I have an '06 xA RS 3.0.

I live in Phoenix, AZ and it is really hot. When I turn on the A/C it takes a while to get cold. Like 2-3 mins. Some of my passengers have said that it doesn't feel really cold after 10-15 mins running.
And also if feels as if the air doesn't circulate around in the car. Is it just me or does everyone have the same feeling?

Also after a week or so... there seems to be like white dust all over my dashboard... just like tiny specs everywhere.... not sure why... I bought this car brand new too.

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Hmmm... I have an 06 and the a/c blows pretty cold for me, and I don't even have it on max. Somethings to keep in mind about a/c's. First is that the little 1.5 is just enough to run the a/c compressor as compared to another car with a bigger and more powerful engine. Ever notice how sluggish the car gets when u push that little button? The engine not only has to move the car but now has to drive an extra accessory. Second, What's the Temperature like down there in AZ? Reason being is that an a/c system will just not work at high temperatures. The freon has to circulate threw a condensor which is where the heat drawn from inside the cabin is released into the atmosphere. If ur driving around in 100+ heat the system isn't going to work that efficient. The R134 is never going to get as cold as the old R12 so you have to cut it alil slack, especially in a little compact car as the xA. But since it's an 06 take it to the dealer and have them check the line pressure in the system, as well as for any leaks in the system just to make sure there is nothing wrong with the system.

 

Window tint!!!?
Recirculate cabin air on max for best cooling. Test in the shade to simulate tinted windows, big difference..... also the color of your car, is it dark or light colored?
Search the forums there was alot of posts about the '04 A/C not cooling and some remedies... Good luck

 

I too complain about the ac. I use a windshield sun shade and set my ac for max in the blue, outside air, max fan speed and on feet/vents. It blows out cool air after the engine is running for a few seconds and the car cools down after 3 minutes. I tried cracking the windows and recirculate, but it was sucking in the fumes from the exhaust.

My only concern is smelling a chemical like smell when in stop and go traffic with the ac on. It goes away if I turn the ac off or start moving.

 

I sell cars... although not our scions. But, in my experience, here it is in a nutshell:

Locales with very high temps, your air is not going to be as cool. You are trying to cool superhot air, and thats hard. Run it on recirculating(the slide to the left) and open your windows just a crack to let the hot air escape(heat rises). Get your windows tinted as dark as the law allows(or as dark as you care to push it).

It will take a minute or two(longer depending on outside temps) to cool the car down. If anyone is in the back, it is going to be warmer for them, they arent right in front of the vents. Close any vents you dont need, as this forces all the cool air right to where you want it, and keep the air coming out of the dash, not the floor vents. Cooler air sinks, and if you have it coming out on the floor anyway, you'll never feel it.


Having said all that, you can always take it in and have it checked, or just stick a meat thermometer in your vent with the air on full and give it a couple of minutes, to check the temps for yourself. Then just call the dealer to find out what the normal temp should be(unless someone here knows)

Good luck!

 

I have the same problem here in Cali and that was my first negative thing I noticed about having the xA. The AC just doesn't cut it. I need to have it at least at speed setting 3 for it to even feel like AC. My woman's corolla on the other hand, I can have it at speed 2 with the air not being circulated and after awhile my hands start to shiver. Major difference, can it be just due to the 1.5 to 1.8L?

And for what others suggested above, I know how AC works, especially in 100 degree weather. I don't expect it to start snowing the moment it turns on. I am just saying in comparison to the other cars I drive, this AC is weak.

 

One thing I am thinking is the fact the condensor has only 1 fan vs 2. Seems most of the 3 and 4 cylinder cars have 2 cooling fans to cover the whole ac radiator, but these cars seem to just have one where the engine radiator is mounted.

I do not think its the engine size, the compressor only needs a few hp to run it.

FYI< checked my low side with a freon tested and it said full.

