is the AC Weak in the 2012 Genesis?

[Mark_888]

Some people don't realize that mediocre AC (especially right after startup) is common on many foreign cars, most notably the German ones (although they may have improved them in recent years). The reason for that should be obvious, as the sun is not very intense in Germany (or MN) compared to South Florida.

 

[jnc2000]

My previous Acura's / Honda were far better in the HVAC capabilities than the Genesis...

To the tune of even lowering blower speed when initiating a call over BT - modulating temperature based on solar ray detection... not to mention the ice cold AC on start up.

The AC is fine when moving or traveling after 20 or so minutes, but I do think better logic control could be programed in.

 

[Mark_888]

Hi GTech,

I also have Formula 1 Pinnacle Ceramic Tint at 28% and live in Central Florida. Car color is Sapphire Blue. It has been around 95 the last few days. I use AUTO mode and after about a minute my car cools at a very comfortable level.

I suggest you get the service department to test it.

It can be frustrating when others contribute ideas which seem not helpful to you but scottdk is truly just trying to help. He has been a very good contributor to this forum and has helped many people.

Good luck with the AC.

It's usually not the temp, but the intensity of the sun (especially hitting the dash) that makes it hard to cool down a car when first started. It is hard to compare the Genesis to other cars, because many other cars have the same mediocre AC, which some Genesis owners are used to previous cars with great AC.

Regarding the comments made by Scott, since he is in the tinting business, I bet at least some of his customers are idiots (or make idiotic complaints to him after a tint job). I think the OP was just making sure Scott knew that he was not one of those idiots. Everyone seems to be overly touchy around here, and sometimes maybe need to just let things slide.

 

[GTech]

At the dealer now. They will put a thermometer and check vs. specs and also do a leak test. Will update after, but I am feeling this is "normal" performance for this car.
I don't have a sunroof.
Again, folks, I change cars every two years and have lived in warm climates for 45 yrs. I have used everything in the past from front windshield expensive insulated shades, to even full car covers. This is not my issue, the car just has weak AC in comparison to most other newish cars. I was just looking to see if others had a similar issue or if my car was an anomaly. From the comments it is obvious the AC is not the best part of the Genesis as others have similar experiences to mine.
As to my "rudeness" and "lower class of human" comments, ok whatever. You stay up in your pedestal dispensing your "wisdom". I'll pass on the idiotic comments of the sort, the sun shines on the car, the car is hot, lower the windows to exhaust the hot air. Really? Wow thanks for iluminating us on that point, it would have never ocurred to anyone. No wonder this country is in the downward slide it is.

 

[dcuccia]

Was with you until that last comment - pretty sure that relatively well-off folks, using technology to comment, if teasingly, on a luxury vehicle's thermodynamic time constants, given source/sink boundary conditions, is NOT why our country's suffering financially...

 

[427435]

then it is always good to use a folding sun reflector up front if parking in the sun.

I used to think that too. I've got a beater that sits outside all the time. I put a sun reflector on the dash, against the windshield. Now the windshield has partially delaminated from the heat reflected back at it.

 

[GTech]

Update to close this thread. Dealer Service Dept. says it is working as normal, they do get complains on it that it takes too long to cool.

 

[Glashub]

Dispensing wisdom from a pedestal: Keep a cooler of ice cubes in the car where you can conveniently reach for a cube to cool off with when needed.

All kidding aside, it's irritating but the car does so many things right. I have a renewed appreciation for the Acura air but don't miss manually adjusting the steering wheel for example nor do I miss the lack of sopund proofing.

 

[|2idicu|ous]

i agree that the AC seems weak in the Genesis. my wife's 2006 honda pilot has better AC (faster, colder, and more volume).

 

[dts2]

For what it's worth, one of my Genesis' sits in Las Vegas and anyone who has visited that part of the country, in the summer, knows that over 100 degrees is normal. My car is black and has aftermarket tinted windows, but not extreme. One point not mentioned in this thread is the vents in the back. You all know that the "wheel" controls the heat/cool and often that wheel ends up in the wrong position. For example, when we first took the car off the lot we were very disappointed (having traded in an earlier model that worked just fine), but all of a sudden I remembered the control in the back and, sure enough, it was blowing super heated air. Once it was reset to cool, the difference was immediately noticeable. In any event, LV is very hot and the car is always comfortable.

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[Midnightsun]

My wires Nissan cube will freeze you out in no time. Never have I seen such a power house AC unit in any car I have driven. I agree, the Genny is OK but nothing to write home about.

 

[Matt Z]

I live in the suburbs of Phila and I have no complaints about the A/C but to the contrary !
My 86 928S Porsche on the other hand had the worst A/C of any vehicle I've ever owned! The weird thing was the fact that the compressor was a GM unit!

