Let's get some perspective: Is your Grenadier AC working as it should?

[G-Man]

Who else's AC is batsh1t crazy and randomly blows hot air one day and cold the next on the exact same setting? I don't think the AC system got the attention it deserved during the 1.2 million miles of road testing, that's for sure. I love my new truck but it's the one thing that drives me nuts on pretty much a daily basis as I fiddle away at the controls and I'm surprised Ineos haven't found a fix for it yet. I gather it's down to sticky solenoid valves or such like and is probably an expensive warranty concern for them.

It would be useful to set up a poll on this forum and get an idea of what percentage and numbers of owners here have flaky AC. This forum must represent a decent amount of the Grenadier owner population, perhaps it would help sharpen Ineos' perspective on the issue if it popped up on every Google search relating to Grenadier AC issues. I don't have the ability to raise a forum poll but maybe @Stu_Barnes would consider it a worthy exercise

 

[Roach]

@HereinDaRockies would normally agree if this were a single source system (ie:heater core from engine). Looking at one of the webasto diagrams (ref site) one diagram looked as if the heaters had different circuits (maybe isolated or limited is a better word than 'different'). Maybe somebody has a diagram of what the IG circuit looks like.....this doesn't address the AC issues. I'd be curious if anybody has put together a list of the different scenarios broken out by heater and then by AC. Ineos might be working off the squeaky wheel operative so maybe a bit more data will push them to do something. Who knows

 

[Skydance]

Mine worked solidly until two weeks ago. While travelling on holiday up to high elevations, the heater refused to blow warm air on AUTO or MANUAL. Full heat set, AC off and ice cold air blowing through the vents. (Outside temp was about 29F). Needless to say, I was not happy. I had my 7 year old and pregnant fiance with me, and having the inability to maintain a comfortable environment is ridiculous and dangerous as the windows were fogging and I had no ability to defog the windows because the heat was not working. Nothing more fun than coming down mountain roads in thick fog, with fogged windows.

My AC recently started acting up as well. Full cold, manual mode, luke warm air coming out of the vents.

In a previous experience, I had a loaner while my truck was in for service, the temp was aprox 108F and the AC refused to work while on a road trip. Brand new loaner. NO A/C. Dangerous conditions TBH, and nothing like showing up to your destination drenched in sweat.

They have a clear issue here. It is NOT coincidence that so many folks are having issues. The fact that they claim 1 million miles of testing, yet they let the poor HVAC design slide through to production is a bit concerning.

I would check the coolant levels and make sure both are max on a cold engine and level ground. I bet the levels must have dropped due to air escaped and fluids dropped.

 

[Roach]

@HereinDaRockies would normally agree if this were a single source system (ie:heater core from engine). Looking at one of the webasto diagrams (ref site) one diagram looked as if the heaters had different circuits (maybe isolated or limited is a better word than 'different'). Maybe somebody has a diagram of what the IG circuit looks like.....this doesn't address the AC issues. I'd be curious if anybody has put together a list of the different scenarios broken out by heater and then by AC. Ineos might be working off the squeaky wheel operative so maybe a bit more data will push them to do something. Who knows

Potential correction: I'm not certain it is a two stage system...maybe just an aftermarket feature. I will butt out

 

[HereinDaRockies]

if Ineos simply announces something like “we are looking into the hvac issue and will address it”

Then I would be content, and consider that to be a good faith gesture from this operation. I will just wait silently.

The lack of formal acknowledgement suggests one or more of these potential reasons(there is simply no other rationale for being silent on this. They operate at such minuscule scale, the volume of these reports on the internet and reported up via dealerships should be sufficient trigger for socializing formal response)

- they are incapable of fixing this (the same incompetence that created the issue can’t magically fix it). However they found themselves with a comically deficient HVAC is also a dead end. They can not resolve the problem trivially.
- they have fixed it silently in new production, but will ignore this issue for existing fleet of customers (the penny pincher is in a challenging financial state)
- they are not looking to address the problem at all, given a near term exit strategy for the entire venture (it's the how long will Ineos Automotive survive question)

 

[HereinDaRockies]

Look at IA, job openings.. all sales related. No engineering related opening

INEOS Automotive Job Opportunities

Explore automotive job opportunities and join the INEOS Grenadier team today. Browse and apply for automotive jobs here.

ineosgrenadier.com

Either means Ineos is just subcontracting EVERYTHING out, or they are not actively investing in engineering.. I doubt they have lower than industry avg turn-over for engineering positions.

 

[MartyH1955]

Who else's AC is batsh1t crazy and randomly blows hot air one day and cold the next on the exact same setting? I don't think the AC system got the attention it deserved during the 1.2 million miles of road testing, that's for sure. I love my new truck but it's the one thing that drives me nuts on pretty much a daily basis as I fiddle away at the controls and I'm surprised Ineos haven't found a fix for it yet. I gather it's down to sticky solenoid valves or such like and is probably an expensive warranty concern for them.

