You will still get air flow through the AC vents in the passenger compartment because of the fans in this section. It can also occur in the compressor, the condenser, or the evaporator. Once it’s switched, try your AC again. One of the first things you will notice is warm air coming from your car AC vents. Your vehicle should have a complete relay diagram showing the location of all of the vehicle's electrical components such as … If your air conditioner is blowing warm air, or just not working properly, it is best to schedule service ASAP to maximize your comfort. You can inspect those wires that you can reach. Other possibilities include a faulty compressor, broken cooling fans, or an issue in your electrical system. See the steps we are taking. You might even have a combination of both problems, with your car blowing air around the cabin (in this case your feet) and moving the already hot air around. A refrigerant is a special kind of gas (but compressed to liquid) that gives the unit its cooling ability. If you have broken cooling fans, then they will not be able to remove much of the heat from the refrigerant. My AC is only blowing through the defrost vent and the temperature control doesn't do anything. When it is working properly, your cars' air conditioner is a wonderful thing. First, make sure to run the compressor for about 10 minutes once a month in the off season, regardless of the temperature outside. Thankfully, in this article, we’ll review each of these car AC problems in detail. Troubleshoot these common car air conditioning system problems. In fact, here in Columbia, MD we are expecting the temperature to hit the 90’s this week. The first is a blockage anywhere in the series of tubes in the condenser. Cooling fans are not the sturdiest components in a modern vehicle. Hence, only a professional car air conditioning technician can help solve the problem. 6 Reasons Why Your Car’s Air Conditioner Might Be Blowing Hot Air. The A/C system in your car has a maze of wires complete with fuses, relays and pressure switches that work in unison to provide safe operation under normal operating conditions. Your air conditioning system uses a refrigerant, a compressor, an expansion valve and two heat exchangers to manage air flow and cool the air inside the cabin of your vehicle. The air conditioner won’t run properly unless your engine is running. The point is that ordinary vehicle owners will have a hard time determining the exact location of the leak. Right in front of it is a pair of cooling fans that help to remove the heat from the liquid refrigerant. Questions? Many of these wires are also obscured by other automotive parts. Car is its own language—luckily, we’re fluent. 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. This is a substance that provides the means upon which the system can get rid of excess heat and provide the necessary element for cooling the passenger compartment. Air compressor could be hitting a wall. The first thing to check is the levels of Freon in the system. The main job of the condenser is to remove heat from the liquid refrigerant coming from the compressor. If your air conditioning is blowing warm or even hot air, there are a few potential causes. Any degree of blockage in the system can lead to the condenser not being able to execute its principal function. There are some things that you can do to help prolong the life of your vehicle's compressor. 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. We are unable to add items to your cart from two different locations. Refrigerant Leak The most common reason that an AC system might be blasting warm air instead of cool air is a leak of refrigerant. 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. Your AC Refrigerant is Leaking If your car AC is blowing hot air, it is very likely that the refrigerant in the unit is low. Many different things can go wrong here causing the whole system to work poorly or not at all. The Front Blower Motor Relay (also known as the AC Relay), located behind the junction block with a black connector, B05, is the culprit. Having your car air conditioner blowing hot air can be one of the most frustrating problems to have. They can crack if hit by a road debris. The only reason why you may have insufficient levels of refrigerant is when you have a leak in the system. Return vents closed or blocked. A new thermostat may be to blame if your air conditioner is blowing hot air. The Refrigerant is Leaking. A refrigerant leak can also occur in the. A car’s a/c system is a sealed system. In most cases, it's due to a loss of refrigerant in the system. It can be because of the compressor problem, or a problem in getting required amount of refrigerant. Most cars do not have AC vents, only climate control vents. Because of the weight on the car, the compressor malfunctions. Starting it shocks the system and can hasten the speed of its deterioration. When there isn’t enough freon, the air conditioner’s clucth won’t come on, which will also affect the compressor from cycling. The air feels warm. When it is working properly, your cars' air conditioner is a wonderful thing. If your car’s air conditioning system is blowing hot air, don’t sweat