What do you think of the AC in your Prius? If find it less effective than my gas powerd RAV4. It's not really that bad but could be a little stronger . FishHawk
I think it is weaker than most cars I have had andthe fact that there are no back vents for a large car doesn't help. I am assuming there are some vents under the seats, but with an open hatch area to cool, the AC is not efficient . It takes a long time to get my interior cool.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(FishHawk @ May 10 2007, 04:27 PM) [snapback]439484[/snapback]</div> I've yet to use it on a really hot day. That being said, it's powerful and blows cold air when I need it. I usually set the temp to nothing lower than 70 degrees or so. Dave
I'm happy with my AC. Excellent response to temp adjustments, can feel difference of even 1 degree change and it happens almost instantly. Never feel compressor clicking on and off as in other cars. Have had no problems getting the car cool in temperatures up to the mid 90's. Best AC in any car I have ever had.
This was a concern of mine but so far I am amazed at how much it cools, how quickly it cools down when the car has been sitting out in the sun, and how well the auto feature works. The real test won't come until the summer hits here, but it was getting well into the upper 80s here this past week.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(FishHawk @ May 10 2007, 05:27 PM) [snapback]439484[/snapback]</div> I live in SWFL and my car sits in the sun all day long. The AC does a great job cooling the car. I pop the windows for a minute to release the heat buildup, then close them to capture the AC. About 6 months ago, I tinted the windows which helped even more.
Have only had one hot day here (yesterday, 90F) and I set it to one button to the left of the MED setting. I was cool within 5 mins, but there might be a good point about the hatch area and the rear not being cool enough. The Prius is clearly a driver's car, not build for passenger comfort. Then again that might be because I'm running 46-44 psi!
I live in the San Francisco Bay Area. I was travelling toward the San Juaquin valley one day day and it reached 102 degrees Fahrenheit. I think the AC worked great.
I live in the southeast where it's not only hot but very humid and so far I haven't had any problems. Mind you I have only had it a few days but I have been happy so far.
The best advice is to set the system to Auto, set a comfortable temperature, and forget it. If your car is an oven from sitting closed in the sun, open the windows while you drive the first half mile, then close them all and let the Automatic Air Conditioner adjust the fan speed (I blows faster when it's hotter and you want cooler), refrigeration (maximum for rapid cool-down, as needed to maintain), and dehumidification. The solar sensor will kick up the cooling in the sun and drop it a bit in the shade. Most people have problems when they try to do the job themselves instead of letting their Prius take care of them. The climate control system is in every Prius, not just the "high end" models. Use it!
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Bill Merchant @ May 12 2007, 11:51 PM) [snapback]440904[/snapback]</div> I fully agree. Sometimes I do tweak the temp, but I never turn off the auto.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(patrickindallas @ May 13 2007, 04:35 AM) [snapback]440982[/snapback]</div> We just got our Prius yesterday and I live in the desert southwest. Yesterday was 102 or so. AC was fine in the front seat but weak in the back. I can't remember exactly what we did but got the fan to kick up a notch faster than the auto setting used and that made the back barely acceptable. I'm going to look into some IR reflective film for the rear window and the top of the windshield. A friend with the Prius got it and said it helps a bunch. Vents to the back seat area would definitely help. Jonz
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(jonz @ May 13 2007, 11:22 AM) [snapback]441129[/snapback]</div> There's a big exhaust vent on the passenger's side of the rear seat. It takes the cooler cabin air and routes it over the HV battery to the outside. When the system's in recirc mode, there is reduced airflow. For better airflow to the back seat, try directing the vents on either side of the MFD up and to the back, not at the front seat occupants, who can use the vents on the sides.
I guess we need to get ours checked. Even on a moderately hot day (80 degrees) we can barely keep the car cool. I can set the temperature all the way down to "MAX COOL" and the air coming out of the vents is only moderately cool. In our Lexus you can't hold your hand in front of the vents for too long.