It would be useful to set up a poll on this forum and get an idea of what percentage and numbers of owners here have flaky AC. This forum must represent a decent amount of the Grenadier owner population, perhaps it would help sharpen Ineos' perspective on the issue if it popped up on every Google search relating to Grenadier AC issues. I don't have the ability to raise a forum poll but maybe @Stu_Barnes would consider it a worthy exercise

Mine is exactly the same. The dealer has no idea.

 

[Jackattack13]

Look at IA, job openings.. all sales related. No engineering related opening

INEOS Automotive Job Opportunities

Explore automotive job opportunities and join the INEOS Grenadier team today. Browse and apply for automotive jobs here.

ineosgrenadier.com

Either means Ineos is just subcontracting EVERYTHING out, or they are not actively investing in engineering.. I doubt they have lower than industry avg turn-over for engineering positions.

We know they hired out the software to the lowest cost engineers on Fiverr.

 

[Grenadian]

if Ineos simply announces something like “we are looking into the hvac issue and will address it”

Then I would be content, and consider that to be a good faith gesture from this operation. I will just wait silently.

The lack of formal acknowledgement suggests one or more of these potential reasons(there is simply no other rationale for being silent on this. They operate at such minuscule scale, the volume of these reports on the internet and reported up via dealerships should be sufficient trigger)

- they are incapable of fixing this (the same incompetence that created the issue can’t magically fix it)
- they have fixed it silently in new production, but will ignore this issue for existing fleet of customers (penny pinchers)
- they are not looking to address the problem at all, given a near term exit strategy for the entire venture

Yes, that's right. I'm not trying to cause trouble,
I just want to raise the issue and participate in the discussion.

 

[mcdoogs]

Well for me topping off the coolant didnt do anything.

So I am waiting to hear back from the dealer(which btw is almost a 2 hour drive away). At this point I have a car that is actually dangerous to drive in inclement weather.

No AC whatsoever. No combination of knobs and buttons can make it blow anything but hot air. This makes auto mode hilariously bad, as it can’t correct the climate down so it blows hot air progressively harder as it goes over the desired temperature.

Only the floor and rear vents get the fans power no matter the vent selection. The middle vents will get a whisper on fan speed 3/4 (probably just backpressure from the floor vents not being able to handle the full volume). The windshield defrost vents push absolutely no air volume even at fan speed 4.

This combines to mean that I have no way to quickly defrost the windshield besides manually wiping and opening the windows. That’s a pretty bad place to be in a New England winter.

I’ve never gone from excitement to regret so sharply as this past week since picking it up. I’ve actually never had such a abject failure in a basic system in a new vehicle before.

UPDATE/EDIT: I had read this entire thread and my symptoms were a little anomalous which triggered the engineer side of my brain. So I started digging into the manual more and noticed the HVAC module fuses. I replaced them one by one, testing the hvac after each one. Turns out the 7.5a fuse in FC03 in the cockpit fuse box was faulty (didnt seem blown idk what happened). Thats why my HVAC was so specifically crippled, FC03 must be fusing the cool/AC circuit and the vent control. Leaving the original post for future searchers.

 

[Jackattack13]

Well for me topping off the coolant didnt do anything.

So I am waiting to hear back from the dealer(which btw is almost a 2 hour drive away). At this point I have a car that is actually dangerous to drive in inclement weather.

No AC whatsoever. No combination of knobs and buttons can make it blow anything but hot air.

Only the floor and rear vents get the fans power no matter the vent selection. The middle vents will get a whisper on fan speed 3/4 (probably just backpressure from the floor vents not being able to handle the full volume). The windshield defrost vents push absolutely no air volume.

This combines to mean that I have no way to quickly defrost the windshield besides manually wiping and opening the windows. That’s a pretty bad place to be in a New England winter.

I’ve never gone from excitement to regret so sharply as this past week since picking it up. I’ve actually never had such a abject failure in a basic system in a new vehicle before.

I had the same exact experience of instant regret when my HVAC decided it didn't want to provide warm air when travelling in winter conditions on treacherous foggy mountain roads with my family, windshield fogging and unable to clear the windscreen. Something as simple as a functional HVAC system can honestly mean life or death in some conditions.

 

[Roach]

In this thread at #245+:

Useless Customer Service

So like I said total bunk. I also have it from the VP if Ineos that as long as We have receipts we can change our own oil. This notion that only the manufacturers can change your oil or service your vehicle is long over. It’s about proving it was done on time and with the correct parts. You...

www.theineosforum.com

The "chat" was about class action and its merits...in the context of useless customer service. I don't disagree with the thread but its more difficult to assign a value to and while real its a bit subjective.

The comments in this thread are kind of scary when you think of family and especially babies who can lose body heat quicker than adults. Hopefully somebody at Ineos will see the exposure of a wonky HVAC and react quickly. As I write this I can see the irony: thread about useless customer service cross referenced with the hope that somebody takes notice.

