AC in the Esprit...what was I waiting for???!!!

[madmike]

I finally charged the AC yesterday (well, actually Jaime did.)

I never did it before because of the cost for the old style refridgerant, and I'd read in plenty of places that the AC in the Esprit wasn't really much of an improvement.



The AC system rocks...I didn't get the blue knucles I'd heard of, and it got quite chilly in there. And unlike in other cars I didn't notice a marked power drop when I flipped it on.

I only did it to prepare for the long drive to LOG...I wish I had done this last summer. If your AC isn't charged up...get it done.

I also got the oil change done, the front lip rubber trim secured (the PO had secured into place with electrical tape wrapped around the bolts instead of nuts, can you believe that???!!!) and a brake inspection.

I'll update my site tonight with the service costs (like I always do) but needless to say I was quite pleased with Jaime's prices and work.

Mike

[granville]

Completely off-topic, Mike but I'd just like to bow in the prescence of such a tremendous looking example of automotive art.

An Esprit on American roads? Why do I suddenly feel the need to perform an act of uncommon lewdness?

Exceptional.

[madmike]

derestrictor said:

Completely off-topic, Mike but I'd just like to bow in the prescence of such a tremendous looking example of automotive art. An Esprit on American roads? Why do I suddenly feel the need to perform an act of uncommon lewdness? Exceptional.

Thanks derestrictor...I try

[dictys]

I'm having my a/c recharged on Friday before driving down to Cornwall to Surf.

£102 inc Vat from Lotus Dealer, £82 from local specialist but he couldn't fit me in for a week or so.

It 94f and i'm dying of heat fatigue in the Esprit at the moment, hopefully the recharge will sort this out.

Rgds
Dictys (89 SE)

[rfoster]

Count yourself lucky you've got A/C! I've just picked my '90 NA up from the garage, where they've left it in the blazing sunshine with the glass roof & windows closed. It's 97 degrees and I've no AC on my car. Praise the lord for Right Guard!

[lotusguy]

Hi,

A friendly, useful tip: To keep your AC in top order and extend the life of the compressor and 'O' rings (these keep the refrigerant in), make sure to run your AC at least 10 min. every month. This will allow the oil to circulate in the compressor and the rest of the system to expand under the pressure of the compressor and 'reseal' itself. Failure to do this will cost you a leaky system and ultimately a blown compressor. Pretty cheap insurance if you ask me. Happy Motoring! Jim'85TE

[madmike]

lotusguy said:

Hi, A friendly, useful tip: To keep your AC in top order and extend the life of the compressor and 'O' rings (these keep the refrigerant in), make sure to run your AC at least 10 min. every month. This will allow the oil to circulate in the compressor and the rest of the system to expand under the pressure of the compressor and 'reseal' itself. Failure to do this will cost you a leaky system and ultimately a blown compressor. Pretty cheap insurance if you ask me. Happy Motoring! Jim'85TE

This very true, which is why I was fairly astonished that the system held vaccuum after having not been run or charged in about 2 years!!!

Jaime called me when he hooked the machine up and asked me when it had last been charged, as it was bone dry. When I told him, he asked what I wanted to do if it didn't hold charge. My obvious answer (which he agreed with) was to do nothing and go ACless.

We were both pretty suprised it held up.

I'm not going to jinx myself by saying Evilyn is bulletproof, but I have been pretty damn lucky in this car. I do love her.

Edited to add: He also told me everyone who came by had to comment on my vanity plates. As he puts it, "It fits your car for so many reasons."

INFRNAL

Mad Mike

>> Edited by madmike on Wednesday 6th August 15:53

[cnh1990]

rfoster said:

Count yourself lucky you've got A/C! I've just picked my '90 NA up from the garage, where they've left it in the blazing sunshine with the glass roof & windows closed. It's 97 degrees and I've no AC on my car. Praise the lord for Right Guard!

I can't recall ever seeing one single S body Esprit without A/C. Even the G body cars except for the real early ones have A/C. S-2 have A/C. Is yours broken?

Calvin

[dictys]

All NA Esprits in UK did not come with A/C as standard, if was an option and in those days most british motorists had not experienced the benefits of AC. It only slowly become standard on most vehicles after 95.

