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  • 1996 - 2004 SN95 Mustang -General/Talk-
  • SN95 4.6L Mustang Tech

A/C and MAX A/C

  • Thread starter Thread starter KLozeR
  • Start date Start date Jul 15, 2004
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KLozeR

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Jan 26, 2002
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SoCali
Jul 15, 2004
#1
  • Jul 15, 2004
  • #1
What's the difference?
 

VOORHEES

Stangnet's "35th Limited Edition" VIN Guy
15 Year Member
Nov 9, 1999
3,046
36
119
LaGrange, GA
Jul 15, 2004
#2
  • Jul 15, 2004
  • #2
Don't know, but I've always heard you get better gas mileage with MAX A/C. Seems to be true also.
-Jason
 

03redfiregt

New Member
Aug 4, 2003
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Dracut Ma
Jul 15, 2004
#3
  • Jul 15, 2004
  • #3
The difference is a/c pulls in outside air and cools it before it goes into the cabin. Max a/c recurculates the air already inside the car. So the air will be colder and it does'nt have to work as hard.
 

Milenko

Skid Mark Layer...only not fro
Founding Member
Nov 5, 2001
462
1
19
Boston, MA
Jul 15, 2004
#4
  • Jul 15, 2004
  • #4
03redfiregt said:
The difference is a/c pulls in outside air and cools it before it goes into the cabin. Max a/c recurculates the air already inside the car. So the air will be colder and it does'nt have to work as hard.
Click to expand...
Damn I never knew that.

I always figured Max a/c used more..since the word Max is in it..
 

mrvax

Stay thirsty my friends
Founding Member
Nov 29, 1999
5,225
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Jul 15, 2004
#5
  • Jul 15, 2004
  • #5
It had me fooled also.
 

340.29m/s

New Member
Sep 22, 2003
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Blue Springs, Mo
Jul 15, 2004
#6
  • Jul 15, 2004
  • #6
That is the reason it sounds louder on Max A/C. Not because it is actually blowing harder, but because it is sucking in air and blowing in out using the same vents.

I ALWAYS use Max A/C.... keeps out the nasty smells from outside.
 

propellerhead

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Apr 13, 2004
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"but what's with the but shots?"
Jul 15, 2004
#7
  • Jul 15, 2004
  • #7
MAX A/C also keeps the condenser (or whatever it is called) working. Regular A/C will cycle on and off to maintain your desired temperature. MAX is meant to be used for the first 5-10 minutes until the car cools off a bit. Then switch to A/C.
 
R

rickster99

New Member
Jun 14, 2004
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Jul 15, 2004
#8
  • Jul 15, 2004
  • #8
propellerhead said:
MAX A/C also keeps the condenser (or whatever it is called) working. Regular A/C will cycle on and off to maintain your desired temperature. MAX is meant to be used for the first 5-10 minutes until the car cools off a bit. Then switch to A/C.
Click to expand...

Wait a minute. If that is the case then it contradicts what others have said before you. That means that MAX A/C is less economical.
 

Milenko

Skid Mark Layer...only not fro
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Jul 15, 2004
#9
  • Jul 15, 2004
  • #9
rickster99 said:
Wait a minute. If that is the case then it contradicts what others have said before you. That means that MAX A/C is less economical.
Click to expand...
Exactly what he said.

propellerhead I think you have it reversed...
 

mrvax

Stay thirsty my friends
Founding Member
Nov 29, 1999
5,225
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79
SN Moderator: Orlando, Fl.
Jul 15, 2004
#10
  • Jul 15, 2004
  • #10
I was always told that MAX A/C does keep the compresor on 100%. Makes sence, doesn't it? Switching to regular A/C will cycle the compressor as needed (I can feel it.). THAT will probably = more economy.

The only thing I am not too sure of is what position does the car draw in air from outside vs. inside.
 

340.29m/s

New Member
Sep 22, 2003
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Blue Springs, Mo
Jul 15, 2004
#11
  • Jul 15, 2004
  • #11
A/C definitely pulls air from outside, Max definitely pulls air from inside.
 

