GREEN AIR CONDITIONING LIGHT ALWAYS ON?

Hi,

I just bought a used '01 Hyundai Accent and was wondering if it's
normal that the green light on the air conditioning button always
stays on? I assume it would go on or off depending on whether you
switch this function on or off.

Thanks,
Rob

 

If you have the vent position switch set to "defrost", the car will
automatically turn on the AC. This is a Feature; the AC not only cools
the air, it also dries it out. Dry air defrosts a car windshield much
better than moist air. Tom and Ray Magliozzi, the guys who do the "Car
Talk" radio program/newspaper column, have talked about this several
times. Search their column archives at http://cartalk.cars.com/Columns/
, it's in there somewhere.

If you have the vent position switch set to something other than
"defrost", the AC shouldn't be on constantly.

 

You will also find your fuel economy will be a little bit better
without the extra pull of the compressor on your engine. Most cars
are set up this way in the past few years.

Enjoy your new car

 

Thanks! I will pay attention to this "defrost" setting and let you
know if I won't be able to switch it off.

Rob

 

Thanks for all the help! I was able to switch the A/C light off by
switching to another mode then "defrost".

And yes, I was wondering about the fuel economy with the A/C on or
off. So you get better milleage with it off as I can read.

Thank you,
Rob

 

Althought you do get better fuel mileage, it is not quite the
difference it was in the years past. In my 01 Elentra, I really have
noticed very little (less than 1 mpg) difference between operating the
vehicle with the AC compressor turned on or off. Yes, it does put a
larger load on the engine, but not nearly the load that older cars
produced.

 

The reason the it always comes on is because the coolant is also the
lubricant.
If you keep it turned off the seals will dry out and you will have to
recharge the system everyspring.
I get the same mileage AC on or off.

 

Nope. Like I said upthread, the reason that the AC turns on when you
set the vent position switch to "defrost" is that the AC removes
moisture from incoming air. Mix this cold, dry air with hot air from
the heater system and you get warm, dry air. Warm, dry air is the best
thing to use for defrosting windshields. Hot, moist air will *not* keep
a car's windshield clear in winter, for obvious reasons.

It's true that you should run the AC occasionally in winter to keep it
in good condition, but that's not the main reason why it is used when
the vent position switch is set to "defrost".

? That shouldn't be possible. Well, modern compressors use less
electricity and modern engines are more powerful/fuel efficient, so the
mileage gain you see from leaving the AC off is probably 1.0-0.5 MPG, so
it can get lost in the noise.

 

I get 750 km per tank on or off.
Talk to yr dealer, "The coolant is also the lubricant. If you keep it
turned off the seals will dry out and you will have to recharge the system
every spring.

Once the temp is below 0 C (32 F for the people who cant convert) the
compressor will not kick in, it just spins to lubricate the seals.

 

Incorrect---


Spinning the compressor without it being engaged DOES NOT lubricate the
seals. The refrigerant system contains an oil that MUST be circulated
through the system to reach the o-ring seals at joints in the system, and
this will not happen unless the compressor is engaged-----

 

Rob.
Glad to hear it was a simple fix.

 

So what do you guys advice me to keep my A/C in good condition. Hey,
we're talking about Anchorage, Alaska here; it's around 32F (0c) every
single day, so my compressor will not be engaged(?), because of the
low temperature (there's nothing to cool, it's already cool). How to
keep my A/C in good shape?

Thanks,
Rob

 

Thanks Art, the A/C light was a simple fix. Long live Google Groups;
great place to exchange knowledge!

Another question for you Accent geeks out there ;-) I'd like to
replace this standard Radio Cassette player it comes with. I went to
Best Buy and got myself a JVC CD stereo. Best Buy offers free install
and will go there Nov. 11th. This standard Radio Cassette player isn't
DIN size so I bet they need to use some sort of face plate to fit the
JVC? I already bought myself a wiring harness. Who can tell me more
about this issue? Any tips?

 

If best buy is doing the install for you they should have the wireing
harness and adaptor kit for your vehicle already.

I did my own install and got the harness and adaptor kit from
www.scosche.com . The install was very easy. Another good source for
do it yourself stereo stuff is www.crutchfield.com .


This site may also give you an idea how easy/dificult the installation
might be. http://www.carstereohelp.com/stereoremovalHyundaiAccent.htm

One more site you may want to check out is the forums at www.t-h-c.org
(The hyundai connection).

I guess that is enough links to keep you busy for a while

 

Well, you're just the person I want to ask my question to. I live in
Maryland, and consider my 2000 Elantra to be the WORST car ever when it
comes to snow. What's your secret in a snowy climate?? What tires should
I be using??

Thanks.


(Rob) wrote in @posting.google.com:

 

I have a 2004 Toyota Corolla and I was shocked at how useless the tires are
in snow or rain. They are Goodyear Integrity. We had two major snowfalls
here (B.C.) and they performed as if they had no treads. I realized then
that snow tires are required. We are lulled into thinking "all weather" or
"all season" means they are fine in summer and winter no matter what the
road is like. It's absolutely not true. On the news they showed cars
slipping, sliding, skidding, rolling backwards down hills, overturned in
ditches, stuck in a small amount of snow.
These were every kind of car and truck and SUV.

It was the tires! Our snow season is short lived here on the west coast so
most people don't bother. I never did with my Hyundai Pony for 18 years and
I was only stuck in the snow ONCE in that long period of time (when there
was a foot of fresh snow) and never had skidding, sliding, or gripping
problems and I assume it is because it was a rear wheel drive car and
despite the mythology, it was better in the snow. I remember teaching my
children to drive on packed snow and ice. I had Michelin all season tires
on that car and they were fine, so I thought snow tires were unnecessary all
that time.......until now that I have this fabulous car and I might as well
have a beater with bald tires. I don't know why major cars come with crappy
tires now. The Pony came with Michelins.

It's not the Elantra! It's the tires. I did some snow tire research on line
and it's easy to find reviews and ratings of the different brands but
probably any real snow tire will make a huge difference and give you
security and a good grip.

I believe when we buy new cars they should come with the appropriate tire
(summer or winter) and we should at that time buy a set for the other
season, but my salesman did not even mention it and at the time, in summer,
I was not thinking ahead to the winter. I've since educated myself thanks to
the internet and the library. In normal maintenance they should swap the
tires when the season is about to end. But this is not a perfect world and
basically my Toyota dealer does not care about anything except taking the
money the day I bought the car.

My Hyundai dealer in contrast took very good care of my car for all those
years and I am probably going to trade my Toyota in very soon for an honest
car from an honest dealer.....which is pretty impossible to find..... still
doing the research.

 

Try Bridgestone Blizzaks.. We have them (4) for our Tiburon and they
are phenomenal..Have a look at epinions.com for them and also search
on google for them...GREAT tires!
Chris



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