Sorry if this is in the wrong thread moderators, I didn't post under problems and fixes because I don't have one yet but want to prevent one.

I've finally have a car with air conditioning that works! And mama, does it work, this is the best A/C unit I've experienced. Thank-you Acura!

Should you turn the air conditioner on sometimes/all the time? during the winter to prevent it from ever breaking? I live in Canada - cold winters.

Thanks!

 

The AC should come on when you turn the windshield defrost on.

 

From what I know, you should NOT leave your A/C on all the time. The A/C should be allowed to cool down for 5 minutes or so before you park your car. In the winter, you can use it to defrost, but if you don't happen to need it, you should still turn it on every other week for 10-15 min to keep the system lubricated.

Again, just read online...someone with more mechanical expertise may be more able to explain

 

You need to ensure that you use the AC year-round. Most problems with AC systems in Canada come from people not using their AC in the winter, which means that the oil doesnt circulate through the system, leaving seals and hoses to dry out and eventually leak.

As i64X suggested, the AC will come on when you use the defrost feature. Using this regularly should lengthen the life of your AC system!

It's been hot around here these last few days, and I've been very impressed with the AC system!

 

I think Acura's position is that you should just leave it on full automatic for the most part. It will run the A/C when needed, and it runs in defrost mode also. If you're not using defrost in the winter, then I'd probably try to run the A/C some at least once a week or two.

 

Why can't the A/C be allowed to cool down while the car is parked? Turning the a/c off should be similar to turning the engine off. I know people turn it off 5 minutes before they park so that the car won't develop that musty smell from bacteria growing in the pool of moisture in the a/c system.

As for the A/C system in the winter time, you do need to run it once in a while.

 

Thanks everyone. Appreciate it.