Dear Rivian Engineers who worked on the Air Conditioning

[Dark-Fx]

Also, I don’t know if the Rivian has a sun load sensor or not.

Definitely does. Driving N/S for a while and then turning into the sun almost immediately kicks up the fan speed in auto.

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[Jiji]

My unscientific take on the noise is that it may not be much louder than some other compressors but is higher pitch. I believe mounting the compressor on better isolators and connecting the lines with more flexible connections could reduce the decibels and or pitch so it doesn't sound like a "weed-whacker".

I need to investigate further but my R1S isn't so much a problem running the A/C but rather the loud 'grass trimmer' howl that kicks in on battery conditioning. It is so loud I refuse to precondition if I have to travel local streets to avoid the looks and embarassment.

I have owned a Nissan Leaf, Tesla M3, and a few Mustang Mach-E's and the only vehicle close to the R1S was the Mach-E when you rolled into the garage on a hot day and plugged in and it sounded like a jet engine with the battery cooling. But Ford to their credit pushed an update that seems to address the problem and I haven't seen it since.

 

[SabrinaB]

I live in Texas where it has been triple digits consistently. A couple months ago I noticed that the A/C was not cooling like it should be. (I have driven nothing but large SUVs - so sometimes it takes a hot minute to get cooled. (Pun intended) But knew it should be better

I took my R1S to the service center and after a week they figured out there was a leak from the condenser refrigerant pressure system.

I drive 2 hours every weekday, plus lots of time sitting in my car with the A/C running. The air is now COLD… all day!!

I would recommend taking yours in to SC.

 

[WSea]

In the morning when I pull out of my 95 degree garage, the AC gets reasonably cool/cold after 2-3 mins on my 15 min drive to work. Unfortunately I can’t park in covered parking at work, so the car is very warm in the afternoon. It just can’t cool down on the 15-20 min drive home. Note: I have photo sync plus tinting on all windows (best UV and IR rejection available).

On a 115 degree day earlier this week I drove my model S to and from work. Although the air itself doesnt blow very hard in that car, it’s cold air within a few mins on way home.

So, since the R1S is capable of blowing cool/cold air when the car is not vey warm (95F), I think it is functioning to the best of its capability. However, I think the AC needs to be re-engineered (title of thread) to work better in hot climates like other vehicles do. I would pay for an improved AC retrofit because otherwise, I like the vehicle.

Precondition 5 minutes prior to departure including the seats. Problem solved unless HVAC isn't operating properly

 

[indianriver]

Also, people's definition of cool air varies wildly. Cool air to me is 60F and to one of my sisters it's 78F.

And this is why when I go long distances in the hot weather with my dogs (who can slowly overheat) I carry a small laser temp checker (for the vent) and a digital temperature display for the rear of the car. Gives me solid verification that the ac in my car is functioning well.

 

[Cactus]

yes when i was driving 65 and the compressor was running at max for no reason, my efficiency dropped to about 1.8 as you are seeing. Typically it is around 2.1-2.2.

now i get in the habit of toggling the system on and off a few times when driving on the highway and i want to turn it off.

Yep, that's a problem. No one should need to fiddle with toggling AC on and off. With a significant number of people having this problem, Rivian either has an AC supplier problem or an engineering/software problem. C'mon Rivian, Please Help Us!

 

[JohnB R1T]

I'm in South Texas. We've been having temps of 105 and I have regularly seen cabin temps of 120 after being parked in the sun. (My personal record was 130). I now have the reflective bubble pack shades on every window and a roof shade (combined with previously applied near-black tint).

Pre-conditioning...with the windows vented is the solution. If I'm only going to be out of the R1T for say...30 minutes or less, I just leave it in pet mode. I know...that is, as my father would say, "Beyond conspicuous consumption and well into wretched excess". Note that I wouldn't do this if range was an issue, I'm more talking about trips around town.

It seems counterintuitive, but don't turn the AC to "Recirculate" until the cabin temp is less than the outside air temp. (Given the choice of cooling 120 degree air towards something comfortable and cooling 105 degree air towards the same temp, which makes more sense?)

 

[Ioman]

If I am getting food or shopping for a short period, I’m just keeping the truck in pet mode - without a pet, so it’s nice and cool when I get into it. I’ll also use the app to cool down the truck before I get into it. Seems to work fine.

 

[JohnB R1T]

If I am getting food or shopping for a short period, I’m just keeping the truck in pet mode - without a pet, so it’s nice and cool when I get into it. I’ll also use the app to cool down the truck before I get into it. Seems to work fine.

My only fear of this is some well-meaning busybody walking past, seeing the screen (and no pet) and assuming that a dog or cat or gerbil is dead or dying on the floor under the seat...then breaking a window. I'm considering "draping" something over the screen for times when I use pet mode with no pet.

 

[LL75]

it doesn't help that the damn outside AC vent can't point inward toward you because of the wood trim would block it. Definitely agreed that their AC needs some tweek. My 2012 tahoe AC is freaking awesome !!

 

[Cactus]

I'm in South Texas. We've been having temps of 105 and I have regularly seen cabin temps of 120 after being parked in the sun. (My personal record was 130). I now have the reflective bubble pack shades on every window and a roof shade (combined with previously applied near-black tint).

Pre-conditioning...with the windows vented is the solution. If I'm only going to be out of the R1T for say...30 minutes or less, I just leave it in pet mode. I know...that is, as my father would say, "Beyond conspicuous consumption and well into wretched excess". Note that I wouldn't do this if range was an issue, I'm more talking about trips around town.

It seems counterintuitive, but don't turn the AC to "Recirculate" until the cabin temp is less than the outside air temp. (Given the choice of cooling 120 degree air towards something comfortable and cooling 105 degree air towards the same temp, which makes more sense?)

Parking lot temp is 124F in the afternoon in Phx. Probably slightly warmer inside the vehicle, but not much.

 

[Forager]

I noticed this for the first time yesterday. Preconditioned my truck for 15 minutes before leaving work for home. 105 was the dash reading, weather app says closer to 95.

Anyway, with the AC set to LO the truck would output ‘cool’ air, but not ‘cold’ air. I’m taking my IR thermometer with me next time. I think the air exiting on LO was closer to 70-75 degrees than <60 degrees, and that was only after driving for 20 minutes (>35 minutes of system conditioning).

 

[JohnB R1T]

The dash reading is not the cabin temp. Like most vehicles, it's an ambient air temp taken from who-knows-where? In winter, I've seen it read 17 degrees when I was toasty warm in the cabin.

 

[Riv I Am]

I’m in 110°F+ weather and haven’t noticed this being an issue in the R1T. But I’ll pay closer attention to see if I’m having any similar issues.

 

[SDH]

Without wanting to teach you to suck eggs, you can help cool your car quicker by leaving the windows vented, then when you get in, drive for the first minute or two with all the windows wide open to blow out all the warm stale air that was trapped (whilst the a/c is on lo). Then close up and don't use recirc until the cabin is much cooler.

Sounds like you're going to get your A/C checked anyway. FWIW, my car cools no prob from the app in the CA. midday sun. The noise, well that's another issue ...!

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