to roll that tail gate window back closed. Otherwise, all that new cold air will just exhaust out the back window. I've done it a couple times. LOL

 

ricky, about your note: Been there, done that, got the tee shirt...

 

Also to note - that giant black table of a dashboard gets extremely hot in the sun. And the A/C tubing and vents are just below it getting hot too.

 

Totally normal. The hotter the interior, the longer it takes for the A/C to blow cold. It’s actually the evaporator that removes heat from the cab though, not the condenser.

 

This is where the moonroof comes in handy (if you have one). If I open the moonroof and windows on a hot day and blast the AC the 4Runner cools down pretty quickly - even if it has been sitting in the hot sun for a long time. The ventilated seats help also.

 

I haven't opened the sunroof yet. I should probably do that, but admittedly I rarely use them. Every premium trim should have cooled seats. One day i'll buy a vehicle that has them.

 

When you first enter a piping hot vehicle open the windows and turn off the recirculation so you aren't blowing hot air around the cabin.

After it cools down keep the recirculation on

 

I find the moonroof is also handy for days when it's not real hot and I might otherwise use AC. Tipping open the moonroof and cracking one or two back windows keeps the heat buildup in check.

 

One more thing - I forked out for the Covercraft window shade about a year ago. It's really expensive, but it damn sure keeps the temps down when I park outside. It was really worth the money. I think it was $80, but in the deep south it's almost a requirement.

 

A former Florida resident here. Do you have your windshield tinted, as well as the rest of your vehicle? It makes a heck of a difference. Even more if you get the windshield done. I didn't even know they made tint specifically just for the windshield, until about 2.5 years ago.

With the windshield done, there was no more hot as hell moments and it's almost transparent. The 4R goes in tomorrow for full tint, including the windshield. All of my vehicles will have it from now on.

My previous car that shows how clear the windshield is.

 

How does windshield tint work with stickers on it like toll tags or state registration?

 

Not sure, as none of that was in Florida, where I lived. The only sticker that was required, was on the license plate.

I'm sure a tint shop in a state where those were common, would have a work around for that. I know some tint shops would make a spot on the windshield, so you could mount a dash cam to it.

 

Yea I am assuming they would have to cut spots out. Love ceramic tint makes huge difference. I really like the idea of windshield tint to cut down on dash heat soak when I don't have the windshield shade up. Having to remove stickers inside tint feels like a pain though.

 

This is best advice on cooling down fast.

 

I can agree with that about removing the stickers, but the windshield tint is so much worth it.

Stolen from a tint website for sticker removal:

1. For aftermarket-installed window tints:

• First, clean off the car window tint of any dirt and debris using a glass cleaner. Wipe it dry using a clean and dry towel.
• Next, remove the sticker using a plastic spatula or a plastic card to peel off a portion of the sticker. Some government-mandated stickers may be harder to remove, so have extra patience in removing them.
• Continue scraping the sticker. Once done, spray with WD-40 or other products that can help remove the sticker residue off the window tint. Let it sit for a few minutes before removing it using a spatula or wiping it off with a clean cloth or paper towel.
• Wash and clean the area using a window cleaner for a spotless clean finish.

Or a second option, also stolen from the web:

"I have my windshield tinted. I removed my stickers and placed them on ppf, then installed the ppf to the windshield. Every year, I cut a new piece of ppf and place the new stickers on it, then install back on the windshield."

 

How about you guys with the top of the line ceramic window tint, does it keep your interior cool when parked outside in the hot sun?

 

Yes it makes huge difference on windows.

 

Very much so. My old car that I just posted had it. A few hours at the mall or a full day at work, no problem. Granted a lot of heat still comes in, if the windshield isn't done, but still cooler than a non tinted vehicle.

This car had ceramic tint, but only the 6 inch windshield strip.

 

Yeah, the Covercraft is really nice. It's beefy and solid, fits perfectly, and it folds and unfolds quick and easy. To me it was well worth the extra cost.

 

Must be for 2018 models my 23 doesn’t open all windows and moonroof by the fob. I’m

 

My windows are tinted (even though it's a dealer add-on, and I'm sure they don't use ceramic like I usually pay for). I use a Heatshield sun visor when it's parked for extended period of time (like at the office). It's also illegal in FL to do the whole windshield. You'd have to go with a 90%, which would still be beneficial, so that it's less obvious.

 

Lived in the steamer pot also known as Florida for 55 years. There is no real solution to a hot car except shade, says capt obvious.
Even with a cover craft windshield screen, the interior will be much hotter than when in your garage. The dash and AC duct work will take quite a bit longer to cool down.
FYI: No matter if you use recirculate or not while driving, ALWAYS switch it to recirculate before shutting it down to help prevent critters/rodents from getting into the the system and infesting the under dash area.