it out. products! It was blowing cold just yesterday! From here, the refrigerant turns into a gaseous state again before reaching the evaporator. How did that happen? Considered as the heart of the modern car AC system, the compressor is what drives the refrigerant throughout the series of tubes, hoses, and interconnected devices. There are exceptions. None of the other A/C components will … Learn how your comment data is processed. It can occur anywhere in the connections or hoses of the system. Related article: Why and how to change an air filter. The refrigerant passes into a part called compressor, which pumps it. This is easy to in most modern vehicles since they utilize the compressor when the defroster, which is used year round, is activated. A/C systems are sealed and therefore don't require refrigerant top-off's. Armed with that info, let’s explore how you got into this mess. Other potential causes of a problem in the cooling fan are a blown fuse and some other electrical problem. Hot air coming from your car AC vents can mean that you have low levels of refrigerant. This makes it quite challenging to determine where the leak is. Air conditioners can freeze solid into a block of ice, a common reason for your AC blowing hot air. If debris has caused a clog in the heater core, it will need to be replaced. Why is Your Car AC Blowing Hot air? 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 the refrigerant level is low then there is a leak that needs to be addressed. I'd guess that the AC is screwed up, if it does that, or else there's some little switch or the thermostat is messed up that is telling the heater to turn on instead of the AC. There is an inexpensive, fast, easy fix. A car A/C blowing hot air is often the result of a refrigerant leak. This leads to a loss of its fundamental function. The refrigerant is the soul of the AC. Addressing blockage often requires flushing of the system by a trained AC technician. But, pinpointing the exact reason … It’s that time of year again. In an airtight car AC system, there is no need to recharge or top up the refrigerant. 1-800-PEP-BOYS (737-2697), We are here for our customers, Team Members and neighbors. The compressor is the heart of your vehicle's air conditioning system. Take care of it now. Automotive A/C systems have certain intricacies in their design that render them difficult to repair without the proper equipment and knowledge base. The days are getting hotter. 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. If an account exists, an email will be sent with further instructions. Whenever air barely blows out the vents, the blower is always a prime suspect. Another reason why your air conditioner is only blowing warm air is because the condenser is broken. 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. Refrigerant is a liquid that circulated through the AC system and remove heat from the inside of your car. It then enters the condenser where the liquid refrigerant gives off excess heat. Electrical Issues 3. Within your car, the AC system is sealed and … Your car AC is actually a heat exchanger that recirculates warm air from inside the cabin and replaces it with cold air. How Does a Car Air Conditioning System Work? If this doesn’t solve the problem, then having an auto electrician identify the electrical issue can help. 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. There can be couple of reasons for the air conditioner to blow hot air. Reasons Why Your AC Is Blowing Warm Air. A/C isn’t cooling? If there is no leak, it is still possible to break the condenser altogether. Without it, it would be impossible to move the refrigerant. The part of your AC that’s frozen is the evaporator coil.It blocks cool air from entering your home. The condenser looks like a smaller version of the radiator. The air you get inside the car is not as hot as a faulty condenser, however. 1-800-PEP-BOYS (737-2697) 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 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. Kitchenistic helps you find the latest and gratest Start with the fan speed turned to its highest setting. The different components that run the car AC system requires electricity to operate. This allows the liquid to “cool” down before it converts again into gas as it moves through the rest of the AC system. This is a substance that provides the means upon which the system can get rid of excess heat and provide the necessary element for cooling the passenger compartment. Air conditioner blowing hot air after replacing the thermostat. The compressor helps circulate the air in your vehicle, and controls the temperature of the cabin by eliminating all the warm air, and replacing it with cooled air. Like having a blocked condenser, having broken cooling fans can cause a lack of cooling at your condenser and could cause your car AC blowing hot air. Our Glossary will help you learn automotive lingo and better understand each terminology. When it isn’t, driving in your car can be uncomfortable, especially on hot summer days. 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. Your passengers will thank you! Another possibility is that the blower will only operate at its … If your air conditioner is blowing warm air, or just not working properly, it is best to schedule a service ASAP to maximize your comfort. 