 

Would fabbing a second fan be the answer to the problem? I don't really think it's the fan speed that's the problem, it's the air isn't cold until I crank it to 3.

 

We need an expert here. Other than maybe the evaporator is small the only other fault is the cfm of the blower. It seems to blow a good deal of air, but just that even on the mildest of days you need it on fan speed 3 or roll down the windows.

 

Tint the windows!!!

I have a gray xA, brand new, no tint. My mother has a black xA, 1 yr old, deep-as-legal tint. We live in the middle of TX. We both keep ours on recirc. I visited her work, one day, we left at the same time. We let our cars cool down, within 2 minutes hers was cool, 3-4 the front was cold. It took 8-9 to get mine even cool. The tint keeps a lot of the heat out, and a lot of the cool air from getting hot while driving.

Three of us took a 2 hr road trip in the middle of a hot day in her tinted xA, kept the A/C on 2 the whole trip. She keeps a windshield shade on hers as well.

Just for the record, tint it!! I will be tinting mine as soon as money allows (shoulda had the dealership do it and include it in the loan like a friend of mine did).

 

No offense, but tinting the windows won't make the AC colder. It may help keep me cooler, but so will moving to Alaska.

Tinting the windows, parking in the shade, leaving the windows open a crack, driving naked.... yea if the person lives in a hot area, they know the tricks of keeping cool. But the complaint is the xA AC not working as effective as in other cars, especially other Toyotas.

 

get a power inverter plug it in the cig/charger. Go to Target find the best most compact fan they have. Plug it in and presto it's cool again.

 

nobody said getting the windows tinted would make the ac cooler. if you read my post again, you'd note that i said it takes less time to cool in comparison.

Again, "The tint keeps a lot of the heat out, and a lot of the cool air from getting hot while driving. "

As far as " But the complaint is the xA AC not working as effective as in other cars, especially other Toyotas." goes, by recirculating the cooler air, the AC is able to cool it even further, so yes, in a way, the tint will help make the AC colder. It might not blow ice in your face, but it will be cold enough.

 

Just face it, it is normal to have it on 3 or 4 fan speed in mild to hot weather to stay comfortable. Oh well, at least it will cool the car. My mercedes 240d never got that cool. You were lucky to get it 15 degrees cooler inside than the outside temp. Seems the new blutec diesel has a similar problem.

I think it cools faster on outside air, but that is me.

 

you can't cool faster on outside air. AC works by taking the air inside the cabin and running it through the condensor repeatedly, cooling the same air down each time. If you're feeding outside air, the air previously cooled will be lost and it has to cool new air again.

 

Get a remote starter. That was the BEST mod on my car in this Miami weather with high temps and humidity. Start the car up a few minutes before you go out. Even with the fan on at the lowest speed, makes a difference in temp. I usually leave it on the second fan speed.

 

I have a 2006 xA and I definitely feel that the A/C is not as adequate as well compared to the other cars I've been in that have bigger engines. From what everyone is saying, I think everyone mostly hit it. The tinting should only help when you initially get into the car after it sits there in a hot day. The 1.5L engine can only do so much. I'm fortunate I'm in a cooler area otherwise, I'd be dying in the car.

 

What system do you have? I have put off buying rke for a remote starter unit for this vary reason. I am just worried I may leave it in gear as its a stick shift.

 

I paid $12 shipped for a no namer remote starter from ebay. It was more of a test to see how things worked and if I could install it myself. My plan was to get one of the better name brand ones later if everything went smoothly. The cheapo starter works great so I haven't had the need to spend any more money to replace it as of yet.
Stick shift can be a pain. My friend just disabled his clutch switch and ALWAYS leaves the car in neutral. Or you can get one of the remote starters specific for manual transmission which requires you to go through a series of steps before exiting the car in order to remote start the car later-- this seems to be a pain.

 

When I got my 06 I realized my ac didn't work at all, just take it to your dealer and have them check it out.

If the tips on here don't work, perhaps they know of something that will work in your area.