C7 A/C not cold enough?
E-Ray, 3LZ, ZER, LIFT
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 35,049
Likes: 12,415
From: NE South Carolina
Same here! I just keep it at 71 and auto. Seldom have a passenger so it's the same both sides. Will use the seat fans when getting in after it's been parked at the mall etc.
Last edited by JerryU; Aug 22, 2016 at 05:13 PM.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 2,615
Likes: 694
I too am surprised at the lack of A/C cold air delivery. 2017 C7 Stingray.
The only way my car will cool down and stay cool is to have it set to LO all the time. (sunny and hot or cloudy and hot)
If I turn it up from LO to 17 degrees C (next temp step up), the car immediately blows significantly warmer air that feels damp. My car does have a puddle of water underneath it with the A/C running while cooling.
My previous 2007 C6 would turn the car practically into a freezer set at LO - 15 degrees C. (sunny and hot or cloudy and hot) Both cars had/have the transparent roof. Very doubtful the clear roof has anything to do with it. It's the temp of the air blowing out of the vents.
Has anyone that is experiencing or experienced this issued have had the dealer do a fix on the system, either software or hardware related and be successful?
The only way my car will cool down and stay cool is to have it set to LO all the time. (sunny and hot or cloudy and hot)
If I turn it up from LO to 17 degrees C (next temp step up), the car immediately blows significantly warmer air that feels damp. My car does have a puddle of water underneath it with the A/C running while cooling.
My previous 2007 C6 would turn the car practically into a freezer set at LO - 15 degrees C. (sunny and hot or cloudy and hot) Both cars had/have the transparent roof. Very doubtful the clear roof has anything to do with it. It's the temp of the air blowing out of the vents.
Has anyone that is experiencing or experienced this issued have had the dealer do a fix on the system, either software or hardware related and be successful?
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 7,146
Likes: 1,940
From: Hagerstown MD
St. Jude Donor '15-'16,'18
I usually set mine at 68 to stay comfortable in hot weather. My C7 is my first Corvette so I have no basis for comparison but it seems like the car does generate a lot of heat so it takes a lot of cooling to keep it comfortable.
Drifting
Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 1,424
Likes: 232
From: Licking MO
I too am surprised at the lack of A/C cold air delivery. 2017 C7 Stingray.
The only way my car will cool down and stay cool is to have it set to LO all the time. (sunny and hot or cloudy and hot)
If I turn it up from LO to 17 degrees C (next temp step up), the car immediately blows significantly warmer air that feels damp. My car does have a puddle of water underneath it with the A/C running while cooling.
My previous 2007 C6 would turn the car practically into a freezer set at LO - 15 degrees C. (sunny and hot or cloudy and hot) Both cars had/have the transparent roof. Very doubtful the clear roof has anything to do with it. It's the temp of the air blowing out of the vents.
Has anyone that is experiencing or experienced this issued have had the dealer do a fix on the system, either software or hardware related and be successful?
The only way my car will cool down and stay cool is to have it set to LO all the time. (sunny and hot or cloudy and hot)
If I turn it up from LO to 17 degrees C (next temp step up), the car immediately blows significantly warmer air that feels damp. My car does have a puddle of water underneath it with the A/C running while cooling.
My previous 2007 C6 would turn the car practically into a freezer set at LO - 15 degrees C. (sunny and hot or cloudy and hot) Both cars had/have the transparent roof. Very doubtful the clear roof has anything to do with it. It's the temp of the air blowing out of the vents.
Has anyone that is experiencing or experienced this issued have had the dealer do a fix on the system, either software or hardware related and be successful?
Safety Car
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 4,548
Likes: 609
From: Southeast, WI
The AC will work MUCH better in hot weather when set to recirculation mode. Recirc doesn't completely cut outside air but it greatly reduces the amount and thus the load on the cooling system.
When coming into a superheated car (inside temp far higher than outside ambient) the AC system will cool much more quickly if you put the windows down for a short time to quickly shed the extra heat.
In stop and go/low speed driving staying in lower gears longer will keep the engine RPM up where the compressor is in a more effective operating range. With the auto for long lights shifting to neutral will help slightly and reduce transmission heating.
Even without the transparent roof (which I have) the Corvette has a lot of glass with a big windshield and rear hatch so think of it as a stylish and cool version of the much mocked AMC Pacer
When coming into a superheated car (inside temp far higher than outside ambient) the AC system will cool much more quickly if you put the windows down for a short time to quickly shed the extra heat.
In stop and go/low speed driving staying in lower gears longer will keep the engine RPM up where the compressor is in a more effective operating range. With the auto for long lights shifting to neutral will help slightly and reduce transmission heating.
