Air conditioning
Discussion
STSCH said:
First hot day driving my 5 year old Alpine. Air conditioning seems poor compared with my other cars which drop the air temperature at the vents to uncomfortably chilly. Is the Alpine noted to have poor air con or do I need it recharging?
Mine isn't particularly powerful either. It's a bit slow to get going and the air from the vents is never really really cold. That said I've always found it adequate, even in really hot weather. It's a pity the central vent is fixed.As an update. The car has a damaged condenser so leaking and non functioning air conditioning. The condenser is in a very vulnerable position on the left hand side just behind the front grill with no protection from flying debris. Not a cheap, or quick replacement! Design could be improved?
STSCH said:
As an update. The car has a damaged condenser so leaking and non functioning air conditioning. The condenser is in a very vulnerable position on the left hand side just behind the front grill with no protection from flying debris. Not a cheap, or quick replacement! Design could be improved?
I thought the massive open grill looked like it would leave the radiator venerable. Apparently not just the rad. There is an aftermarket grill that some people have fitted that seems designed to add protection. I do worry about the reduced airflow.
Yep, that is why I have one of these fitted. It is a mesh so wont affect airflow at all.
https://www.zunsport.com/grille-shop/alpine-grille...
https://www.zunsport.com/grille-shop/alpine-grille...
Colin P said:
Yep, that is why I have one of these fitted. It is a mesh so wont affect airflow at all.
https://www.zunsport.com/grille-shop/alpine-grille...
Not sure about that. My 981 Cayman ran hotter with Zunsport grilles and I removed them.https://www.zunsport.com/grille-shop/alpine-grille...
k_m said:
For sure a grill affects the airflow less than a ton of leaves and debris glogging the radiator.
I can highly recommend to install one, either a DIY solution behind the plastic grill or a Zunsport in front. The water, engine and gearbox oil temperature wont noticable change.
So keep it all free of leaves etc.I can highly recommend to install one, either a DIY solution behind the plastic grill or a Zunsport in front. The water, engine and gearbox oil temperature wont noticable change.
Now have powerful air con. Condenser arrived within a week,fitted efficiently by Martins in half a day. However getting the front bumper assembly back on proved a challenge. Fit lines are not brilliant originally but we both agreed even after a second attempt not back to the original. So a trip to their body shop is being arranged.
I have fitted a aftermarket grill, easy to fit except having to drill out two rivets on the numberplate support. Does anyone know what size these two tri wing rivets are, although they seem to add little to the attachment as it has 4 screws?
I have fitted a aftermarket grill, easy to fit except having to drill out two rivets on the numberplate support. Does anyone know what size these two tri wing rivets are, although they seem to add little to the attachment as it has 4 screws?
Posting this here as a help to others.
A significant number of the ~83 cars imported to Australia had faulty AC units under the dash.
It starts off with sporadic operation as the gas level gets low. Symptoms include underperformance (so you turn the temperature down a bit), or stops working after 2-3hrs of continuous driving, or blows cold out of one side, & warm out of the other side. Eventually it will cease to work at all.
A re-gas of the system will "fix" the problem for a time (months or maybe a year +), but if it leaks it will eventually run low on refrigerant gas & cause problems again.
My (late 2019) car had the under dash components of the AC replaced in September 2023 & again recently (August 2026) due to faulty parts being used the first time. I was told the supplier has been changed & it should be OK from now on. I hope this is the case. At the Renault dealership that did the work both times, they have done as least 5 cars TWICE, & many others a single time.
If you are suffering from poor AC, it could be that you need to have it changed, especially if your car was built prior to 2020/21. Start with a re-gas & keep all the documents. Alpine are still replacing AC units free of charge.
A significant number of the ~83 cars imported to Australia had faulty AC units under the dash.
It starts off with sporadic operation as the gas level gets low. Symptoms include underperformance (so you turn the temperature down a bit), or stops working after 2-3hrs of continuous driving, or blows cold out of one side, & warm out of the other side. Eventually it will cease to work at all.
A re-gas of the system will "fix" the problem for a time (months or maybe a year +), but if it leaks it will eventually run low on refrigerant gas & cause problems again.
My (late 2019) car had the under dash components of the AC replaced in September 2023 & again recently (August 2026) due to faulty parts being used the first time. I was told the supplier has been changed & it should be OK from now on. I hope this is the case. At the Renault dealership that did the work both times, they have done as least 5 cars TWICE, & many others a single time.
If you are suffering from poor AC, it could be that you need to have it changed, especially if your car was built prior to 2020/21. Start with a re-gas & keep all the documents. Alpine are still replacing AC units free of charge.
Edited by PHusername on Tuesday 1st September 13:16
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