Climate Control System & Windshield Wipers (Separate Questions!)

[Bmore]

Has anyone had trouble with the air-conditioning? I know we're just hitting the Spring now and I tried to use the air-conditioning and it was blowing out hot air. I kept lowering the dial into the mid-60s and same thing. It didn't change until I brought it all the way down to 60, it's lowest point. Maybe I am not using this correctly. On my Saab, 76-80 was the heat. And if you took it down below 72, it would blow cool air. So the system on the EX35 had me baffled.

With regard to the windshield wipers, two things. Aren't they supposed to not sound horrendous on the way down no matter how hard the rain? But the more bizarre issue is that there is a knocking sound each time the wipers go. It sounds like someone is taking a marble and hitting it once on the windshield.

[BrokenTiller]

Something sounds strange there.Re: AC, you should be able to set a comfortable interior temp and leave it. The output of the system will auto adjust fan level, upper/lower vents and heat and/or cooling output to maintain your desired temperature. Hopefully you just turned off the AC switch by mistake. In normal operation, the AC light will be on all the time (even when it's -10 here in Canada). Think of the AC as your dehumidifier. First stage is drying/cooling the incoming fresh air and then it is heated up by the heater core if needed to get to your target temperature. You can tell if temperature is in Auto mode because a light will be on by the left lower knob. The passenger side knob will also light up when you are in dual temperature zone mode.

Wipers should be quiet and smooth.

Good luck and enjoy a cool summer! (Snowing in Toronto today!!!)
Modified by BrokenTiller at 2:39 PM 4/15/2009

[jonkarn]

Sounds like there may be something wrong if it doesnt get cold until 60 degree setting. Make sure the AC button is activated like previous poster said.

In regards to the wipers, you like myself, may have been spoiled by the wipers in the Saab. I am a previous 93 owner, and those wipers were heavy duty. Solid and tight, they never squeaked or jumped or chopped. The fluid jets were also high powered. i think the turbo and the windshield wiper system were the only holdovers from Sweden when GM took over, b/c the quality of the car is now crap.(Although Saab by GM is being discontinued, and its being independantly produced again by 2010, yay!)

Back to your question, my wipers are cheap do rattle and are choppy at times, however i don't hear any sharp sounds like you have described. By the way this is one of the only complaints I have about the EX. Much more solidly made than my 05 Saab.

Curious side note, any comments about your old Saab and comparing the quality and performance with Infinity?

[Bmore]

Had to go up to the dealer to get tags and asked about these two items. Re: windshield wipers, the service guy looked at them and said you need new ones and then let's see if the noise is gone. Replaced them and the noise was gone. Not sure why it was doing that pinging but at least it's gone. The new wipers he put on look different than the older ones, which were way thicker. Not sure if that was significant. I think the car was on the lot for a number of months, so maybe they just needed to be replaced.

Re: the air-conditioning system. The service guy said it probably is functioning fine but that you've got to start out very low when the temperature outside is not super high. He said the system uses the outside temperature as its guide. Not sure this makes sense. Maybe it is 63 outside but then the system doesn't go lower than 60, so if it's hot in the vehicle you can't then get it cool? I need to get used to the system for another month or so, with the rising outdoor temperature, and see if I can get used to it.

I do think the AC light is pretty much always on - it automatically comes on. Other than that, not sure if I am doing something wrong. I don't recall an ECON button, but will have to look.

jonkarn: It's a bit hard getting used to this car coming from an 02 Saab 9-5 (Arc). Not sure if it is the Japanese vs. European difference or just an entirely different car shape and type of car. The Saab was an excellent highway cruiser, totally solid at really high speeds, and super comfortable (though noisy I thought). The turbo engine also had lots of low end torque and so it had quick get up and go. The EX35 doesn't seem as quick to respond but has much more power behind it once you get it going. I also really enjoyed the design, interior and exterior, of the Saab. But, with all that said, the darn car was expensive to fix and did not last nearly as long as I had hoped. Cost me plenty along the way. So I have love and a bit of bitterness for it. It's so different from the EX35 that it is hard to compare. Plus the EX35 is a modern vehicle, whereas my car was 7 yrs old (not that Saab has made many improvements over the years). My feeling is that the EX35 is a much better car in many ways and more sophisticated than the Saab. But it is quirky in its own right and I need to get used to it some more. So far, though, I am really enjoying it. Just trying to get used to it.

There are lots of things on my wish list though for it. E.g., dog cargo net/barrier, rear seats that moved up and back, more rear leg room, a few inches more cargo room, a panoramic sunroof, better gas mileage, more low end torque.....

But I still love the added utility from a sedan. My Saab had a huge trunk with back seats that folded flat (great utility for a sedan) but I always missed being able to do what I could do with my Acura Integra hatchback. And I feel like the EX35 allows me that same flexibility. A grown up luxury hatchback of sorts. And I don't have to get out for any 3rd and 4th passengers to get in. Should be good for me.

I think the car will be better in 2010. But my Saab didn't hold out long enough. Essentially I think this car, oddities and all, was a great value proposition for $32k. Now not for the $43k it was listed at though!