Premium Speed

New Member
Apr 22, 2003
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Houston, Texas
Jul 15, 2004
#12
  • Jul 15, 2004
  • #12
340.29m/s said:
A/C definitely pulls air from outside, Max definitely pulls air from inside.
Click to expand...

^^^^^^^^

if you have to sit without moving with the a/c on....make sure it is on A/C and not max
 

Milenko

Skid Mark Layer...only not fro
Founding Member
Nov 5, 2001
462
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Jul 15, 2004
#13
  • Jul 15, 2004
  • #13
Premium Speed said:
^^^^^^^^

if you have to sit without moving with the a/c on....make sure it is on A/C and not max
Click to expand...
How come?
 

Premium Speed

New Member
Apr 22, 2003
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Houston, Texas
Jul 15, 2004
#14
  • Jul 15, 2004
  • #14
Milenko said:
How come?
Click to expand...

edit
 
J

joeymatt

New Member
Jan 15, 2003
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Leitchfield, KY
Jul 15, 2004
#15
  • Jul 15, 2004
  • #15
Max A/C indicates recirculate only. It does not keep the compressor engaged (100% duty cycle). The compressor will still cycle depending upon the conditions. The systems that cycle the compressor do so usually given readings from either a pressure or temperature sensor reading on the low side of the system. If the low side system pressure drops below a certain point, say 25 psi (25 degrees) - estimate, the compressor will cycle off. When the pressure raises above this point the compressor will cycle back on. For this reason, when a system is low on refrigerant the compressor short cycles, because it reaches this cycle off point very quickly when the compressor is engaged.
 
J

joeymatt

New Member
Jan 15, 2003
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Leitchfield, KY
Jul 15, 2004
#16
  • Jul 15, 2004
  • #16
Also, icing usually occurs because of either low system pressure (usually due to low refrigerant level), restrictions in the system that cause a large pressure drop, or low side pressure/temp sensor shorting (which allows the compressor to run at 100 % duty cycle). There are other factors, but this covers some of the major culprits.
 

propellerhead

New Member
Apr 13, 2004
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"but what's with the but shots?"
Jul 15, 2004
#17
  • Jul 15, 2004
  • #17
rickster99 said:
Wait a minute. If that is the case then it contradicts what others have said before you. That means that MAX A/C is less economical.
Click to expand...

I always thought MAX was less economical because your compressor is running 100%. It goes full blast no matter how cold it is inside the car. A/C works like the a/c in your house or apartment. When it reaches the desired temperature, it goes into 'idle' mode.

I don't know where you guys got the idea that MAX was more economical.

EDIT: I don't know which was is correct. Maybe today's a/c systems are way different from the ones from the 80s.

*shrug*
 

Premium Speed

New Member
Apr 22, 2003
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Houston, Texas
Jul 15, 2004
#18
  • Jul 15, 2004
  • #18
joeymatt said:
Max A/C indicates recirculate only. It does not keep the compressor engaged (100% duty cycle). The compressor will still cycle depending upon the conditions. The systems that cycle the compressor do so usually given readings from either a pressure or temperature sensor reading on the low side of the system. If the low side system pressure drops below a certain point, say 25 psi (25 degrees) - estimate, the compressor will cycle off. When the pressure raises above this point the compressor will cycle back on. For this reason, when a system is low on refrigerant the compressor short cycles, because it reaches this cycle off point very quickly when the compressor is engaged.
Click to expand...

damn, i guess the ford manuals and tech books are wrong
 
R

rjstaaf

Founding Member
May 31, 2002
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Somewhere
Jul 15, 2004
#19
  • Jul 15, 2004
  • #19
One other thing worth mentioning is that when you park your car make sure the system is set to AC. This will still allow air to circulate in the system helping any moisture to evaporate otherwise it gets trapped causing mildew and other nasty stuff to grow in your AC leaving nasty odors in your interior.
 
B

billyfe390

New Member
Aug 18, 2003
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Jul 15, 2004
#20
  • Jul 15, 2004
  • #20
Another thing is if the compressor did stay engaged all of the time it would constantly build pressure until something usually a line blew.
 
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