I've noticed that it will take about 5 minutes for cold air to stop coming out. It seems the A/C compressor stays on for roughly 5 minutes after you turn it off.
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Originally Posted by mrariaz
I've noticed that too. I will turn off the AC, and cold air will keep rushing out...any ideas?
I have a habit of turning on and off air conditioners.. I am really convinced there's a very long delay if you turn it off then back on.. it blasts hot air and this is VERY annoying. Same thing turning it off, it still stays cold for a few minutes!
I would think that the issue isn't that the AC is still operating, but rather that air is still being blown through the previously cooled unit. As the unit warms back up, the air blown warms also. If you want warm air blown in your face as you arrive at your destination, turn the AC off sooner.
More importantly, why are you turning the AC off at all?
I'm turning it off so the evaporator gets a chance to dry a little before I stop the car. If I did otherwise in my previous cars, even when they were almost new, there was often an A/C smell when I would start the car afterwards, probably caused by stagnant water. So I took the habit of turning it off one minute or so before coming home.
Quote:
Originally Posted by posnera
I would think that the issue isn't that the AC is still operating, but rather that air is still being blown through the previously cooled unit. As the unit warms back up, the air blown warms also. If you want warm air blown in your face as you arrive at your destination, turn the AC off sooner.
More importantly, why are you turning the AC off at all?
I'm turning it off so the evaporator gets a chance to dry a little before I stop the car. If I did otherwise in my previous cars, even when they were almost new, there was often an A/C smell when I would start the car afterwards, probably caused by stagnant water. So I took the habit of turning it off one minute or so before coming home.
I've only noticed that smell after a few yrs, and then I start doing what you do too. Maybe too late.
The Manual says there is a delay in shutting down the compressor, but even after that you still get cold air as the chiller looses its cold. My house system is the same, so maybe its some sort of "cycle down" protection for a/c systems generally.
More importantly, why are you turning the AC off at all?
In my case, I turn the A/C off when going up hills. I live in a fairly hilly area and probably due to my budget-conscious years as a teenager I'd downshift with the A/C on while going downhills then turn the A/C off while going up hills. I don't even think it made much of a difference... but... I find myself doing that nowadays!
Compressor runs with AC Off. 
Linear Mode