 

[gregmg]

I live in Mesa, Arizona. Hell may be hotter, but not by much.

My 2011 Genesis seems to cool down sufficiently fast. I leave it on auto and set to 74 degrees all year round. It blows on high for a quite a while until the temp gets down a bit.

Greg G.

 

[CamarilloBrillo]

I complained about my 2012 as well and was told by the dealership that one problem is the Air Quality System. Don't enable it when first starting the car as it overrides the cooling logic, probably the recirculation, and the car won't cool as fast. It also causes the fan to spaz out I think.

Also, dual cooling is a problem as well in my opinion and when I turned that off the AC seems to work adequately. There's, supposedly, only one cabin temperature sensor so the dual is just a guess anyway and it lets in outside air on one side or the other depending on the settings.

I have since stopped using the AQS and dual and it does seem to cool better.

 

[2012Rspec]

I have the FormulaOne Pinnacle too -- great ceramic tint. Did you remember to tint the sunroof too? That helps a lot with keeping the heat down... Hope that isn't too childish a suggestion for you.

Serious question. I'm toying with the idea of tinting. I live in MO, so it's not really a necessity. The 2 places I've talked to did not do sunroofs. I guess they would, but both recommended against it. If you or Scott have any input on this, I'd love it.

THANKS to dts2 for reminding me of that temperature control knob in the back seat.

... and to Camarillo for the AQS and Dual suggestions. My temp contol in the back seat was on hot, and AQS and Dual was on, all as it came from the dealer.

Now, back to the spirit of this thread. Would my AC benefit if I rolled the windows partway up while driving in the summer?

 

[GTech]

I complained about my 2012 as well and was told by the dealership that one problem is the Air Quality System. Don't enable it when first starting the car as it overrides the cooling logic, probably the recirculation, and the car won't cool as fast. It also causes the fan to spaz out I think.

Also, dual cooling is a problem as well in my opinion and when I turned that off the AC seems to work adequately. There's, supposedly, only one cabin temperature sensor so the dual is just a guess anyway and it lets in outside air on one side or the other depending on the settings.

I have since stopped using the AQS and dual and it does seem to cool better.

Thanks, these are excellent suggestions. I have both Dual and AQS turn on all the time. Will try switching those off and see if I get better cooling.

 

[Mark_888]

Serious question. I'm toying with the idea of tinting. I live in MO, so it's not really a necessity. The 2 places I've talked to did not do sunroofs. I guess they would, but both recommended against it. If you or Scott have any input on this, I'd love it.

Some older sunroofs had a tendency to crack or even shatter when tinted (if they got really hot), especially when using a dyed or charcoal tint film that absorbs heat rather than reflects it. Also, it is a little more work to apply the film on a sunroof.

 

[scottdk]

Some older sunroofs had a tendency to crack or even shatter when tinted (if they got really hot), especially when using a dyed or charcoal tint film that absorbs heat rather than reflects it. Also, it is a little more work to apply the film on a sunroof.

Mark is correct. Basically the idea is to reflect the solar energy rather than absorb it. With too much heat especially in residental windows that are dual paned thermo fracture can occur, basically cracking the window or at very least breaking the integrity of the window seal. Not common in auto tinting, but the Equus has all laminate windows and the front 3 windows of the Genesis are laminate. Best to stick with a full metallic film or ceramic on the moon roof. I'd personally go with the ceramic film over the metallic because a ceramic film is usually better at glare reduction vs metallic film and also better at rejecting solar energy in a lighter percent, say 35% or lighter.

 

[ashs]

Serious question. I'm toying with the idea of tinting. I live in MO, so it's not really a necessity. The 2 places I've talked to did not do sunroofs. I guess they would, but both recommended against it. If you or Scott have any input on this, I'd love it.

Cars that have laminated glass for their Sunroof shouldn't tint it because the tint can theoretically raise the glass surface temperature to the point where it could shatter the sunroof glass. That is why some folks are reluctant to tint the sunroof (and it costs a little more) The Genesis however has tempered glass for the sunroof, which can withstand much higher temperatures. It is perfectly safe to tint the Gennesis' sunroof, and tinting the sunroof is very effective in keeping the cabin temperature down. It is wEll worth the little extra money to tint the Sunroof, IMHO.

 

[timc1475]

I suspect the following is not the main issue but could be a contributor non the less. The center console between the two front seats has air vents and a hot / cool toggle for the rear occupants. I was surprised while in the back seat if I dialed the heat it actually output very hot air.

Usually these type of switches just allow room temp or non a/c air. So you might want to double check that someone did not inadvertantly leave it in the "hot" position, as I found mine from a recent service.

Also you can shut off the air vents from the center console for back occupants & the two sides for the rear passengers if there are no one in the back seat...thus optimizing front cooling IMHO.