Rgds
Dictys

[rfoster]

I gather it was a option on the N/A models - I know of a few cars without AC. The heater graphics panel only has the 3 dials instead of 4 on the SE & Turbos. It was even an option on the later GT3's. Maybe it was standard on US spec cars.

[rob.e]

rfoster said:

It was even an option on the later GT3's. Maybe it was standard on US spec cars.

Yes, aircon was not fitted as standard to any gt3 or v8-gt, however most had this added as a factory option. I've only seen a couple of gt3's and one v8-gt without aircon.

My v8-gt has aircon, but its not working at the moment.. and its 34 degrees today!

Rob
V8-GT

[southenddc]

i dont have a/c on my 86 s3....and boy in this weather (UK) right now i wish i did.....can it be added...if so where & how much? (before i melt)

[cnh1990]

I guess A/C was not a big deal to many in UK or maybe the car makers did not think of it was standard equipment.

I suppose it is an option but car dealers never order it that way. In fact it would probably have to be a special order for any car not come with A/C.

I can't recall too many cars in general that do not have A/C in the USA. Even the cheapest sub compacts have them. The basic pick up trucks, the type with no carpets and only vinyl floor coverings are the only I can think of without A/C.

I use it a lot. Even in my Tracer (Ford Escort). The ride is much more civilized in traffic and the stereo sounds better.

Everyone chuckles about my daily driver. Yeah I'm at two ends of the performance spectrum. I almost got a plate frame (my other car is a piece of crap) for the Lotus.

Calvin

[MikeyRide]

cnh1990 said:

Everyone chuckles about my daily driver. Yeah I'm at two ends of the performance spectrum. I almost got a plate frame (my other car is a piece of crap) for the Lotus.

My 2nd car for several years was an '89 Subaru Justy. 3 cylinders, no AC. I finally gave up on it when the compression got down to 60/90/120 across the three cylinders. It turns out that overheating a car to the point that the distributor cap melts is not good for longevity. My fiance pays much closer attention to the temperature gauge now. Anyway my current beater is an '86 BMW 528e purchased for the princely sum of $1050.

Life's all about choices.

[madmike]

Hey Calvin, my daily driver is a Hyundai Elantra. And yes, I put my Lotus Ltd sticker on the Hyundais window, because I thought it was kind of funny.

Mike

[Lotusacbc]

cnh1990 said:

I almost got a plate frame (my other car is a piece of crap) for the Lotus. Calvin

Thats hysterical!

[cnh1990]

Yes it is kind of funny.

Add 10-12 sec on the Lotus 0-60 and you have my daily driver.

My kids even make fun of my daily driver when accelerating on to the highway by making pa-chew sounds of a blow off valve as the Tracer shifts trying to get to hwy speeds.

Calvin

[techspy]

On my recent visit home, it was averaging between 95 and 100f with up to 95 percent humidity. When I picked up my S4 I had them check and top off the a/c. It needed one hose tightened and topping off. The whole time I drove around those 2 weeks, the a/c worked flawlessly. Being that my prior 83 Turbo had such a weak a/c, I was really impressed. Curious, I inserted a digital mechanics thermometer in the vent to see how cold it really was. On a cold engine at start up, it was down to 39f! On a hot engine at idle it rose only to about 55f. Cruising around in very hot weather, it was averaging mid 40s. Needless to say I am very impressed. The biggest problem is the fact that the front windshield is sooo darn big that alot of sun comes in. So even though the a/c is blowing cold, it has alot of work to do to offset the sun. I am going to tint the front winshield (and side windows), probably farther down than legally allowed, but not to the point to make it obvious. This should help out alot.

John
94 S4

[romadent]

I posted a message for info on a 95 S4S air cond system but got only one response. Can someone tell me who manufactured the system and what condenser fits? Need to know prior to dismantling to reach the condenser! Any info??? Thanks

[dr.hess]

According to my notes taken from somewhere on the net:

Description Manufacturer PartNumber Comments
AC Compressor Saden Corp SD-508 1988

I believe this will fit my '89.

Oh, and my daily driver is a 1992 Toyota Truck 22RE, 234K miles, 29MPG at 70MPH with the AC on. 30MPG if I take the back roads.

Dr.Hess