No AC for the first couple minutes. Has that happened to you?

[Buck Turgidson]

I finally got a 2012 Hyundai Genesis sedan after wanting one for the past 8 years. I live in Phoenix, Arizona, so we're still getting temperatures in the 90s in October. My AC blows ambient air (90-100 degrees F) for the first couple minutes, then blows sweet, cold air conditioned air.

The compressor is running and everything seems to be fine. Except it takes too long to get cold. The AC system all seems to be working perfectly except for the first couple minutes. Sometimes it's 30 seconds, sometimes it's 3 minutes.

Has anybody else had this experience? How did you fix it?

 

[Hueydriver]

Have you had the freon checked?

 

[Buck Turgidson]

I haven't had the Freon checked, but the AC cools extremely well after the first two minutes. So it seems like the refrigerant system is OK? The compressor clutch engages, too, right after startup. I was wondering if it's worth it to go back and fight with the dealer who sold it to me, or just fix it myself if it's something easy.

 

[Hueydriver]

I would have it checked anyways! If that's not the problem, then I am sure one of the guys here will chime in.

 

[Buck Turgidson]

Oops. My mistake. The AC was serviced and the Freon replaced before I bought it. I just checked the RO from the used car dept.

 

[joegr]

I don't have experience with your specific problem, but I have seen it posted a fair number of times in the Sonata forums. It seems to be a problem with the solenoid valve on the compressor that controls how much (if any) refrigerant is pumped. In their cases, replacing the valve or the compressor (which comes with a new valve installed), solved the problem.
The system does have to be evacuated (and then recharged) to replace the valve.
By the way, the refrigerant used is not Freon (R-12), it's Suva (R-134a).

 

[Hueydriver]

joegr: You are right about the terminology! I stand corrected!

 

[Buck Turgidson]

It's a Ford dealer, not a Hyundai dealer. I wonder if I should just bite the bullet and let the Hyundai dealer take care of it (if it's a refrigeration problem, which I can't repair) instead of making a dozen trips back to Ford technicians, who have already had a crack at it.

 

[Buck Turgidson]

I guess it could be a blend door motor. I had a blend door issue with a Lincoln several years ago. Not difficult or expensive to fix