Defective compressor; 3. Air conditioners can freeze solid into a block of ice, a common reason for your AC blowing hot air. Since refrigerant is recycled over and over, the only reason you should ever have to recharge it is if there’s a leak somewhere in the system. There may be many reasons why a car AC blows hot air. Josh Barrett is a writer hailing from the great state of Alaska. Why? It's cold when driving overall. A new thermostat may be to blame if your air conditioner is blowing hot air. This typically happens if the engine is too hot, so be sure to check your car’s temperature. Broken condenser; 5. luiz jose teperino de castro - Brasil - on July 12, 2018: I have the similar problem in My Sonata GLS 2011. Table of Contents. If you suspect a refrigerant leak, take your car to General Automotive. Blown clutch fuse; 9. Allen white on July 26, 2018: Air conditioner keep blowing fuses. But, pinpointing the exact reason … The second option is to use an AC leak sealer, though, keep in mind that these products are meant for small leaks. Select Page. Here is a more detailed list of the most common causes of a car AC not blowing cold air. Thankfully, in this handy guide, we’ll review each of these car AC problems in detail. Bring the car to a reputable auto shop that specializes in car air conditioning systems. If you’ve ever found a small packet in a bottle of medication, or in a new pair of shoes, it’s actually the same stuff. How Much Does It Cost To Rebuild An Engine? If you remember from earlier, the condenser is in charge of removing heat from the refrigerant and then expelling it outward. Traction Control Light Turning On? Without the proper test equipment and, perhaps more importantly, the experience level of the individual diagnosing the problem, these issues are difficult to isolate. When it is not, which of course occurs on the most brutally hot day of the year, the A/C suddenly becomes a cruel joke, blowing warm, stale air into your vehicle. If your car has a “Max AC” setting, select that option.Step 2, Listen for unusual … During the winter when you crank up your heat, the coolant is brought over from the engine to the heater core that then blows warm air into your car. If your AC is blowing hot air, the thermostat may have been accidentally set to “heat.” If this is the case, it’s easy to fix on your own. While it’s in these lines, the heat is absorbed and sent outwards, which reduces it to about 32 degrees. No problem! Why Does My Car Smell Like Burning Rubber After Driving? But, pinpointing the exact reason … You can pick up a canister of either for between $25-$50. The reason is, air conditioning is often left unused in the colder months of the year. There are two options to take care of an AC leak. A/C systems are sealed and therefore don't require refrigerant top-off's. If your car AC blows cold when you’re moving but the AC blows warm at idle, slowdowns or stop lights, it can be caused by any of the items listed below. Depending on the severity of the issue, this can run anywhere between $225-$1600. 1. Why is my car air conditioner not blowing cold air . Leaks or blockages along the refrigerator path; 7. Refrigerant Leaks; 2. Expect to spend between $300-$500 to replace them. A refrigerant leak is unique in the sense that refrigerant evaporates instantly into a gas once it isn't under the pressure of your closed loop A/C system. Because tracking down where the problem is can be tough since many of the wires aren’t visible without dismantling the system. Most of today's cars and trucks have the ability to blow different air temperatures form the drivers and passenger side. The most common causes when car AC is not blowing cold air are an empty AC system, faulty air compressor, faulty AC pressure switch, and a clogged cabin filter. There’s not much worse than expecting an ice-cold breeze, but instead, you’re met with a blast of heat. This not only lowers the temperature further but also causes it to evaporate, turning it back into a gas. Here are some of the most common reasons. If your car AC blows cold then warm, the cause can be a low system charge, moisture in the system, a malfunctioning expansion valve, clogged evaporator fins or an overcharge condition. There are a lot of moving parts in the compressor, making it almost better to replace it than repair it. Thankfully, if you’ve made it this far, you should have a much better idea as to the cause. Start by checking the radiator fans #1 cause of AC blows warm at idle Our Glossary will help you learn automotive lingo and better understand each terminology. Your car uses coolant – usually made up of 50% antifreeze and 50% water – to cool your engine down, especially during the hot months of summer. why is my ac blowing hot air in my car. Questions? A large restriction of refrigerant will also result in your A/C blowing warm air. Car AC blows warm at idle AC blows warm at idle — 4 reasons. Sadly, identifying exactly where the leak is coming from can be difficult. The coolant then returns to the compressor as a low-temperature, low-pressure gas, starting the process all over