Even without the transparent roof (which I have) the Corvette has a lot of glass with a big windshield and rear hatch so think of it as a stylish and cool version of the much mocked AMC Pacer
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Safety Car
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 4,548
Likes: 609
From: Southeast, WI
My guess is GM, has chosen a smaller and less effective A/C system for the current models. I'm thinking the compressor has less volume and thus less cooling capacity.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 3,359
Likes: 608
Trust me it is what it is I have complained about it in both my 2014 and now my 2016, "performs as designed" is the best I get . I have a laser temp guage and I clocked 110 degrees in the driver footwell !!! Let's face it we have an engine with a car wrapped around it ...
Team Owner
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 25,583
Likes: 16,942
Sounds to me like there is a lot of variability between cars. Trust me, "it is what it is" to me means really cold in my '14 (black on black on black) convertible even on a 100º day.
Last edited by Foosh; Aug 9, 2017 at 07:29 PM.
Safety Car
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 3,960
Likes: 1,106
I have had my 16 Z06 on some long road trips in the summer and there is no problem keeping it plenty cold. I also have the transparent top so there is some sun warming going on. With the temp set to 68 and the seat vent set to 2 it is comfortable for me and my daughter usually bumps her temp control up to 71 since I like it cold and she likes it cool.
At night I reset the temp to 70 once the sun is gone; the dash sensor does readjust the system some to offset the impact of heating from the sun but 68 at night can start to feel pretty chilly even for me and I like a colder environment.
At night I reset the temp to 70 once the sun is gone; the dash sensor does readjust the system some to offset the impact of heating from the sun but 68 at night can start to feel pretty chilly even for me and I like a colder environment.
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 3,461
Likes: 130
From: Fernandina Beach
thought my c7 stingray never got cold because of the transparent roof.
Z06 never gets cold even with solid roof. no comparison to my other cars
Safety Car
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 3,960
Likes: 1,106
It is odd that there is so much variance between these vehicles. My 2016 Z06 maintains cold temperature better than my 2014 Cadillac ATS which doesn't have a transparent roof or nearly as much engine compartment heat coming in. The only vehicle I own that cools faster is my GMC diesel pickup which could freeze an Eskimo when set to cold.
I believe modern systems using environmentally friendly refrigerants may be a little pickier about charge level than the old Freon 12 based systems so maybe the factory isn't being careful enough to get the charge level set correctly.
I believe modern systems using environmentally friendly refrigerants may be a little pickier about charge level than the old Freon 12 based systems so maybe the factory isn't being careful enough to get the charge level set correctly.
Drifting
Joined: Nov 2016
Posts: 1,323
Likes: 420
From: Eastern NC
My 16 gets plenty cool. I never worry about what the display says or if it's exactly what the dial says. Put it to where you're comfortable and let it be. If that's 60 then so be it. I leave the recirculation on also as it always helps it to stay much cooler. The "max" of the old days.
Advanced
Joined: Jul 2017
Posts: 77
Likes: 9
Getting ready to bring mine in to get looked at, just got her a couple weeks ago. Immediately noticed the AC was not as cold as my mustangs I traded in. I would have the climate control set to 70 in the stang and be very comfortable, I have to have it set to LO and fan on close tot he highest setting to have the same feel in the vette, thought it was maybe a chevy thing with calibration, until I drove my grandmothers GMC Terrain the other day, and on the same settings as the vette it got so cold my hand on the steering wheel near the vent started to get numb. And I'm not just talking about the overall temp in the cabin, the air coming out just simply doesn't get nearly as cold.
Last edited by Varekai; Aug 11, 2017 at 03:34 PM.
Drifting
Joined: Jul 2016
Posts: 1,481
Likes: 394
From: Virginia Beach Virginia
I couldn't stand it at 68 degrees. I seldom set my system lower than 73 degrees, sometimes I will increase the temperature to as high as 80 (after being in the office that was set to the low seventies and I am cold soaked through and through). My personal favorite auto setting is 77 summer and winter. I do drive top down with the air conditioner on when ambient temperature is upper eighties and higher.You sound like a good candidate for Florida. I have friends that keep it that hot in their cars and drives me crazy. 66 works fine and if I get cold, I just turn on the heated seats.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 2,615
Likes: 694
After experimenting with the A/C controls today, I find that using the auto mode is the problem for the weak A/C in my car. Only on the LO setting it works pretty good, but just turning up a degree in auto mode you can feel the humidity coming out of the vents and the temperature feels significantly warmer than the temperature that is dialed.
Today I put the A/C in manual mode with recirculating button on with air to the vents and the foot wells at the same time and it worked great. Car got cold and stayed cold. Every degree of adjustment made a difference that I could feel and there was no added humidity feeling in the air as the temperature was turned up.
I am going to use manual mode for now and maybe there will a TSB that will come out soon.
Today I put the A/C in manual mode with recirculating button on with air to the vents and the foot wells at the same time and it worked great. Car got cold and stayed cold. Every degree of adjustment made a difference that I could feel and there was no added humidity feeling in the air as the temperature was turned up.
I am going to use manual mode for now and maybe there will a TSB that will come out soon.
