Germanicus

So do I actually. But think about it. Most of them run quite hot, even one with a new cooling system like mine (new rad, hoses, exp. tank, fan, low-temp thermo switch). If your'e driving in the city (35 mph or less, from light to light), you might as well just forget about using your AC at all. The AC just drains the engine power mercilessly. On the rare occasion that I use it while putzing around town, I turn it off at lights and stopsigns, then flip it back on once I'm going again. Shouldn't have to work it this way, but that's the way it is.

I had a Z24 Chevy Cavalier a couple of years ago with the DOHC 2.4 4 banger. You could run the AC all day around town without a noticeable power drop. It might be comparing apples to oranges a bit, but the difference between the two cars was certainly noticeable.

I guess the AC point is just another indication of how these cars seem to engineered SOLELY for high speed cruising on a nice open stretch of highway, something my car doesn't see much of unfortunately.

That's my gripe for today...

Dan in Pasadena

Hate to disagree...but I do. I just had my system fixed -hadn't worked in about 7 years. Replaced the compressor, new Receiver/Dryer, new O rings and upgraded to R134a and it runs COLD.

Not an undue drag on performance that I've noticed. My car doesn't run hot either. The other day it was in the 90's for the first time in SoCal this summer and my car never got above the second bar on the gage...it never does. I seem to be in the minority but my cooling system works fine <img src="graemlins/cussing.gif" border="0" alt="[grrrrrrr]" /> I shouldn't EVEN say that out loud! I am taking the car to Laughlin/Lake Mojave, NV this weekend. That will really test the cooling system unfortunately.

triscadek

I put in a 160* tstat and low temp. fan switch and never get past the top of the 1st field on the gauge ,even in stop and go traffic. And I still get HOT heat in the winter.
Best $40 I ever spent.