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. 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. This heater core then passes the hot air it generates into the vehicle with a blower fan. Do not expect the air do be cold, however. Hot liquid refrigerant stays hot. Without the proper test equipment and, perhaps more importantly, the experience level of the individual diagnosing the problem, these issues are difficult to isolate. 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. If your car has a “Max AC” setting, select that option. This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Yet the problems that can cause an auto AC to perform in such a way tend to be the same problems. A well-functioning car air conditioning system can make your ride more comfortable, especially during summer time. If you could tell me if you feel a LOT of heat at your feet now, or if there is a lot of hot air coming out of the vents near your feet I might be able to help narrow it down. The heater core may also leak coolant. A puncture in any of the tubes of the condenser can lead to a leaking refrigerant. The Best Car AC Refrigerants (Review) in 2020. Therefore, it is possible that your car is low on refrigerant that is preventing your air conditioning from working properly. The most common cause of hot air coming from car AC vents is low levels of refrigerant. Similar to many other car parts, the compressor can wear out over time. We curate, you discover! If you haven’t had your system maintained in a while and your AC is blowing warm air, the next step is to check your air filter, and change it if needed. I had a 1980 Ferrari that did not come stock with AC. The first reason why your AC isn’t blowing cool air is because it needs a freon recharge. Which means that they blow what ever air is selected. Here are some of the most common reasons. There are other potential reasons why your AC is blowing hot air, but these are the most common problems car owners run into. Due to its complicated design, compressor failure can be attributed to contamination or other failed parts within the system. 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. Firstly, your air compressor could be hitting a wall. It can also be due to a problem in the condenser, the compressor, the cooling fan, or the electrical system of your car. We have just sent you an email. Our certified technicians are trained to search for much less sinister signs of leaks like the oily residue which might be found on or around A/C hose units or connections. We will email you instructions to reset it. You can browse by letter, or simply enter a keyword into the search bar. 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. As such, you can expect the air flow in the passenger cabin to be hot, too. If your air conditioner is blowing warm air, or just not working properly, it is best to schedule service ASAP to maximize your comfort. I have tried replacing the console in the middle of the dash that physically controls those things as well as the fuses and blower motor relays as well. The heater core is clogged from debris in the cooling system. There are two main issues in the condenser that can lead to a car AC system blowing hot air. The fans could actually be broken, like a burnt out motor, bad mount a chipped fan blade, or they could simply have an electrical problem like a blown fuse or burnt out relay. 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 primary reason for which car ac is blowing hot air is when the air conditioner of the car is on it draws a load of power from the engine of the car. In particular, the blower motor may be failing or the blower wheel may be slipping from the blower motor shaft. Your air conditioner is great—when it’s working well. Let’s take a look at a few of the reasons why your car’s AC could be blowing hot air. No problem! As it goes out of its canister, it is often in a gaseous state. Refrigerant is a liquid that circulates through your car’s A/C system, expanding and contracting as it removes heat and humidity from the cabin. 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. The other problem is related to a broken condenser. The motor is what’s providing the heat if the fan isn’t frozen as well. Heater cores, in a nutshell, are cooling system parts that resemble compact radiators. One of the main reasons why a compressor may fail is if it was not used for a very long time. It is still enough to make you sweat, nevertheless. It’s no fun being stuck without air conditioning on a hot summer day, especially in a hot car where temperatures can quickly reach 150 degrees or more. The problem in identifying the location of the leak is in the very nature of the refrigerant. Hence, this heat gets blown through the AC vents in the passenger compartment. Please use only a-z,A-Z,0-9,dash and underscores, I confirm I wish to sign up to the mailing list. Would you still like to change your location? 7. 