On 1/27/04 7:51 AM, in article u1uRb.5207$Ja2.57354@nnrp1.uunet.ca, "Brian
Smith" <Halifax@NovaScotia.Canada> wrote:

>
> "Tibur Waltson" <Toush@hi.com> wrote in message
> news:5f8fa2d7e906ce266257a00849c6492c@news.bubbane ws.com...
>> My Honda user manual says to operate the AC once a week but
>> doesn't say how long. The car is in storage and every week I go
>> start the car and operate the AC for half a minute and shut it off.
>>
>> Sometime it's so cold outside that the AC will not turn on. I'm unsure
>> if it's empty of freon or it's just too cold outside, 20-degree F. How
>> long should we start a car and operate the A/C in order to meet the
>> factory requirements?
>
> I can't answer that question. But, I use the A/C pretty much all year long,
> it does a great job defogging and defrosting the interior of the windows.
> We've had temperatures in the -25 to -30 (Celsius) over the last few weeks,
> and my A/C has never, refused to operate.

Are you sure its actually engaging the compressor? Most cars used to have a
cut out that won't turn on the compressor when the ambient temperature is
below freezing. There also used to be a mention of it in the owners manuals
up until the mid 90's.

Is suspect there is nothing wrong with the AC if it doesn't engage at 20
degrees F. Does it engage after the engine compartment warms to above
freezing?

Btw - Only running the engine for a minute or two at freezing temperatures
is not doing it any favors.