Adding AC to a car. Can it be done.

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bigjoe_dub

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take a car, say 2005 ford focus or 2005 toyota corrolla. if theyr do not have climate control / air conditioning, can they be added? if so how much would you be looking at spending? (ball park)
thanks.
 
Focus Zetec or Ghia has a/c as standard.

It is never worth retro fitting a/c btw.
 
i have a new car ordered, im getting the sport model, to get a/c is 1000e extra but if i went and got full spec on the car it only 1200e more all extras and a/c included.
so money wise, sell the car and buy another with the spec you want at least it will be properly factory fitted from day one
 
thanks all.
came across one 04 corolla with AC on the web. rang the dealer. said it was snapped up. getting them with AC is up their with hens teeth.
 
are you planning to use the car in Ireland? If that's the case then I wouldn't worry about the AC. Why would you need that: for the scorching Irish summers or for our freezing snowy winters?! :)
 
muffinsda said:
are you planning to use the car in Ireland? If that's the case then I wouldn't worry about the AC. Why would you need that: for the scorching Irish summers or for our freezing snowy winters?! :)
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Anybody who has A/C in their car would never go back to buying a car without it. Last summer was especially hot and A/C was invaluable. It also helps with demisting the car on wet days. As a previous poster said cars with A/C sell much better that cars without. It was once seen as an unnecessary luxury, now many see it as essential.
 
SOM42 said:
Anybody who has A/C in their car would never go back to buying a car without it. Last summer was especially hot and A/C was invaluable. It also helps with demisting the car on wet days. As a previous poster said cars with A/C sell much better that cars without. It was once seen as an unnecessary luxury, now many see it as essential.
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I'd second that. It's actually more useful in the winter where it'll clear misted up windows in a couple of minutes. Also, years ago you could rely on open windows and forward motion to cool things down. Try this at 5:00 on a Friday evening on Pearse St. these days and see how you get on. If the heat doesn't get you on a summer's day, the fumes certainly will.

Even if it's an expensive option, specifying it on a new car will make it a **lot** easier to sell down the line. Thankfully, it's standard on a lot of cars now.
 
for example stuck in Pearse street rush hour traffic for the last couple of weeks has me determined to get a car with AC. me little general thinks we have moved to a rain forest. :)
 
My last car had A/C (no sunroof) and my current one has a sunroof with no A/C....have to say I prefer the sunroof as I like the extra light.

Firefly.
 
Firefly said:
My last car had A/C (no sunroof) and my current one has a sunroof with no A/C....have to say I prefer the sunroof as I like the extra light.

Firefly.
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Same. I much prefer sunroof. To be honest with you I never felt hot enough to need A/C. And what's wrong with demisting the windows the usual way (all cars have heaters!)?
 
ang1170 said:
I'd second that. It's actually more useful in the winter where it'll clear misted up windows in a couple of minutes.
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Demisting windows on a cold day using AC only works if you have Climate Control AFAIK, regular AC (as on my wife's Astra) will only work in warm weather).
 
Carpenter said:
Demisting windows on a cold day using AC only works if you have Climate Control AFAIK, regular AC (as on my wife's Astra) will only work in warm weather).
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Not true - at least on any of the types I've used.

It's a lot quicker at de-misting than just using the heater, as it removes mositure from the air.

But then, maybe I'm unusual in wanting a clear view out in all directions on a winter's morning, judging by the number of misted up cars you see driving around come the cold mornings......
 
Carpenter said:
Demisting windows on a cold day using AC only works if you have Climate Control AFAIK, regular AC (as on my wife's Astra) will only work in warm weather).
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Balderdash. A/c and c/c use the same mechanical equipment.

With a/c you twist a knob to hotter or colder, but with c/c you set a temperature.

The only difference is the controls.
 
ang1170 said:
Not true - at least on any of the types I've used.

It's a lot quicker at de-misting than just using the heater, as it removes mositure from the air.

But then, maybe I'm unusual in wanting a clear view out in all directions on a winter's morning, judging by the number of misted up cars you see driving around come the cold mornings......
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Have to say I agree I think demisting especially in Ireland is a real safey feature of AC. I used to prefer sunroofs, but now I definately choose AC over it. You don't need it for the whole journey, just a few mins here and there. A sunroof was little better than opening a windows whereas AC is really effective at demisting.

Not worth adding it to a car IMO. Changing the car is more cost effective.
 
RS2K said:
Balderdash. A/c and c/c use the same mechanical equipment.

With a/c you twist a knob to hotter or colder, but with c/c you set a temperature.

The only difference is the controls.
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Sorry to disagree with you on this but I've studied the manual that came with the car and it clearly states that the AC will only function when the external air temperature is above a certain level- if it's cold outside the AC won't (or can't) lower the internal cabin air temperature any further. I'm just relating what I've read. Standard AC controls temperature only but climate control also controls humidity....
 
Carpenter said:
Sorry to disagree with you on this but I've studied the manual that came with the car and it clearly states that the AC will only function when the external air temperature is above a certain level- if it's cold outside the AC won't (or can't) lower the internal cabin air temperature any further. I'm just relating what I've read. Standard AC controls temperature only but climate control also controls humidity....
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One of ours cars has AC not CC and it definately demists the windows extermely well on a cold morning. Even if its set to warm air. How or why that works I have no idea. When I swap to one of the cars with out it the difference is staggering.
 
I don't want to hijack the original posters thread but I'll look at the user manual again to confirm this.
 
Carpenter said:
Sorry to disagree with you on this but I've studied the manual that came with the car and it clearly states that the AC will only function when the external air temperature is above a certain level- if it's cold outside the AC won't (or can't) lower the internal cabin air temperature any further. I'm just relating what I've read. Standard AC controls temperature only but climate control also controls humidity....
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I'd check the manual if I were you OK: it's one thing to say it doesn't work if the outside temp is low, it's quite another to say it can't lower the temperature (which it can't below a certain point).

The demisting effect is based on the fact that A/C (standard as well as climate control) removes moisture from the air. The normal setting for this is to have both A/C and heater on full. Some units will have a "rapid demist" setting to do this automatically, but unless it's really strange, I can't see it being impossible to do manually or it not working.
 
a lot of the talk seems to be air conditioning - v - sun-roof.

can you not have air conditioning in a car with a sun-roof???

obviously if the sun-roof was open it wouldn't work, but surely cars come with both and you can chose to use either?
 
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