again. While you may be able to mend any frayed or damaged wires with electrical tape, your best bet is to take it to an experienced professional. If the condenser is blocked by some type of debris from the road, then it will be unable to properly cool the refrigerant and your car’s system will continue to operate with overheated refrigerant. What Is The Difference Between Green & Orange Coolant? There may be a component that is not working correctly. The AC evaporator acts like a huge ice cube with holes in it. If Your Air Conditioner Is Still Blowing out Hot Air. A refrigerant leak can also occur in the. As you may know, the heater core is a small radiator like unit that circulates the hot coolant from the engine through the heater core which then uses this warm coolant to heat the inside of the car with the help of the blower motor that blows the warm air through the vents inside the car. Know about why Car AC not blowing cold air after recharge. ... R13 Freon hasn’t been used in US production cars since 1994. We will email you instructions to reset it. Your repair could be to replace a cut O ring (a $50 repair) or a leak in the evaporator core (a very expensive repair involving removing the instrument panel). The cool air felt from the dash vents is provided by the AC heater blower motor assembly. Electrical wires issues; 10. Also the AC is cold sometimes after driving and I leave the car idle for a long period. When it isn’t, driving in your car can be uncomfortable, especially on hot summer days. Faulty AC compressor clutch relay; 4. What is the problem, if the air conditioner dripping water into the room? We've identified three common A/C System issues to help supply you with information on what may be going on with your vehicle. The second kind flows through the system until it reaches a leak, and then forms a solid substance to help block it. In this case, you need a mechanic to check the problem, bring the car to a reputable shop specializing in auto ac repair, and have it check. Worn out thermal expansion valve; 8. The cool air felt from the dash vents is provided by the AC heater blower motor assembly. Would you still like to change your location? This heater core then passes the hot air it generates into the vehicle with a blower fan. It receives the high-temperature, high-pressure gas from the compressor and radiates the heat out of it. Along with the vibrations and moving parts of a car during driving, things such as heat, road salt, moisture, accidents, and wear on parts can all cause refrigerant to leak from the system. Because the compressor is what gets the refrigerant moving in the first place. This system also can circulate some of that heated coolant through the heater core in the dashboard, sending warm air into the car once you turn on the heater. Take note that a clogged condenser is just a contributing factor to why the car air conditioning blows hot air and not blowing cold air. The unusual thing about coolant is that unlike water, which freezes at 32 degrees, it boils. It all starts in the compressor, and as you might have guessed, if it’s not working correctly, neither will the rest of the system. Another way is to stop in to Pep Boys for a FREE A/C Quick Check (not available in the state of California) and an associate can give a visual inspection of the compressor to ensure that everything looks in order. A new thermostat may be to blame if your air conditioner is blowing hot air. Why is Your Car AC Blowing Hot air? 10 causes why AC blows warm air. Regardless, can you really survive in a hot climate without a working AC system? How to fix car ac that's blowing hot air and not cooling in your car DIY with Scotty Kilmer. Checking the system from time to time is crucial to keep it in a good condition. We have just sent you an email. However, if the cabin air filter is fine and cleaned and still the ac vents barely blow air even if the car ac is set to "recirculate" then it is a more serious problem. If one of these electrical components fail due to age or defect, the system is designed to shut itself down to prevent damage to itself or unsafe conditions for the operator. Although an automotive AC system has few moving parts, diagnosing why your car is blowing warm air can be tricky. See the steps we are taking. As it passes through the expansion valve, it expands, reducing both pressure and heat at the same time. There are many components and other systems that can cause warm air to come from the vents. If you find that hot air is still coming out after both recharging your refrigerant and removing any debris that may be blocking your air conditioning system’s components, you should take your vehicle to a certified mechanic. We will test the pressure and use special dyes to pinpoint the leak. Refrigerant leaks are the most common reason that a car will fair to blow cold air. Each of these can cause the AC to blow lukewarm or hot instead of cold air. When you turn on the car AC, you expect it to blow hot air for the first few minutes. Your A/C blows warm air. 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