[SteveTheTech]

Nice review .

It has to be hard coming out of a Saab which is the quirkiest of the Euro makes. It will indeed take some time to get used too.

The AC indeed doesn't work like a straight blend door attached controller, they use 3 temperature sensors (behind the grill, in the "fresh air" stream, and under the steering column). The logic of the system is to attempt to achieve the desired temperature without blasting either excessively hot or cold air at the passengers by regulating outlet temperatures, fan speed, and outlet position. However; you can manually control the system to get it to do whatever you desire.

The EX is a great multi-purpose luxury crossover, it's not designed to be the fastest crossover or a slalom beast. It does have a decent balance of all of the things people need when searching for a crossover. The rear pet barrier and panoramic moonroof would be a nice touch, and a low end torque insease could be easily accomplished by bringing the EX37 with the RE7R over from Europe. For a first year of a new model it's a decent product, a few quirks and some noises here and there, nothing too major though.

I completely agree with you, inventory can sit for a while and rubber wiper inserts tend to prematurely age. They probably replaced them with the new style replacement blades which work very well, both my cars have them.

[jonkarn]

I had an 05' Saab 93, so maybe my experience was different than yours with the 95. I found the car off the line was very slow, with the Turbo lag large due to the 4 cyl engine. It did have decent low end torque, and from 50-70mph is definitely quicker than the Infiniti V6, as well as many other cars. The turbo is probably the best in the business, and there is nothing like hitting the gas and feeling and hearing the turbo kick in, and feeling acceleration without the engine RPM's going up. It was only mid 7's in 0-60 times though.

The list of things that were good is small. Great front seats(although leather not as nice), with great adjustment and very effective heat function(better than the Infiniti). The HUD high on the dash was great for keeping your eyes on the road while scanning through things like radio stations and mpg, trip, etc. The windshield wipers/fluid jets were second to none as I mentioned b4. Thats about it. The Saab was my first decent car so I didnt have much to compare to. Since I've been driving the EX, however, I realize what the Saab lacked. Quality/Solid interior materials. Electronics/tech that makes sense and actually works.(The wireless function in the Saab only worked in Europe!). Quick off the line(especially for a 2 ton vehicle). Stereo that doesn't suck.(Saabs 12 speaker 300watt hi quality system is a sham. And a shame) and an iPod interface that works through the stereo controls. One of the best Nav systems out there with Nav traffic. The AWD with RWD full time blows others away. Sportscar feel with small SUV hatch convenience. And for those who may say these 2 cars don't compare moneywise, the Saab has the Sportcombi wagon that may compare better, and fully loaded, with the AERO x package reaches into the low $40grand range like the Infiniti. The Saab can not compare in quality/resale or driving experience however. The Saab was unique but quirky and a poor value.

I will say that I miss the night panel on the Saab, and some days I reach for the center console looking for the ignition key. However, I much prefer not having to take the key out of my pocket at all!

[BrokenTiller]

This has become the Infiniti/Saab confessional thread!

My relevant previous cars were Saab 900, Audi A4, Saab 9-5 wagon, Saab 9-5 sedan, Saab 9-5 Sport Combi wagon. Traded in the sedan for the EX and still own the 2006 Sport Combi.

I agree with everything you stated and still love my Saab. It handles really well in the snow (snow tires and front drive) with good predictable under steer. Seats are definitely more comfortable and it is a great highway cruiser with lots more room than the EX. The main thing I learned about Saabs is to buy them lightly used. They depreciate very quickly, so you can get a great deal on a 1-3 yr old vehicle that rarely changes its styling.

[jonkarn]

Sorry to have hijacked your thread!lol. I did enjoy the Saab, and sticker was only 28,000 at the time, but I lease and the residual kills youi. I enjoyed the Saab as much as i have negative things to say about it. In 2010 when they are being manufactured by Trollhatten again, things may change for me. I heard they have a 94 small SUV coming out after that time which is supposed to be more Saab than GM. If they improve on the interior quality while still keeping Saab qualities, it may compete for my lease when the EX is up 2011 for me. Although i see what everyone was saying about Infiniti cars and japanese brands in general, as this is my first. They just make solid cars. The EX isn't as common on the roads though, unlike some other makes, which is a plus for us. Hopefully Infiniti doesnt drop it from their ranks.

[vibes]

When I use the automatic climate control, only the lower vents (foot) seem to be active. It never uses teh higher vents, has anyone else experienced this?

thanks.

[sg77]

When I use the automatic climate control, only the lower vents (foot) seem to be active. It never uses teh higher vents, has anyone else experienced this?

I think in automatic mode it uses the lower vents for heat and the upper vents for A/C.

[vibes]

never knew that...can anyone else confirm this?

[dividedhighw]

I think in automatic mode it uses the lower vents for heat and the upper vents for A/C.

Hmm - coincidentally, here's what I noticed yesterday: hot air was coming from my upper vent by the driver's window when the system was on Auto, but I had manually turned off the A/C.

Cheers,David