[Okbye2]

Anyone have this issue?
Every morning the a/c starts cooling after 4-5 minutes, after the engine is warm. Throughout the whole day it cools fine. Next morning same thing.
Any ideas what this could be? Freon levels are perfect.

Another morning I had the a/c off. Started the car and took it to the mechanic.
Mechanic hooked up the gauges and when I turned on the a/c, of course it started cooling in 2 seconds!!!
There has to be a failing part that is sensitive to heat which in turn works when the engine compartment gets hot.
Any ideas???

[FastHackem]

First thing to check is if the compressor is engaging when the a/c button is pressed in the morning or when the symptoms normally happen. Have someone push the button for you while you watch the compressor. Second thing, how old is your battery? When my Porsche Cayenne's battery started to go, it did the exact same thing you're describing. No other symptoms and cranked up just fine, just the a/c taking a few minutes before it would engage the compressor and begin cooling.

[Gohan335i7]

Compressor sounds right !

[Okbye2]

Why is it that it works fine all day?
I looked up online and other ideas are a/c relay, pressure sensor, refrigerant control valve.
Thoughts?

[Cjd9]

My AC works fine, but when it's very cold out, my heat does this too. Takes a couple minutes to really work but otherwise works fine. I figured it just had to warm up. This isn't normal?

[Okbye2]

Originally Posted by Cjd9

My AC works fine, but when it's very cold out, my heat does this too. Takes a couple minutes to really work but otherwise works fine. I figured it just had to warm up. This isn't normal?

Your issue is probably normal. But not mine. Mine has always cooled right away but now it's taking 5 minutes to cool.

[FastHackem]

Originally Posted by Okbye2

Why is it that it works fine all day?
I looked up online and other ideas are a/c relay, pressure sensor, refrigerant control valve.
Thoughts?

It could be a few things which is why we need to verify functionality of compressor clutch.

1. The warmth of the engine may lead to enough metal expansion that the compressor clutch gap between the clutch surface and the coil is decreased enough to where the coil can actually close it and compress the gas.

2. The amount of driving on your trips throughout the day is enough to keep the battery voltage up as to have functionality until it sits overnight when the battery then drains enough for the system to detect and hold off on utilizing the compressor until battery voltage is again nominal via the alternator charge.

3. It could very well be the relay and if it is, will not allow the clutch to engage either. This would be the next thing to check after verifying the clutch is not closing. You can do this by putting a voltmeter on the connector at the compressor to see if its getting 12V. If not, swap the relay with an equal non-critical relay, such as the horn, that you know works, and test voltage again.

4. Pressure sensor - doubtful this is the problem but can be checked in INPA to assure minimum values are met. If its bad, it will probably show an extremely low number or a negative value. If its bad, you probably won't have a/c any time you use your car, not just the morning.

[FastHackem]

Originally Posted by Cjd9

My AC works fine, but when it's very cold out, my heat does this too. Takes a couple minutes to really work but otherwise works fine. I figured it just had to warm up. This isn't normal?

Your described symptoms are completely normal being that the heater utilizes the engine coolant to create heat for the cabin. The coolant takes a while to heat up.

[HungryMittens]

Hey! Been a while but my 2011 e93 does the exact same thing as OP. Did you ever figure it out?

[Serf27]

I’ll subscribe, my e90 does this too, but after a few minutes it’s very cold.

[Okbye2]

Originally Posted by HungryMittens

Hey! Been a while but my 2011 e93 does the exact same thing as OP. Did you ever figure it out?

I don’t have the car anymore. But I think it was just a failing compressor.