Don’t you just hate it when your car air conditioning unit decides to stop blowing cool air? Whether the problem is a lack of power, an overworked compressor, or some other issue that has been getting in the way.
If your car air conditioner has been blowing hot air lately, you’re not alone. Here’s how to fix the problem and get back to cooling off as soon as possible.
So why is your car air conditioner is blowing hot air? If you live in the warmer parts of North America, it’s common for your air conditioning to blow warm air. Usually, this is because a lack of refrigerant has caused an AC system leak and with no more coolants available from outside sources, that part of the machinery just stops working! You may also have issues with your condenser or compressor if these are old models without updated technology-based features like advanced cooling fans.
1. Refrigerant Leak
When the air conditioning in your car is not functioning properly, it’s possible that there are issues with refrigerant levels. Refrigerant circulates through the A/C system to absorb heat and humidity from inside of a vehicle; without enough liquid, other components will fail as well.
The importance of having proper refrigeration levels can’t be overstated: if you notice any malfunctions or problems when using your AC unit at home or while driving around town on a hot day, make sure to get it checked out by an expert mechanic soon before more serious damage occurs.
Typical refrigerant leaks in a car can be caused by many factors. Such as the following:
- Aging components that are slowly deteriorating, such as gaskets or seals;
- Incorrect chemical compositions of your A/C system affecting its efficiency levels and durability (such as too much oil)
- Use of incompatible cooling fluids like water for cars with air conditioning systems designed to use R134A
In addition to being responsible for cooling down your vehicle at high speed or when parked outside on hot summer days,
refrigerants also play an important role during emergency situations such as earthquakes by making sure buildings stay cool enough so they don’t overheat with extended power outages.
Leaks can happen because of old hoses or even punctured evaporators but leaks are not easily detectable due to their thin consistency which dissipates quickly into the surrounding air, unlike motor oil.
2. Broken Condenser
Air conditioning systems work by pulling the heat and humidity out of your cabin, absorbing them. The condenser then works to keep the refrigerant cool so it can continue on its cycle – but if not enough care is taken, you’ll be slapped in the face with a blast of hot air!
A car’s condenser sits at the front of the vehicle, between a grill and radiator. It uses air flowing through this grate to assist in cooling your engine by drawing out the hot coolant from inside it.
If you have debris like leaves or dirt clogging up an opening on your radiator that lets cold air enter into it (called “the mouth”), then there will be less circulation in general throughout the system. This will prevent the refrigerant from being cooled enough which could lead to damage if not repaired quickly.
If one looks closely you may see what appears as delicate metal fins with blades coming off them running down either side for about 4 inches across each end and these are really just fancy vents meant specifically to draw more cool outside air into the process allowing
3. Faulty Compressor
Your car air conditioning is a vital part of your vehicle’s cooling system. It circulates the coolant through the pipes and removes heat from our cabin in hot weather, but it can’t do that if its heart isn’t beating properly. If something goes wrong with this component, you may find yourself stuck on summer days without any AC – which could be deadly for pets or babies!
So how does one go about protecting themselves against faulty air conditioning compressors?
First off, they need to keep an eye out for their car during long periods of inactivity such as winter when there’s no demand for heating systems.
Over time, these parts will stop working completely so make sure your car gets checked in the lead up to summer.
The compressor is responsible for circulating the refrigerant through the system, ensuring that antifreeze can reach and cool off your condenser year-round without a break in service caused by long periods of inactivity such as winter when you don’t need to use an air conditioner.
If your compressor isn’t working correctly, you’ll be left without cool air in summer and cold winter mornings when it’s still too early to start up a vehicle engine or turn on an electric heater.
The solution? Most newer cars actually have air systems that keep condensers active during warm weather so they can do their job effectively no matter what time of year it is!
4. Defective Electrical System
It’s easy to forget that there are a ton of things that can cause your car A/C not to work, like electrical issues. It’s important for you to keep an eye out on all the components and wires in case they break or fray due to wear-and-tear from daily use.
The first thing I do when my A/C stops working is checked if any frayed wiring has caused it stops blowing cold air.
This is one of the most common problems that arise. A loose wire or blown fuse blocks the feed to certain parts of your cooling system and prevents it from functioning properly. To diagnose it, you should start by inspecting for any frayed wires near where they connect to the battery terminal as well as wiring inside under the hood.
You can also do a visual inspection of your fuse box and wiring to diagnose any problems that may be preventing it from working properly.
