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Muddy · 01-04-2019, 10:43 PM

We love our interstate, but the Aircon in the Sprinter seems very underpowered (cooling-wise). It is barely real cold even at the vents. Mercedes Techs tell me the AC unit meets specs. I saw some information from other users about cooling exchangers freezing up in the Sprinter and the like--but is this a common issue?? I hate to have to run the generator and house AC Unit when driving...any advice?
Mike

Alex AVI · 01-04-2019, 11:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Muddy

We love our interstate, but the Aircon in the Sprinter seems very underpowered (cooling-wise). It is barely real cold even at the vents. Mercedes Techs tell me the AC unit meets specs. I saw some information from other users about cooling exchangers freezing up in the Sprinter and the like--but is this a common issue?? I hate to have to run the generator and house AC Unit when driving...any advice?
Mike

MUDDY - I have the 2018 EXT and live in Vegas. Our summers are +100 for 3 months. We reach 115 ambient on regular basis, so inside the AI is lot more, sometimes close to 130. The Sprinter a/c is not capable of handling that. Heck, even with house a/c running, it barely keeps up. Although for drive & passenger and 2nd row seats, it is adequate. For rear couch occupants, I have to freeze out front passengers and pipe air with couple of fans to the rear for it to be mildly tolerable. I have run the generator many a times to cool down the rear otherwise my couch passengers will cook. That's pretty normal. A passenger unit from MB of the EXT size will usually have a second rear a/c, so why would an AI be any different in how it services it's rear couch passengers? My wife and 2 daughters get chilled easily, my 2 son in laws and grandson and I like it cold. So that dictates our seating arrangement. I believe I have frozen it up briefly when I was new to its summer usage, remembered the discussions and realized I had my temp dial completely at lowest in recirculate. Turned it up to normal (70-72) & outside air and all came back to normal within couple minutes. I never put the dial in that position again and it's never happened again

Titus · 01-05-2019, 05:21 AM

Ours has froze up when set at 68-72 degrees and not on recirc. The freeze-up has occurred after several hours of operation and hot (mid 90's or higher) ambient conditions. I don't think that ambient humidity levels have been excessive when freeze-up occurred. It has not happened too often - probably 5-10 times in 5 years and 60,000 miles. I feel the Sprinter AC cools the front half of the interior in a reasonable time. The back remains warm, as much due to lack of circulation as due to lack of AC capacity.

Muddy · 01-06-2019, 09:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alex AVI

MUDDY - I have the 2018 EXT and live in Vegas. Our summers are +100 for 3 months. We reach 115 ambient on regular basis, so inside the AI is lot more, sometimes close to 130. The Sprinter a/c is not capable of handling that. Heck, even with house a/c running, it barely keeps up. Although for drive & passenger and 2nd row seats, it is adequate. For rear couch occupants, I have to freeze out front passengers and pipe air with couple of fans to the rear for it to be mildly tolerable. I have run the generator many a times to cool down the rear otherwise my couch passengers will cook. That's pretty normal. A passenger unit from MB of the EXT size will usually have a second rear a/c, so why would an AI be any different in how it services it's rear couch passengers? My wife and 2 daughters get chilled easily, my 2 son in laws and grandson and I like it cold. So that dictates our seating arrangement. I believe I have frozen it up briefly when I was new to its summer usage, remembered the discussions and realized I had my temp dial completely at lowest in recirculate. Turned it up to normal (70-72) & outside air and all came back to normal within couple minutes. I never put the dial in that position again and it's never happened again

Thank Alex AVI and Titus: I do not think my AC works, then, as it is not comfortable in the front seats on hot days and the air coming out of the vents is not very chilled. But MB said it was all in spec. I get it when I have passengers, and dont mind running rear air (but, dang, it seems to me that that unit ought to be able to run in a 12V mode when driving, like any other 24 foot bus). Anyhow, I think I will test the temp now in the cold and see what the output is to test wheterh it meets spec for the Sprinter!! Thank you for your help!! Your input has been very helpful.

