- 2011 Suzuki SX4 crossover AWD 152,000 miles
- I live in Florida and I always switch my AC off before I shut the car off. Does this make sense? Is this useful for longevity?
I shut the car off. Does this make sense?
Yes this is a great way to prevent mildew buildup in humid climates. Don't just shut it off completely. Turn the A/C off, but leave the blower on full for a few minutes to dry off the evaporator.
Is this useful for longevity?
Not really. Just prevents nasty smells.
It won't make much of a difference if you leave it on or off. You may cause more wear on your starter over the life of the car, but only marginally so. There's minimal comparison between turning over an air conditioner compressor vs your engine (as long as the compressor is working properly, that is).
The compressor clutch may not even activate until after the car is running. I've never paid any attention to this, and might experiment with it now. Haha.
The clutch is electromagnetic, as far as I know, there's no friction material to eventually wear off. It's just a pair of reversible magnets. I leave my A/C switched on when I turn my cars off.
The compressor clutch will indeed take a few minutes until the engine reaches close to or optimal temperature before engaging. From that point, it will engage and disengage back and forth as you drive around until you turn the ac off.