# What might cause a delayed a/c start in a jeep? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [July 20, 2024, 3:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-might-cause-a-delayed-a-c-start-in-a-jeep/1004498 "2024-07-20T15:53:59Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Saffer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saffer/32/6440_2.png) [@Saffer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saffer)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2024, 3:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-might-cause-a-delayed-a-c-start-in-a-jeep/1004498/1 "2024-07-20T15:53:59Z")
I have an oldish wrangler from 2012 which has been through a lot. I use it for off roading. It has seen many repairs and modifications, some from before I owned it. Whenever I start it, it takes a couple of minutes for the air conditioning to activate. It is all manually controlled and I never change the settings. So I am sitting there sweltering for a couple minutes and then it turns on. Never had a car that does this. What might cause it? ---
**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2024, 3:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-might-cause-a-delayed-a-c-start-in-a-jeep/1004498/2 "2024-07-20T15:56:28Z")
I think the very first thing you need to do is pop the hood, start the engine and before the AC starts up, get out there and see if the AC clutch is engaged. ---
**Author:** ![HoneyBadgerDC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/honeybadgerdc/32/1033_2.png) [@HoneyBadgerDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HoneyBadgerDC)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2024, 3:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-might-cause-a-delayed-a-c-start-in-a-jeep/1004498/3 "2024-07-20T15:56:47Z")
Can you better describe it? Are the fans coming on but cold air not coming out? ---
**Author:** ![Saffer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saffer/32/6440_2.png) [@Saffer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saffer)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2024, 3:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-might-cause-a-delayed-a-c-start-in-a-jeep/1004498/4 "2024-07-20T15:57:29Z")
Fans are not coming on at all. ---
**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2024, 3:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-might-cause-a-delayed-a-c-start-in-a-jeep/1004498/5 "2024-07-20T15:57:59Z")
Do you know enough about how all this works to see if the compressor is spinning? ---
**Author:** ![Saffer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saffer/32/6440_2.png) [@Saffer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saffer)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2024, 3:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-might-cause-a-delayed-a-c-start-in-a-jeep/1004498/6 "2024-07-20T15:59:27Z")
Not yet. But since the fans are not coming on I don’t think the compressor is an issue. ---
**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2024, 3:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-might-cause-a-delayed-a-c-start-in-a-jeep/1004498/7 "2024-07-20T15:59:53Z")
> [@Saffer](#): > > Fans are not coming on at all. What happens if you turn the AC off and heat on? Will the fans come on right away then? What about if, after the AC is working, you turn it (the AC) off, wait a few minutes and turn it back on? Also, will it start up on it’s own if it’s just idling or does it need to moving and/or have the engine revved up? ---
**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2024, 4:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-might-cause-a-delayed-a-c-start-in-a-jeep/1004498/8 "2024-07-20T16:00:38Z")
We’re talking about the interior fans, right? The ones inside the vehicle. Those may not turn on until the coil is cold enough. ---
**Author:** ![HoneyBadgerDC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/honeybadgerdc/32/1033_2.png) [@HoneyBadgerDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HoneyBadgerDC)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2024, 4:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-might-cause-a-delayed-a-c-start-in-a-jeep/1004498/9 "2024-07-20T16:01:10Z")
> [@Joey\_P](#): > > Also, will it start up on it’s own if it’s just idling or does it need to moving and/or have the engine revved up? Are you thinking low voltage and relay not kicking in? ---
**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2024, 4:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-might-cause-a-delayed-a-c-start-in-a-jeep/1004498/10 "2024-07-20T16:01:35Z")
> [@Saffer](#): > > Not yet. But since the fans are not coming on I don’t think the compressor is an issue. Try some different fan speeds. Also, try smacking the blower motor a few times to see if that gets it going. ---
**Author:** ![Saffer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saffer/32/6440_2.png) [@Saffer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saffer)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2024, 4:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-might-cause-a-delayed-a-c-start-in-a-jeep/1004498/11 "2024-07-20T16:01:45Z")
Never used the heater. Where I live it is never cold. > [@Joey\_P](#): > > What about if, after the AC is working, you turn it (the AC) off, wait a few minutes and turn it back on? In that case it comes right back on. > [@Joey\_P](#): > > Also, will it start up on it’s own if it’s just idling or does it need to moving and/or have the engine revved up? Idling is fine. Usually I wait for the ac to start before moving off. ---
**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2024, 4:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-might-cause-a-delayed-a-c-start-in-a-jeep/1004498/12 "2024-07-20T16:02:21Z")
> [@Saffer](#): > > Never used the heater. Where I live it is never cold. Try it. If it starts right up, that rules out the blower as the problem. ---
**Author:** ![Saffer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saffer/32/6440_2.png) [@Saffer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saffer)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2024, 4:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-might-cause-a-delayed-a-c-start-in-a-jeep/1004498/13 "2024-07-20T16:02:30Z")
Yes, interior fans. ---
**Author:** ![Saffer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saffer/32/6440_2.png) [@Saffer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saffer)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2024, 4:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-might-cause-a-delayed-a-c-start-in-a-jeep/1004498/14 "2024-07-20T16:02:45Z")
Ok I will give it a go ---
**Author:** ![HoneyBadgerDC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/honeybadgerdc/32/1033_2.png) [@HoneyBadgerDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HoneyBadgerDC)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2024, 4:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-might-cause-a-delayed-a-c-start-in-a-jeep/1004498/15 "2024-07-20T16:03:41Z")
Nevermind ---
**Author:** ![Saffer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saffer/32/6440_2.png) [@Saffer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saffer)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2024, 4:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-might-cause-a-delayed-a-c-start-in-a-jeep/1004498/16 "2024-07-20T16:04:29Z")
2012 (insert characters to bypass short post restriction) ---
**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2024, 4:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-might-cause-a-delayed-a-c-start-in-a-jeep/1004498/17 "2024-07-20T16:05:19Z")
If the problem remains, the issue is (likely) with the blower. At least that’s usually a bit more straightforward to troubleshoot and fix. In any case, my thinking here is that the blower not coming on is the problem, as opposed to a symptom of different issue. ---
**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2024, 4:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-might-cause-a-delayed-a-c-start-in-a-jeep/1004498/18 "2024-07-20T16:07:28Z")
Just to clarify, checking if it works on different speeds and checking to see if it works for the heater both have to be checked at a time when it’s not working. I assume you knew that, but I wanted to make sure we’re on the same page. ---
**Author:** ![HoneyBadgerDC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/honeybadgerdc/32/1033_2.png) [@HoneyBadgerDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HoneyBadgerDC)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2024, 4:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-might-cause-a-delayed-a-c-start-in-a-jeep/1004498/19 "2024-07-20T16:08:10Z")
I just read that on the 2012 jeep you have to take it to the dealer and they will flash your computer at no charge. The delay should only last 10 seconds ---
**Author:** ![DavidNRockies](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/davidnrockies/32/6279_2.png) [@DavidNRockies](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DavidNRockies)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2024, 4:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-might-cause-a-delayed-a-c-start-in-a-jeep/1004498/20 "2024-07-20T16:10:52Z")
Any of this sound applicable?? [**Jeep Wrangler Forum - AC delayed start sometimes as long as 1 minute**](https://www.wranglerforum.com/threads/ac-delayed-start-sometimes-as-long-as-1-minute.2095713/) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-might-cause-a-delayed-a-c-start-in-a-jeep/1004498.md?page=2)