One of the best things about summer is that the weather is perfect for road trips, be it with family or friends. It’s a totally different story though when extreme summer heat kicks in and you find out that your car is not blowing cold air. High temperatures will not only make the trip uncomfortable for you and your passengers, your health could actually suffer if it gets too hot inside the car.
So before you hit the road, check if your air conditioning system is working or not. If it isn’t, here are possible reasons why the car A/C is blowing hot air:
Your air conditioner has excess moisture and contaminants
Your AC unit cleans air by forcing warm air for release. Moisture and debris can disrupt this process and hinder your air conditioner from cooling your vehicle.
Your refrigerant is running low
Car refrigerant eventually runs out but not for a long period of time. If your refrigerant is running low despite the car being new or a recent refrigerant refill, it’s possible that you have a leak. Leaks commonly happen at the AC unit hose connection where the rubber material wears out over time due to exposure to heat or moisture.
Your blend air door is malfunctioning
The blend air door switches heat to cool air in your AC unit. If you have a faulty blend door, it could keep on blowing warm air.
Your AC compressor is not engaging
If the compressor is not working, the refrigerant level might be low or there could be an electrical issue in the compressor itself. Overheating is another possible why the compressor won’t engage.
Your cooling fan has stopped working
Most cars nowadays have multi-speed fans that push air through vents. The speeds of these fans are controlled by a small computer module or resistors. When either of these gets too hot, they can burn out and affect the speed. If this happens, the fan could get stuck at a single speed or completely stop working.
Your condenser is broken / clogged
The condenser cools down high-pressure refrigerant vapors released by the compressor. A condenser clogged with dirt and debris could block the flow of cold air.
Your vehicle has electrical issues
Electrical wirings can sustain damage for a variety of reasons. This issue could be the hardest one to diagnose as it requires visual inspection of all your wirings to locate the damage.
Don’t let a broken AC ruin an otherwise fun and relaxing summer vacation. Have a professional mechanic check your vehicle if you’re beginning to experience some of the problems mentioned above. Road trips can be awesome but nobody wants to drive or ride a toaster!
Products Mentioned in this Guide
A/C Compressor
Cooling Fan Assembly
A/C Condenser
Any information provided on this Website is for informational purposes only and is not intended to replace consultation with a professional mechanic. The accuracy and timeliness of the information may change from the time of publication.
