Thanks to all! Very helpful.
Tinting is next on the to-do list.

Acctually I have a 1.6l and the ac is ice cold. It runs so cold that even during the hottest days when I have it on and the windows up the thing freezes my wrist on the lowest settings. And I get complaints from my passengers all the time.

Thing is its hardly a preformance hit at all. You can tell the car is working harder but thats only because the engine sounds deeper.

I think the 1.6's just have more coolent and a bigger system.

I have a 03 ES, and the A/C sucks as well. If you have the setting to your feet without the A/C on, I find it works as well as if you did have the A/C on. Cant really figure that one out. I drive mostly highway and it doesnt seem to affect my gas mileage all that much

I have a an '03 P5 and to be honest, I think the A/C isn't so bad. Even on the hottest days here it blows pretty cold, or at least enough to make my girlfriend yell at me to turn it off when it's 95 outside. A decade or more ago, A/C was an option on cars because it was a convenience feature (anyone remember roll-up windows???). And it still is all for comfort. So, for the convenience of keeping the inside of my car cool in the summer time, and my windows clear on warm, humid nights, I don't mind that it drags the engine behind a bit. I'm sure in that 400hp Cadillac CTS-V you won't notice nearly as much pull when you turn the A/C on full blast :rolleyes: :bt:

My ac is kick ass! In fact, I rarely use it. I leave my fan on with the selector on the windshield and after a while the air will be cool enough that I don't even need the ac on. I admit it takes a while for the ac to get really cold, but it's like that in all cars. Once it's cold though, it's cold!

Maybe you can try the recirculate button?

Some states have laws about how much you can tint...not sure if TN allows 20%...mine aren't tinted, but there is already some tint in the windows to begin with, or is it that it appears that way due to the black interior...speaking of which the black interior adds to the difficulty with cooling. However to answer the original question of this post, I'm quite satisfied with my AC. I've been in other 4 cylinder cars which don't do as an efficient job in cooling as my Protege. When ever I park the car outside for any extended period, I put a reflective sunshade on the front windshield...that and I leave the roof vent slightly cracked (if it doesn't look like rain). When I first start the car (and the interior is hot) I open the roof vent even more, turn the AC on (without recirculate...because I smoke) until the car cools some. I think with some fanagling, you can get your AC to do its job better.

My 2003.5 P5's A/C has a split personality. Recirculate gives me consistant 38 F output on 90+ days, and even cooler on reasonable days. Flow thru is much worse, with increases of 8-10 F on output, and obvious humidity. Other cars I own(ed) show much less change between settings.
By the way, Recirculate does let in a small amount of outside air. I confirmed this when I drove past a dead skunk.
If you want to find out more technical stuff, check out protege5.ugly.net, page 07-10-2. It specifies testing with Recirculate on.
If you still think you've got a problem after a dealer check, get a probe type thermometer (it's only a few bucks at the parts store), put it in the left center vent, and record what's really going on. If he's yanking your chain, you'll be able come back at him with facts. Knowledge is power.

Actually, with the 3rd gen protege's (not sure about previous ones) I believe that when you turn the knob to select the "windshield" setting, which is the defogger setting, it automatically turns on the A/C compressor. I don't think there is a way to bypass this. Did you also notice that when you have it turned to the defogger setting, the recirculate/fresh air toggle automtically switches to fresh air intake?

there is a way around this but I hardly think it's worth it. If the ac drain bothers you just pull the system out or buy a belt that bypasses the ac.

This will sound wierd, but I noticed that if I drive with the front windows open, and the AC going on a warm day, the breeze you get from the windows open actually makes the AC feel cooler...I dont know why! Its fun, cuz you can stay fairly cool and still annoy everyone with the lound stereo....try it.

I don't know you guys.....We have two p5's...my wifes and mine. I live in southeast Texas...so I KNOW what hot and humid is all about. driving during the summer months, ESPECIALLY july and august without the a/c is NOT an option....not during the day anyway....that is unless you like your car to end up smelling like an old nasty locker room from all the sweat that has soaked into your seats....

regardless of that.....my A/C works just fine. I have traveled cross country running on an average 85 mph at all times when on the interstate...running the A/C at ALL times...and still getting 30 mpg.....and having no problem running up and down the hills along the way.....

sorry I can't chime in with the rest of you.....but it cools the car just fine, I am sure the tint all around helps as well.

Now I'm not complaining about the power loss from the a/c, it does just fine on the interstate up hills and passing. My a/c used to work GOOD when the car was brand new, but I've really noticed it not working as well just in the last month or two. Anyone else noticed a decrease in cooling capability since your car was new?

Yes, I believe you are right, but it's not as cold as actually turning on the ac for some reason. Either way, I'm happy with it. :bt:

Could it be time for an AC recharge? Can you do this yourself without creating warranty problems? Just a thought... :nod:

My A/C on my '02 P5 is ass.....it's not that cold and the little light on the a/c button always flickers on and off.... :wtf: