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. There are exceptions. The refrigerant passes into a part called compressor, which pumps it. We mentioned above that the condenser often has a pair of cooling fans in front that aid in the removal of heat from the liquid refrigerant. Any time a system in your car … Even though all these things make it very difficult for a vehicle owner to understand why their AC is blowing hot air, there are some things you can check easily to help narrow down what the problem might be. Start with the fan speed turned to its highest setting. The main problem is a refrigerant leak in which you need to replenish the system with enough amount of refrigerant after the leak is repaired. My AC is only blowing through the defrost vent and the temperature control doesn't do anything. It can also be due to a problem in the condenser, the compressor, the cooling fan, or the electrical system of your car. Cooling fans are not the sturdiest components in a modern vehicle. The main job of the condenser is to remove heat from the liquid refrigerant coming from the compressor. Armed with that info, let’s explore how you got into this mess. Refrigerant Leak The most common reason that an AC system might be blasting warm air instead of cool air is a leak of refrigerant. Car heater problems are also frequently associated with heater core difficulties: coolant may not be traveling through the heater core properly, the air from the blower motor is not reaching it or there’s a clog in the small tubing of the heater core. How Does a Car Air Conditioning System Work? On top of that, there are certain environmental concerns involved with refrigerant that require special attention. Automotive A/C systems have certain intricacies in their design that render them difficult to repair without the proper equipment and knowledge base. Here’s another air flow issue that can result in your AC blowing warm air. When there isn’t enough freon, the air conditioner’s clucth won’t come on, which will also affect the compressor from cycling. If your air conditioner is blowing warm air, or just not working properly, it is best to schedule service ASAP to maximize your comfort. There are several reasons why your AC might be blowing hot air. First, don’t panic. Related article: Why and how to change an air filter. 6 Reasons Why Your Car’s Air Conditioner Might Be Blowing Hot Air. Troubleshoot these common car air conditioning system problems. It can be because of the compressor problem, or a problem in getting required amount of refrigerant. The other problem is related to a broken condenser. If debris has caused a clog in the heater core, it will need to be replaced. The Front Blower Motor Relay (also known as the AC Relay), located behind the junction block with a black connector, B05, is the culprit. You probably just need to recharge your a/c. Car is its own language—luckily, we’re fluent. You will still get air flow through the AC vents in the passenger compartment because of the fans in this section. This is because there is no space for the refrigerant to escape and evaporate. It’s that time of year again. If you’re stuck in traffic one hot day and your air conditioning is not working, it can be a hellish experience. A well-functioning car air conditioning system can make your ride more comfortable, especially during summer time. Once it’s switched, try your AC again. We curate, you discover! Without the proper test equipment and, perhaps more importantly, the experience level of the individual diagnosing the problem, these issues are difficult to isolate. One of the main reasons why a compressor may fail is if it was not used for a very long time. Firstly, your air compressor could be hitting a wall. In most cases, it's due to a loss of refrigerant in the system. Due to its complicated design, compressor failure can be attributed to contamination or other failed parts within the system. Yet the problems that can cause an auto AC to perform in such a way tend to be the same problems. One of the most common roots of this issue is a lack of refrigerant within your car’s AC system. Thankfully, in this article, we’ll review each of these car AC problems in detail. Air compressor could be hitting a wall. Other possibilities include a faulty compressor, broken cooling fans, or an issue in your electrical system. 1-800-PEP-BOYS (737-2697), We are here for our customers, Team Members and neighbors. For example, before you go tearing apart the ventilation system in your car, it can be smart to check the AC lines under the hood. From here, the refrigerant turns into a gaseous state again before reaching the evaporator. The first reason why your AC isn’t blowing cool air is because it needs a freon recharge. If the condenser is already broken, there is nothing left to do than to replace it with a new one. Return vents closed or blocked. Its function is to circulate refrigerant through a series of Onlines that allow it to remove heat from your vehicles cabin. This makes it quite challenging to determine where the leak is. We've identified three common A/C System issues to help supply you with information on what may be going on with your vehicle. There are some things that you can do to help prolong the life of your vehicle's compressor. There can be couple of reasons for the air conditioner to blow hot air. It was blowing cold just yesterday! Air conditioners can freeze solid into a block of ice, a common reason for your AC blowing hot air. Call In particular, the blower motor may be failing or the blower wheel may be slipping from the blower motor shaft. If an account exists, an email will be sent with further instructions. The most common cause of an AC system blowing warm air is a lack of refrigerant, though, you may also have a problem with your condenser. A puncture in any of the tubes of the condenser can lead to a leaking refrigerant. This is easy to in most modern vehicles since they utilize the compressor when the defroster, which is used year round, is activated. A refrigerant is a special kind of gas (but compressed to liquid) that gives the unit its cooling ability. Take care of it now. Reasons Why Your AC Is Blowing Warm Air. The problem is that it is not always easy to diagnose an electrical problem. The air conditioner won’t run properly unless your engine is running. Hot air coming from your car AC vents can mean that you have low levels of refrigerant. There is an inexpensive, fast, easy fix. I had a 1980 Ferrari that did not come stock with AC. Would you still like to change your location? When Freon starts to get low, the A/C can start intermittently blowing out cool air—particularly when it reaches a certain speed—and blowing hot air at other times. Any degree of blockage in the system can lead to the condenser not being able to execute its principal function. Starting it shocks the system and can hasten the speed of its deterioration. The best setting for diagnosis is “fresh air” (not recirculated) with the air blowing out of the center vents in the dash and the AC turned on. Leaks in your A/C don't result in the normal tell tale puddles of fluid under your vehicle like those of an oil or antifreeze leak. Questions? This allows the liquid to “cool” down before it converts again into gas as it moves through the rest of the AC system. Here are some of the most common reasons. They can crack if hit by a road debris. This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. If the heater control valve is the culprit, the air coming into your vehicle won’t feel warm. Another possibility is that the blower will only operate at its … You know that there’s a problem but what could be causing your AC to blow hot air? The first thing to check is the levels of Freon in the system. If you believe your AC is having issues, bring your car in to a trained and experienced auto repair technician to diagnose what exactly is behind your cooling woes. Within your car, the AC system is sealed and … Symptoms of a Bad or Failing AC Pressure Switch, The Best Cabin Air Filters (Review) in 2020, The Best Car Air Fresheners (Review) in 2020, Help us to show you This leads to a loss of its fundamental function. We will email you instructions to reset it. First, make sure to run the compressor for about 10 minutes once a month in the off season, regardless of the temperature outside. Other potential causes of a problem in the cooling fan are a blown fuse and some other electrical problem. No problem! There are other potential reasons why your AC is blowing hot air, but these are the most common problems car owners run into. If there are signs of damage, it is possible to mend the wires.