I have a 1996 A4 and i read somewhere the A/C compressor dosent kick in until a certain tempreture, is this true and if so what temp. i havent run the system all winter(actually since i got the car) and i know it kicks on but thats in my garage at like 55 degree

 

It should only run if you have the air conditioning on.

 

the compressor will cycle on and off based on the pressure reached in the ac system. Anytime you have it on "auto" it willcycle even if it's 10degrees out. Air conditioning takes moisture out of air, compressor also cycles on defrost. So when it's on "auto"it's almost like all time defrost

 

Owners manual for my 97 A6 says below 32F the A/C will not kick in. With temps less than 32F, pressing the A/C button on the climate control causes the A/C light to momentarily go on, then off. Also can't use air recirculation in the cabin in temps less than 32F since it requires the A/C to be on and A/C is off below 32F.

Spoke

 

Spoke is right, even if you activate the a/c manually or in the auto function the a/c compressor will not turn on below 32F degrees so you won't freeze up the system. Kind of like the emergency release valve when the pressure gets too high, if it will hurt the a/c system, the car will shut it off.

 

thats what i thought thanks guys.