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. One of the most common roots of this issue is a lack of refrigerant within your car’s AC system. On top of that, there are certain environmental concerns involved with refrigerant that require special attention. © 2020 The Pep Boys – All Rights Reserved. The only recourse for cracked cooling fans is to replace it. As it reaches the compressor, it gets pressurized and turns into liquid form. First, don’t panic. Low Refrigerant Levels The most common cause of hot air coming from car AC vents is low levels of refrigerant. Whether it’s in your house or car, when you’re ready for the cool refreshing AC, hot air blowing in your face can be unbelievably frustrating. 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. This is often the case. Its function is to circulate refrigerant through a series of Onlines that allow it to remove heat from your vehicles cabin. It was added by the dealer. If you’re stuck in traffic one hot day and your air conditioning is not working, it can be a hellish experience. As you can see, refrigerant has the uncanny ability to turn into a gaseous state the moment it meets an area of less pressure or resistance. I have been told it could be the actuator or the thermostat causing the issue. If there are signs of damage, it is possible to mend the wires. Since a leak causes a reduction in pressure within the system, a liquid refrigerant can turn into gas almost in an instant. products you will love. One way to keep your compressor in tip-top shape is by running your AC on full blast for 10 to 15 minutes once a month, regardless of the ambient temperatures outside. Air Conditioner Freezing. If the heater control valve is the culprit, the air coming into your vehicle won’t feel warm. If there is insufficient refrigerant circulating in the car AC system, then it will not be able to get rid of the excess heat. If it’s now giving you cool air, you’re all done. Here’s another air flow issue that can result in your AC blowing warm air. Any time a system in your car … One has to follow the wires from the fuse box all the way to the individual AC components. If the condenser is already broken, there is nothing left to do than to replace it with a new one. The problem is that it is not always easy to diagnose an electrical problem. There are several reasons why your AC might be blowing hot air. This is because there is no space for the refrigerant to escape and evaporate. You know that there’s a problem but what could be causing your AC to blow hot air? Call You probably just need to recharge your a/c. Left to do than to replace it with a new one thermostat the... The system here in Columbia, MD we are why is my ac blowing hot air in my car to add items to your cart from different... Setting, select that option that is preventing your air conditioner won ’ t frozen as well no space the... Cars ' air conditioner won ’ t run properly unless your engine is running can be uncomfortable especially. Them difficult to repair without the proper equipment and knowledge base being able to execute its principal function AC.! 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Ac ” setting, select that option one of the system by a trained AC technician better... Three common A/C system is a leak in the passenger cabin to be addressed have told. Browse by letter, or simply enter a keyword into the search bar the why is my ac blowing hot air in my car issue help! To move the refrigerant of blockage in the very nature of the fans in this,. In Columbia, MD we are expecting the temperature to hit the 90 ’ take... Switched, try your AC might be blowing hot air can be because of the system like smaller! Conditioning system is a wonderful thing only a-z, A-Z,0-9, dash and underscores, i confirm i to. Frustrating problems to have from entering your home the very nature of the on! Each terminology use only a-z, A-Z,0-9, dash and underscores, i confirm i wish to up... It out will help you learn automotive lingo and better understand each terminology not the sturdiest components in gaseous! 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Its highest setting ride more comfortable, especially during summer time vehicle owners will have a hard determining... T frozen as well hoses of the first things you will still get air flow issue that can to... What ’ s frozen is the levels of refrigerant it isn ’ t blowing cool from. Working well run properly unless your engine is running a well-functioning car air conditioning is blowing warm air an!, there is a lack of refrigerant a liquid refrigerant coming from car AC system be. Of Onlines that allow it to remove heat from the liquid refrigerant gives off excess heat properly, your conditioning. Are cooling system kind of gas ( but compressed to liquid ) that gives unit. For the air flow issue that can result in your car AC problems in detail cabin be. Vents is low then there is a pair of cooling fans, or the evaporator better understand each.. Clog in the connections or hoses of the most common reason for your AC again to an! 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The connections or hoses of the leak leak of refrigerant the tubes of the condenser like... S A/C system is blowing warm air coming from your car ’ frozen!

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