Air Conditioning on Chimeara.................
Discussion
Hi,
I'm looking at buying a Chim, 98S model with Air Con. Is this system any good if its a factory fitted option from new or do they tend to be better retro?
Its only for when i leave work and just wanna crank it up to cool the interior off before i start my blast homeward bound.
Can anyone give me any feedback please????
Rog.
I'm looking at buying a Chim, 98S model with Air Con. Is this system any good if its a factory fitted option from new or do they tend to be better retro?
Its only for when i leave work and just wanna crank it up to cool the interior off before i start my blast homeward bound.
Can anyone give me any feedback please????
Rog.
take the roof off
I have TVR fitted air con and it works very well. When on holls in Scotland 2 years ago when heat wave was there we actually had it on with the roof off. Yes I know that is not the way to use it but the ice cool air round our feet and up round our legs was great and if it works like that think what it will work like with the roof on.
Get it "fully loaded" you know it makes sense!!!!!!!
Get it "fully loaded" you know it makes sense!!!!!!!
I ended up getting one 'without' - and as Blaine suggests, I just take the roof off! Without it though, the vent temps range from 'warm' to 'hot' not good in this weather - I'm tending to leave the fan off and open a window if the roof is on.
There is anecdotal evidence that aircon increases the complexity of some servicing operations by the compressor being 'in the way'. I was also warned to check it was still gassed and working when looking at cars - there are apparently many with 'aircon' meaning they have the switch connected to a dead system!
Depends whether you want to be cool quickly but delay your purchase by seeking one with aircon, or cool quickly by getting & being seen in one that is otherwise perfect but has no aircon!
There is anecdotal evidence that aircon increases the complexity of some servicing operations by the compressor being 'in the way'. I was also warned to check it was still gassed and working when looking at cars - there are apparently many with 'aircon' meaning they have the switch connected to a dead system!
Depends whether you want to be cool quickly but delay your purchase by seeking one with aircon, or cool quickly by getting & being seen in one that is otherwise perfect but has no aircon!
Its well worth having. It gets really hot in a TVR even with the roof off and the aircon does make quite a difference.
I wasn't looking for aircon when I bought my car on the basis that its a sports car and if it doesn't make it go faster it shouldn't be there, however I'm pleased I got one with it now.
I wasn't looking for aircon when I bought my car on the basis that its a sports car and if it doesn't make it go faster it shouldn't be there, however I'm pleased I got one with it now.
Ah, i've emailed the guy asking if its been re-gassed recently. It was only the fact that i want to use it everyday and i really hate it when its too hot inside the car. I've managed to keep a shaded area to park at work, just in case.
I went to Le Man and wondered past a few people with Chims and there was only a couple of them who had it, one said it worked really well and the other said it was lousy, i did suggest he have it checked/re-charged and he wasn't all that fussed.
Is there anything to spot when looking over it, if i go to see it?
I went to Le Man and wondered past a few people with Chims and there was only a couple of them who had it, one said it worked really well and the other said it was lousy, i did suggest he have it checked/re-charged and he wasn't all that fussed.
Is there anything to spot when looking over it, if i go to see it?
The TVR fitted aircon in my 99 Chim is great, but it does only just about cope with roof on in hot weather (makes the cabin on the warm side of comfortable). It's also nice to get icy air with the roof off.
The servicing complexity *does* increase. A radiator change/fix is more fiddly because the condenser (?) is located in front of the rad and the pipes get in the way. Also the compressor needed moving when I had the exhaust manifolds changed.
Finally, do make sure it's gassed up and run regularly/weekly. Might need regassing every threeish years.
I'd definately spec aircon next time.
The servicing complexity *does* increase. A radiator change/fix is more fiddly because the condenser (?) is located in front of the rad and the pipes get in the way. Also the compressor needed moving when I had the exhaust manifolds changed.
Finally, do make sure it's gassed up and run regularly/weekly. Might need regassing every threeish years.
I'd definately spec aircon next time.
IMHO not worth it for the effectivness of the system! Even if you keep it charged to the max it will never be as good as a 'mainstream' system. I had a/c on my Cerby and whilst it always worked, my g/f at the time had a Xsara which had a/c that was much better than mine (in a 5k car). Similar problem for us Bikers in summer, you only notice the heat when you are stationary. I prefer to just put up with the warmth and ensure that the rest of the car is performing as well as it can! Besides I have to drive roof down to savour that magical exhaust note!!
jonathant said:
Finally, do make sure it's gassed up and run regularly/weekly. Might need regassing every threeish years.
I'd definately spec aircon next time.
Mine lasts a max of about 9 months before regassing
I've had it done twice in 3 years. The previous owner just before I got it. About 9 months later and then middle of 2003. It packed up around June last year. Haven't bothered regassing. I think it needs a strip down and overhaul
Bit of a waste of time as you have the top off anyway. If your running it in traffic on a hot day, it causes more load/heat in the engine bay aswell.
Only had my beast for 5 and half months, was sure I wanted air-con when I was looking for it. I was aware of heating up problems that could arise with the air-con on in trafic, but had so far had none. It was re-gased before I bought it because it could only manage to push out warm air. Up to two weeks ago it was chilling the cabin with no problems, but now that I realy need it....... it needs re-gasing. The other problem that I have had is that it went trough a fan belt very quickly. I was told that this is normal for air-con models because there is less contact area with the alternator because the belt runs to the air-can compressor. What to the veterans think?
As a hay-fever sufferer, aircon is marvellous! It really does help get rid of the pollen. Although it is a trifle decadent to have A/C going with the roof down...
It's also great if you are stuck in traffic in one of those steamy summer downpours - no misted up windows!
Performance wise, there is so much drag with the roof off relative to the compressor load that is doesn't make much difference. There is a sneaky positive that needs to be mentioned here too. The factory system includes a fuel cooler, and this is worth power (to have cooled fuel).
So my choice would always be to have A/C. So there!
It's also great if you are stuck in traffic in one of those steamy summer downpours - no misted up windows!
Performance wise, there is so much drag with the roof off relative to the compressor load that is doesn't make much difference. There is a sneaky positive that needs to be mentioned here too. The factory system includes a fuel cooler, and this is worth power (to have cooled fuel).
So my choice would always be to have A/C. So there!
Just a thought I spoke to these guys today who recon they could retro fit A/C to a Chimaera £2500 ish
www.readerair.co.uk/home.html
Mark
www.readerair.co.uk/home.html
Mark
Gassing Station | Chimaera | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff