What variables affect a/c?

[Digitalwave]

Which variables affect A/C the most? Today mine has not very cold at all, not as cold as it has been for the last week since I fixed it. Weather has been more or less consistant as well, but it was about 5 degrees hotter today than yesterday. The cabin was much hotter when I sat in the car than yesterday when I left work.

I threw a gauge on the low pressure line and the pressure is the same as it was last week so I don't think I have a leak. Do changes in the weather noticably affect the cooling capability of our archaic A/C's?

[MikeE30325i]

no idea, but do you think humidity plays a part in it? or the temp inside the engine bay itself?

[Digitalwave]

Yeah I'm not really sure. The humidity was a bit higher today.

[E30 Wagen]

the fact that it's old and possibly failing?

[Digitalwave]

That too.

[MikeE30325i]

Yeah I'm not really sure. The humidity was a bit higher today.

that could be it. but how much colder was it on the good day? like 5 degrees? or a more noticeable amount?

[lordofthewaters]

Aux fan? clogged r/d? Air in the system?

[Digitalwave]

I think everything is fine, I drove the car tonight and the a/c was FREEZING. I just think when its FL hot out it doesn't work that great.

[AdamF 88iS]

See if your aux fan is working.

[luvin my 325es]

Your a/c cools the outside air 30-40 deg. depending on how well it is working. So if it is 100 deg. you should get 60-70 deg at the vents. If it is 80 deg you should get 40-50 deg at the vent. That is why using the recirc. air works better , the cooler it gets in the car the cooler the air will come out the vents.
Spraying out the condenser if front of your radiator will improve air flow and cooling. I dont think the humidity level has anything to do with it other than the size of the puddle of water under the car from the a/c.

[Digitalwave]

What do you mean by spraying the condensor?

[AdamF 88iS]

What do you mean by spraying the condensor?

He means get all the rocks/bugs/leaves/crap out of the fins of the condensor.

[Digitalwave]

Good idea. I'll have to do that this weekend.

[BahnE30]

humidity doesn't effect it, it's the ambient temp, as stated above, 30-40 degree drop is normal, probably even less on an older system, get a gauge, and check the temp outside the car, and in, check temp outside, get in start car, idle, doors closed windows up, pay attention to inside temp until it stops changing. that will tell you how well it's working, and if you've got good pressure, and your compressor is spinning... not just the pulley, you've got issues.....