Air Conditioning

Mike Morrell · August 9, 2015

I just got a '14 Sierra Crew Cab last week and I'm struggling a bit with the A/C - it just doesn't seem to cool very well. Granted, I'm in SC and it's been hot as balls all week, but it just doesn't seem to cool nearly as well as my '05 Yukon XL. Is this a common complaint, or should I be getting the AC checked out?

Also - is there any option for rear vents? I realize that this isn't a Yukon, but with the crew cab it's still a pretty big interior space, and the incessant whining from my kids today was enough to make me wish that there was some kind of AC vent back there.

Thanks!

SteveBBB · August 9, 2015

Welcome to the group Mike. You should get your AC checked out, maybe it needs recharged, it has been VERY hot and humid here the last few weeks and I am always very comfortable. There actually are some small vents under your front seats that blow heat and air to the back, but they don't work very well. There is no option for rear seat vents.

Roader · August 9, 2015

Im in Texas where it's been 100+ everyday past week and mine cools off fine. Id agree with above and get it looked at. A/C was my main concern on this truck but so far so good

Lawnmower2020 · August 9, 2015

A/C has worked great in 95F, 72 Dew Point, and stop/go traffic with outside air intake. If yours isn't working as well, there's a problem.

2016 Sierra Owner · August 9, 2015

I told my wife just the other day that my truck does not cool as good as her Equinox does. I live near Atlanta so it's been just as hot here as you got. Maybe I need to get mine checked as well.

beetle · August 9, 2015

Could be something wrong but........do you press the "A/C" button or the "Recirc" button? I always use the Recirc function because as I understand it, this mode uses the already cooled air in the cab. In a/c mode, the hot outside air is drawn in and the system needs to work harder to cool the interior......this is only what I've heard so don't hyperventilate if you think I'm wrong.

Lawnmower2020 · August 9, 2015

Recirculate should be used ONLY for limited periods for faster cooldown! You want to breathe stale air for an hour? You want to smell a fart that someone in your truck ripped 15 minutes ago? How about someone who stinks like cigarettes? Or who's been eating garlic all day? Or hasn't taken a bath this year? You like oxygen depletion and falling asleep on long drives, do you? Sheesh. Do you believe *everything* you've "heard"?

Just put the control on "Auto" and let it sort out the details. Who cares if the "system needs to work harder"?

When it's working as designed, the A/C in these trucks has the capacity to deal with very high temperatures and dew points. All you need to do is let it do its thing. And if it's not dealing, fix it.

Mike Morrell · August 9, 2015

Thanks all - it's definitely not nearly as cold as my Yukon (tested them one after another today) so I'm going to get it into the shop this week and see what they say.

beetle · August 9, 2015

Recirculate should be used ONLY for limited periods for faster cooldown! You want to breathe stale are for an hour? You want to smell a fart that someone in your truck ripped 15 minutes ago? How about someone who stinks like cigarettes? Or who's been eating garlic all day? Or hasn't taken a bath this year? You like oxygen depletion and falling asleep on long drives, do you? Sheesh. Do you believe *everything* you've "heard"?

Just put the control on "Auto" and let it sort out the details. Who cares if the "system needs to work harder"?

When it's working as designed, the A/C in these trucks has the capacity to deal with very high temperatures and dew points. All you need to do is let it do its thing. And if it's not dealing, fix it.

I never encounter the issues you describe, maybe you should be more discreet with who you select as passengers

Robert.jean1 · August 9, 2015

Recirculate should be used ONLY for limited periods for faster cooldown! You want to breathe stale air for an hour? You want to smell a fart that someone in your truck ripped 15 minutes ago? How about someone who stinks like cigarettes? Or who's been eating garlic all day? Or hasn't taken a bath this year? You like oxygen depletion and falling asleep on long drives, do you? Sheesh. Do you believe *everything* you've "heard"?

Just put the control on "Auto" and let it sort out the details. Who cares if the "system needs to work harder"?

When it's working as designed, the A/C in these trucks has the capacity to deal with very high temperatures and dew points. All you need to do is let it do its thing. And if it's not dealing, fix it.

I stopped using recirculate years ago when I used to smoke that way my vents never got that ash tray smell like a lot of smoker's cars and even though I haven't smoked in almost 2 years now I just am in the habit of leaving mine on Auto. Never think of it and never care, I just get in and go.

Lawnmower2020 · August 9, 2015

I never encounter the issues you describe, maybe you should be more discreet with who you select as passengers

It's called "hyperbole", son. A deliberate exaggeration to make a point, often with humorous intent. You must have missed the "humorous" part.

Except for the oxygen depletion (and CO2 buildup) which is very real, particularly with passengers: years ago, recirculate was really RECIRCULATE, but now there's always some small amount of outside air brought in, probably for liability reasons. But if you have a full house, it may not be enough to keep everyone from becoming sleepy.

Just put it in Auto. Seriously. When it's working as designed there's plenty of capacity there to cool down even in hot conditions. If it's not capable of doing that, something's not right.

beetle · August 9, 2015

It's called "hyperbole", son. A deliberate exaggeration to make a point, often with humorous intent. You must have missed the "humorous" part.

Except for the oxygen depletion (and CO2 buildup) which is very real, particularly with passengers: years ago, recirculate was really RECIRCULATE, but now there's always some small amount of outside air brought in, probably for liability reasons. But if you have a full house, it may not be enough to keep everyone from becoming sleepy.

Just put it in Auto. Seriously. When it's working as designed there's plenty of capacity there to cool down even in hot conditions. If it's not capable of doing that, something's not right.

I understand your point and I think it has some validity, but like you stated there's the liability factor. Sorry you missed my attempt at some humor. Tell ya' what, you operate your A/C your way and I'll operate mine my way, then we can both be on our happy way.

'014SLTguy · August 13, 2015

I thought I read somewhere a little while back that they changed the Recirc mode from full closed off recircing to a small percentage (something like 5-10%) of fresh air still. I think there were issues/complaints about the doors being hard to open if it managed to pull a small vacuum on the interior. With this little bit of outside air it prevented the vacuum on the cab. So you'll always have freshish air anyway.