Muddy · 01-06-2019, 09:36 PM

Thanks Alex AVI and Titus: I do not think my AC works, then, as it is not comfortable in the front seats on hot days and the air coming out of the vents is not very chilled. But MB said it was all in spec. I get it when I have passengers, and dont mind running rear air (but, dang, it seems to me that that unit ought to be able to run in a 12V mode when driving, like any other 24 foot bus). Anyhow, I think I will test the temp now in the cold and see what the output is to test whether it meets spec for the Sprinter!! Thank you for your help!! Your input has been very helpful.

Alex AVI · 01-06-2019, 10:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Muddy

Thanks Alex AVI and Titus: I do not think my AC works, then, as it is not comfortable in the front seats on hot days and the air coming out of the vents is not very chilled. But MB said it was all in spec. I get it when I have passengers, and dont mind running rear air (but, dang, it seems to me that that unit ought to be able to run in a 12V mode when driving, like any other 24 foot bus). Anyhow, I think I will test the temp now in the cold and see what the output is to test whether it meets spec for the Sprinter!! Thank you for your help!! Your input has been very helpful.

MUDDY - Based on what you just said, that does not sound like it is working normal, because even on very hot days, it ought to make you comfortable up front. PS - not sure how cold it is where you are and I am no HVAC guy, but I have heard from those in the know that testing the a/c when/during the cold winter months won't yield same results as in warm season. But these friends of mine are residential a/c guys and I was asking them about testing my home units. So the problems associated with running the outside compressor at cold temps were brought up. I do not know if car a/c system is susceptible to same. Maybe someone else here knows whether results would be valid in cold too. Best of luck in the testing & chasing this fown.

73shark · 01-06-2019, 10:59 PM

Typically an auto A/C unit will put out 40°F to 50°F air at the vents on recirc in the summer.

I thought freezing up the evaporator was a sign of a low charge.

AirstreamInc · 01-07-2019, 10:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Muddy

We love our interstate, but the Aircon in the Sprinter seems very underpowered (cooling-wise). It is barely real cold even at the vents. Mercedes Techs tell me the AC unit meets specs. I saw some information from other users about cooling exchangers freezing up in the Sprinter and the like--but is this a common issue?? I hate to have to run the generator and house AC Unit when driving...any advice?
Mike

Hi Muddy,*

Please send us a direct message with your contact information and the last 6 digits of your VIN so we can share it with our Customer Service and Technical Support team. We look forward to helping you get this resolved.

You can also reach Airstream Customer Service and Technical Support at*customer_support@airstream.com*

Thank you.*

Titus · 01-07-2019, 04:46 PM

Interesting that Airstream wants you to contact them. Far as I know Airstream has not modified the Sprinter AC system and thus it would be a MB issue.

Muddy,
I think that you are being unrealistic in hoping/expecting to be able to run the rear AC on 12V. On the Sprinter (dashboard) AC the bulk of the power is provided by the engine - to turn the compressor. The only thing powered by 12V is the blower.

On the rear AC you need to power both the compressor and the blower electrically. It would take a huge engine alternator to provide the necessary electrical power to both the compressor and blower. I doubt that even the optional auxiliary engine alternator is capable of such a feat.

As far as testing the AC, I think you need to look at the temperature difference between ambient (the air the cools the compressed refrigerant) and the temperature coming out of the vents (the air that passes over the evaporator and cools you).

orlik · 01-07-2019, 05:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Muddy

We love our interstate, but the Aircon in the Sprinter seems very underpowered (cooling-wise). It is barely real cold even at the vents. Mercedes Techs tell me the AC unit meets specs. I saw some information from other users about cooling exchangers freezing up in the Sprinter and the like--but is this a common issue?? I hate to have to run the generator and house AC Unit when driving...any advice?
Mike

We have the same model rig and my wife and I are comfortable but we have the front windshield and door windows tinted. This makes a huge difference especially in Florida. If your windows are tinted and you're still uncomfortable then you may have an issue with your AC.

Alex AVI · 01-07-2019, 05:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by orlik

We have the same model rig and my wife and I are comfortable but we have the front windshield and door windows tinted. This makes a huge difference especially in Florida. If your windows are tinted and you're still uncomfortable then you may have an issue with your AC.

ORLIK - Excellent point. Living in Vegas, I am so used to having window tint in all my cars (and also almost everyone in this forum has it) that I easily assumed MUDDY has it too. Big must have in AI.