 

[Jackattack13]

In this thread at #245+:

Useless Customer Service

So like I said total bunk. I also have it from the VP if Ineos that as long as We have receipts we can change our own oil. This notion that only the manufacturers can change your oil or service your vehicle is long over. It’s about proving it was done on time and with the correct parts. You...

www.theineosforum.com

The "chat" was about class action and its merits...in the context of useless customer service. I don't disagree with the thread but its more difficult to assign a value to and while real its a bit subjective.

The comments in this thread are kind of scary when you think of family and especially babies who can lose body heat quicker than adults. Hopefully somebody at Ineos will see the exposure of a wonky HVAC and react quickly. As I write this I can see the irony: thread about useless customer service cross referenced with the hope that somebody takes notice.

You nailed it. The two bad experience I had with the HVAC included my family. 108F heat with my pregnant fiance in the car and NO AC, and sub-freezing temps with both the fiance and my 7 year old and NO HEAT. It really puts "Wonky" into perspective.

 

[Skydance]

Well for me topping off the coolant didnt do anything.

So I am waiting to hear back from the dealer(which btw is almost a 2 hour drive away). At this point I have a car that is actually dangerous to drive in inclement weather.

No AC whatsoever. No combination of knobs and buttons can make it blow anything but hot air. This makes auto mode hilariously bad, as it can’t correct the climate down so it blows hot air progressively harder as it goes over the desired temperature.

Only the floor and rear vents get the fans power no matter the vent selection. The middle vents will get a whisper on fan speed 3/4 (probably just backpressure from the floor vents not being able to handle the full volume). The windshield defrost vents push absolutely no air volume even at fan speed 4.

This combines to mean that I have no way to quickly defrost the windshield besides manually wiping and opening the windows. That’s a pretty bad place to be in a New England winter.

I’ve never gone from excitement to regret so sharply as this past week since picking it up. I’ve actually never had such an abject failure in a basic system in a new vehicle before.

In that case. The other option is to bleed the Havac. Search this forum. There is an Ineos procedure to bleed the system. If that doesn’t work, then maybe the AC refridgerant needs topping up. Previously there were some cases where refrigerant has leaked out.

 

[mcdoogs]

In that case. The other option is to bleed the Havac. Search this forum. There is an Ineos procedure to bleed the system. If that doesn’t work, then maybe the AC refridgerant needs topping up. Previously there were some cases where refrigerant has leaked out.

Thanks I edited my post, turns out it was electrical in my case (faulty fuse) which I feel like is super improbable. I can actually get cold air and air on the windshield now! I basically neglected work all morning tinkering with this

 

[HereinDaRockies]

Thanks I edited my post, turns out it was electrical in my case (faulty fuse) which I feel like is super improbable. I can actually get cold air and air on the windshield now! I basically neglected work all morning tinkering with this

Huh? Your issue was fixed within a span of sub hour?

 

[mcdoogs]

Huh? Your issue was fixed within a span of sub hour?

Not really, I only posted about it an hour ago. I've been trying every suggestion posed in this thread and given to me by the dealer over the phone for a few days now. I only picked the car up last Friday and didn't really drive it over the weekend.

I don't understand how the dealer didnt catch this during their check, but benefit of the doubt I committed to buy on one side of Christmas and picked up a cpl days after Christmas so maybe corners were cut accidently. Even though I just bought it, the build date is actually quite a while ago 04/2024 (number 19XXX iirc). It must have sat stored somewhere for a pretty long time

 

[Jackattack13]

Thanks I edited my post, turns out it was electrical in my case (faulty fuse) which I feel like is super improbable. I can actually get cold air and air on the windshield now! I basically neglected work all morning tinkering with this

Pulling and re-seating the fuse resolved issues temporarily in my experience. It's as if there is a computer that gets reset when power is removed.

 

[mcdoogs]

Pulling and re-seating the fuse resolved issues temporarily in my experience. It's as if there is a computer that gets reset when power is removed.

Hm ok good point. Something to monitor going forward

 

[pernsdorff]

Who else's AC is batsh1t crazy and randomly blows hot air one day and cold the next on the exact same setting? I don't think the AC system got the attention it deserved during the 1.2 million miles of road testing, that's for sure. I love my new truck but it's the one thing that drives me nuts on pretty much a daily basis as I fiddle away at the controls and I'm surprised Ineos haven't found a fix for it yet. I gather it's down to sticky solenoid valves or such like and is probably an expensive warranty concern for them.

It would be useful to set up a poll on this forum and get an idea of what percentage and numbers of owners here have flaky AC. This forum must represent a decent amount of the Grenadier owner population, perhaps it would help sharpen Ineos' perspective on the issue if it popped up on every Google search relating to Grenadier AC issues. I don't have the ability to raise a forum poll but maybe @Stu_Barnes would consider it a worthy exercise

I think the problem is that there is no interior sensor making Auto lame. It seems to react to exterior temperature only making it seem unpredictable.

 

[Clark Kent]

I think the problem is that there is no interior sensor making Auto lame. It seems to react to exterior temperature only making it seem unpredictable.

This circular port is the internal cabin temperature sensor. I have shot a blast of freeze at it with the AC in auto mode and got a fast response.