How noisy is the air con on your MK1 MX5

[buzzer]

A question for those of you with a MK1 with air con...

The engine on my 1995 MK1 1800 is a bit more noisy when the aircon is switched on...particularly when the car is very warm... anyone else noticed this, or do I have a problem?

[NiceCupOfTea]

Mine used to make a gurgling bubbling sound but worked fine for the 5 years i had the car.

[MG CHRIS]

Mine doesn't work and after a while it will slaken the tension on the belt so I lose power steering. So over xmas im removing it and getting a shorted belt just for the pas pump might gain a few more mpg as it less load on the engine and saving a bit of weight too.

Why you need air con in a convertible I do never know.

[NiceCupOfTea]

MG CHRIS said:

Mine doesn't work and after a while it will slaken the tension on the belt so I lose power steering. So over xmas im removing it and getting a shorted belt just for the pas pump might gain a few more mpg as it less load on the engine and saving a bit of weight too.

Why you need air con in a convertible I do never know.

- demisting
- rainy days
- traffic jams
- motorways
- dodgy areas

Basically any time it's hot and you don't want the roof down. Got caught in a jam on the M25 in my TVR S2 last July on a scorcher wearing a suit. Absolutely horrendous. Boil with the roof on or burn with it off? Ideally, roof on and air con on.

[buzzer]

NiceCupOfTea said:

MG CHRIS said:

Mine doesn't work and after a while it will slaken the tension on the belt so I lose power steering. So over xmas im removing it and getting a shorted belt just for the pas pump might gain a few more mpg as it less load on the engine and saving a bit of weight too.

Why you need air con in a convertible I do never know.

- demisting
- rainy days
- traffic jams
- motorways
- dodgy areas

Basically any time it's hot and you don't want the roof down. Got caught in a jam on the M25 in my TVR S2 last July on a scorcher wearing a suit. Absolutely horrendous. Boil with the roof on or burn with it off? Ideally, roof on and air con on.

What he said... We took the car to the south of France in the summer and I would not have been without the air con. In fact, I chose a later MK1 deliberately as it has R134 gas as opposed to the now obsolete R12. In fact, I would not now consider any car now without air con.

If its not working it should not affect the MPG as its unlikely the compressor is turning. check it by looking at the centre of the pulley when the engine is running with the air con off. the centre of the pulley should be stationary as the there is an electromagnetic clutch in there that only turns the compressor when the air con is on. Its also fail safe so if there is a drop in pressure in the system the clutch wont energise.

It does save a few pound though if you take it off.

Edited by buzzer on Sunday 22 December 20:53

[NRS]

buzzer said:

A question for those of you with a MK1 with air con...

The engine on my 1995 MK1 1800 is a bit more noisy when the aircon is switched on...particularly when the car is very warm... anyone else noticed this, or do I have a problem?

No idea on the scale of difference and the Mk. 1, but the engine will use a bit more revs when aircon is on, and thus be a bit louder compared to when it is off.