Sponsored

Intermittent Air Conditioning - Fixed

Rtnichols

New Member
First Name
Ryan
Joined
May 2, 2023
Threads
1
Messages
2
Reaction score
11
Location
Andover, MA
Vehicles
2023 Rivian R1T Launch Edition, Jeep Wrangler 4xe
Occupation
Engineer
I’ve seen a bunch of complaints about intermittent or weak A/C, especially on hot days. I experienced this on day 2 with my R1T, 95+ deg day in Massachusetts.
Turns out my refrigerant reservoir was filled to the R1S spec, and thus over-filled.

Here’s what I experienced: At first the A/C worked fine, but as the outside temperature increased it became noticeably weaker to the point it was blowing hot air. I tried a soft reset and then a full reset hoping it was a software issue. Still hot air. Hours later as the temperature dropped I started to get cold air from the A/C again.

I brought it to the service center and luckily the software had logged an overflow event (paraphrasing). Importantly, I knew exactly what time I had starting blasting the A/C and noticed the problem. This was critical because the logs are long and they were able to pinpoint the time the error was captured. Essentially with an over-filled reservoir, on a hot day the refrigerant had expanded and leaked out and the system stopped working. They flushed, refilled and pressurized the lines. It’s been a few days now and everything is working much better. Noticably colder than when I took delivery - I was too excited to notice the issue until I was home!

I just wanted to make sure this was documented in case someone experience this strange issue. Every tech is different so make sure they check the fill level!
Sponsored

 

240vPlug

Well-Known Member
First Name
Ken
Joined
Jan 30, 2023
Threads
33
Messages
1,829
Reaction score
1,794
Location
Maryland
Website
ElectrifiedOutdoors.com
Vehicles
23 R1T (Limestone), 23 R1S (El Cap)
Clubs
 
Thanks for sharing. What's the build date on yours? Should be on a silver label on the body, between front and rear doors when you have driver's door open.
 

blturner

Well-Known Member
First Name
Brian
Joined
Jun 10, 2021
Threads
15
Messages
200
Reaction score
163
Location
Kansas City MO
Vehicles
F150
Occupation
Space Pirate
This week is the hottest that my R1T has experienced and I thought that my seat cooling had gone offline. I was able to hear it once I got home so I was scratching my head. This issue would explain it. The A/C seemed weak but I figured it was just normal due to the heat. The seat cooling was worthless. Thanks for the heads up.
 

NY_Rob

Well-Known Member
First Name
Rob
Joined
Feb 9, 2022
Threads
18
Messages
3,664
Reaction score
5,064
Location
long island
Vehicles
2021 Model 3 LR AWD, 2017 BMW i3 REX, 2023 R1T
Occupation
IT
Very sloppy QC if they're charging R1T's with the amount of refrigerant as the larger R1S. Even in whole house A/C's (which hold several pounds of refrigerant) the refrigerant is measured to the oz for best performance based on the length supply lines, etc.. It's a critical measurement to foul up.
 
Last edited:

godfodder0901

Well-Known Member
First Name
Jared
Joined
Mar 12, 2019
Threads
24
Messages
3,320
Reaction score
6,267
Location
Washington
Vehicles
2004 Honda Civic EX, 2022 Rivian R1T LE
This week is the hottest that my R1T has experienced and I thought that my seat cooling had gone offline. I was able to hear it once I got home so I was scratching my head. This issue would explain it. The A/C seemed weak but I figured it was just normal due to the heat. The seat cooling was worthless. Thanks for the heads up.
It's worth noting that the seats are ventilated, not cooled. So, hot ambient air in the cabin = hot air through the seat, and cool air in the cabin = cool air through the seat. It helps to turn on rear passenger foot cooling in order to provide cool air to the seat intake.
 

Sponsored

zymolysis

Well-Known Member
First Name
Ross
Joined
May 9, 2022
Threads
1
Messages
423
Reaction score
251
Location
Phoenix Arizona
Vehicles
2022 R1T [RUS, PTC (broken), 20"], 2008 Ford E350
Occupation
third party service
Clubs
 
This week is the hottest that my R1T has experienced and I thought that my seat cooling had gone offline. I was able to hear it once I got home so I was scratching my head. This issue would explain it. The A/C seemed weak but I figured it was just normal due to the heat. The seat cooling was worthless. Thanks for the heads up.
"The seat cooling was worthless."
If I understand correctly, there is no actual seat "cooling" - just forced air through the cushions. So if the cabin air is very hot, the air being forced up through the seat will also be hot, and won't cool your skin much.
 

blturner

Well-Known Member
First Name
Brian
Joined
Jun 10, 2021
Threads
15
Messages
200
Reaction score
163
Location
Kansas City MO
Vehicles
F150
Occupation
Space Pirate
It's worth noting that the seats are ventilated, not cooled. So, hot ambient air in the cabin = hot air through the seat, and cool air in the cabin = cool air through the seat. It helps to turn on rear passenger foot cooling in order to provide cool air to the seat intake.
This could be it. I have noticed that the air was cooler than the cabin air even though I knew seats were usually just "ventilated". I assumed that they were routing some cool air to get this effect. I did turn off the rear cooling about 2 weeks ago because it was blowing on my elbow while I was trying to type on the center console. Will have to go check this.
 
