2010 Mitsubishi Outlander GT: Is This Thing On?

still think that those three dials are the best for HVAC control. had it in the Altima and was perfect.

My tahoe needs an ac compressor
I feel your pain

hit the recirculate button for max ac, that way you're cooling already cooled air. once the obscenities stop you can switch back to fresh.

circulating the air inside the cabin will save fuel and keep the cabin cooler...that helps mask the poor AC system in the Outlander and alot of other Japanese cars. they simply don't do AC systems like American cars do. turn on pretty much any GM or Ford vehicle, and nearly instant icebox.

Does the Outlander have heated seats? Accidently turn on the heated seats for your ingrateful passengers.

If it makes you feel any better, the AC system in my Miata feels like it could stall the car just by engaging it yet it can barely keep the tiny cabin cool. My family drove so many domestic cars through the years I'm still often surprised by how weak AC systems are in cars of Japanese origin.

I think the end of your article says it all. The Outlander A/C just couldn't compete with all the hot air coming from your passengers.

"My tahoe needs an ac compressor
I feel your pain"

We'll be lucky to hit 50 deg today.

I envy your pain.

It will be a balmy 90 today in Citrus Heights California......

Older, foreign cars from almost anywhere, had weak, or at least subtle, ACs. On the other hand, my girlfriend's Pontiac GXP, and all of her Pontiacs for that matter, had an AC that immediately, and with great gusto, puts out so much cold air that it will make you want to get out and walk. I can wait the one or two minutes it takes for my Outback to get the temp down. Apparently, Americans and American carmakers, are more impatient.

I usually have this controversy with my girlfriend when we get back into the car and it is really hot inside. I turn the knob to "2" and it drives her crazy. So, I up it to "3" and she says,"Put it on "4". In my stupid boyfriend manner, I say, "The high fan speed will put out more air than the AC can cool, and you will get less cold air, not more." She never buys that.

I just think it is the noise from the "4" fan speed that makes her think she is getting more cold air. And, since she will not be reading this, I am sticking to my opinion.

Are those two holes in the bottom of that panel supposed to be there?

@altimadude05: I believe those holes are for the ambient center console lighting.

Out of the 3 cars I've owned, all being American, I've never really had a problem with the A/C, now that I think about it. My dad's Silverado will freeze you even if it's just a bit above the lowest setting, and my mother's old Explorer (when the A/C wasn't on the fritz) was much the same. Hell, I wish my mustang had a -lower- setting for the A/C than it's current lowest.

The 2011 Tucson my mom recently got, though, definitely doesn't cool as fast or even just get as cold as the rest. It works, it just takes it's sweet time to get there.

Is this not the car that had the compressor crap out in the first 3000 miles? I am sorry but there are more reliable choices out there. What is the compelling reason to buy this car again?

@bodyblue - I'd buy this or even the Outlander Sport just to tick you off... ;-)

@jm1212

+1. My experience exactly.

@carguy22 - Correct. That compartment, BTW, is tall enough to hold a stack of about a dozen CDs.

Also, the vent to the left of the temp knob is the "sniffer" where it reads the cabin temp when climate control is in Auto mode.

@Kurt - As shown in the pic you're running it with the fan on low. Why? Use Auto and forget about it.

Second, if it still isn't cooling strong enough, take it in for service. Mine blows out very cold air and has no problem keeping the interior cool.

I leave mine set on 72F/Auto/Auto the bulk of the time and have had zero issues summer or winter.

Why don't you put it in AUTO mode and let it work?