OP
OP

Rtnichols

New Member
First Name
Ryan
Joined
May 2, 2023
Threads
1
Messages
2
Reaction score
11
Location
Andover, MA
Vehicles
2023 Rivian R1T Launch Edition, Jeep Wrangler 4xe
Occupation
Engineer
This could be it. I have noticed that the air was cooler than the cabin air even though I knew seats were usually just "ventilated". I assumed that they were routing some cool air to get this effect. I did turn off the rear cooling about 2 weeks ago because it was blowing on my elbow while I was trying to type on the center console. Will have to go check this.
[/
I forgot about the seat - yes mine was essentially recirculating hot air. But they are ventilated, not actively cooled.

My build was in April of 2023.
 

blturner

Well-Known Member
First Name
Brian
Joined
Jun 10, 2021
Threads
15
Messages
200
Reaction score
163
Location
Kansas City MO
Vehicles
F150
Occupation
Space Pirate
Sorry for hijacking your thread. Thought it was the same issue, may not be. My build date is June of 2022
 

Calvin2518

Well-Known Member
First Name
Calvin
Joined
Jan 5, 2023
Threads
7
Messages
128
Reaction score
420
Location
Arvada, CO
Vehicles
2023 R1T, 2023 Tesla Model 3 Performance
Occupation
Owner - Construction Media Specialist
March 2023 build date and my A/C just pooped out too on the hottest day so far for the summer here in Colorado. I’m cookin today!

A/C in any setting just blowing hot air.

Submitted a service request too. Will keep everyone posted.
 

Sponsored

SoCal Rob

Well-Known Member
First Name
Rob
Joined
Apr 19, 2021
Threads
28
Messages
2,085
Reaction score
4,359
Location
Southern California
Vehicles
Rivian R1S & VW ID.4
Occupation
Information Technology
Clubs
 
It's worth noting that the seats are ventilated, not cooled. So, hot ambient air in the cabin = hot air through the seat, and cool air in the cabin = cool air through the seat. It helps to turn on rear passenger foot cooling in order to provide cool air to the seat intake.
Even under normal circumstances with legacy manufacturers I see people forget this detail: most of these seats are ventilated by blowing in cabin air, at whatever temperature it is. IIRC, someone (Rivian or a reviewer) mentioned in a video about the EDV that the driver’s seat Amazon is getting in their vans is cooled, not just ventilated.

Given human nature, I can see this going from, “The Rivian EDV has a driver’s seat which is cooled, not just ventilated.” to, “Rivian driver seats are cooled.” to, “Rivian seats are cooled.”

I know that 2nd row outboard seats are heated but I wish they had ventilation, too. Maybe someday in a higher trim level…

Edit:typo
 

FrictionlessLube

Well-Known Member
First Name
Dustin
Joined
Sep 28, 2022
Threads
3
Messages
55
Reaction score
76
Location
Littleton, CO
Vehicles
'11 WRX, ‘20 Forester
Clubs
 
Hijacking this further, how powerful are everyone’s ventilated seats? I feel like mine barely pushes out air on level 3. I took a light screen polish cloth and put it on the back arch of the passenger seat and tried 1-3 and off. The cloth did poof up on level 3, but barely and I can’t feel air with my hand. Someone else posted somewhere theirs felt like they could play air hockey on theirs.

Learning the seats pull cabin air is helpful. I guess I should have read the manual more…
 

Taco

Well-Known Member
Joined
Dec 29, 2021
Threads
15
Messages
287
Reaction score
447
Location
Parker, CO
Vehicles
R1T R1S
When you turn on the "cooled" seats also remember to go into climate control and turn ON the rear bottom duct. The seat will pull the cool air up through the seat. Way better vs not doing that last step.
 

CaptainX

Member
First Name
Douglas
Joined
Mar 31, 2022
Threads
0
Messages
18
Reaction score
15
Location
Arizona
Vehicles
Tesla Model X
Occupation
Pilot
Clubs
 
No
I forgot about the seat - yes mine was essentially recirculating hot air. But they are ventilated, not actively cooled.

My build was in April of 2023.
I’m still getting acquainted with my R1T (delivered last week), but it seems that the foot vent setting needs to be selected each drive if you want it on. It would be nice if the truck “remembered” my preferences.
Sponsored

 
 




Top