August 18, 2021
What Could Be Wrong with Your Car’s A/C?
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Nobody wants to drive around their car sweating like a pig, especially on a hot summer day.
Imagine being on a long road trip to another city and your car’s A/C suddenly starts blowing hot air, with the temperature quickly reaching 150 degrees. And you still got two hours before arriving at your destination! Now that’s going to be one hell of a ride (no pun intended).
So, what might be the problem? What could cause your air conditioner to blow warm air all of a sudden? That’s what we’ll find out here.
It’s essential to identify the issue so you can troubleshoot the unit yourself. That way, you can try to fix it before taking it to your local mechanic.
Veteran Car Donations presents five possible reasons why your car’s A/C is blowing hot air:
- Leaking refrigerant
A leaking refrigerant is one of the common reasons why an air conditioner stops producing cold air. Refrigerant is a liquid that’s responsible for providing the A/C its cooling ability. Without proper levels of refrigerant, none of the A/C’s components will be able to function accordingly.
An old hose or punctured or rusted evaporator are usually the culprits behind a refrigerant leak.
However, you might have a hard time discovering a leak, and you might not even notice a puddle of liquid anywhere. How come? Well, unlike motor oil and other car fluids, the refrigerant evaporates as soon as it gets exposed to the atmosphere. Chances of you seeing an oil residue at the leaky area are super slim.
To close the leak, you or a technician can use a sealant specifically for A/C units.
- Bad compressor
The compressor gives life to your car’s air conditioner, keeping it running at all times. Your refrigerant won’t circulate through the system without it, which means that you’ll never get cool air.
Compressors are most likely to experience issues after long periods of inactivity, particularly once the winter season ends. Using your car again after leaving it dormant all winter long will shock the system.
Running your A/C system on full blast for at least 15 minutes once every three weeks is the best way to fix a bad compressor. Doing so keeps it fresh while extending its lifespan.
If you have a newer model, you can prevent a broken compressor from happening by activating your condenser under the defrost setting.
- Blocked or broken condenser
A blocked or broken condenser makes it impossible for your unit to cool the refrigerant correctly, leaving your car’s system no choice but to operate with overheated refrigerant.
When the A/C pulls the heat out of your cabin, the refrigerant absorbs it. Then, the condenser will keep the refrigerant cool to continue the cycle. If the cycle breaks, expect your car to feel like a steam room.
You can find the condenser at the front of your car, so spotting any debris or other elements possibly blocking it shouldn’t be a problem. If you find one, simply remove it from the grill of your vehicle and you’re good.
However, if the issue is a broken condenser, the only way to solve it is by replacing it.
- Defective cooling fans
With malfunctioning fans, your condenser won’t get proper cooling, which will eventually result in your car emitting hot air. If you suspect that something’s wrong with your cooling fans, carefully inspect them for cracks or broken parts.
Replacement is your only option if you’re dealing with a damaged fan. If the problem stems from a blown fuse or other electrical issues, you might want to seek help from a professional.
- Faulty electrical system
If all components of your A/C are in perfect order, that leaves the electrical system to blame. A thorough visual examination of all wiring should be performed to determine if there are broken or frayed wires.
If you do find any damaged wires, mend them with electrical tape or just replace them altogether. However, if you fail to see any electrical issues, you should take your car to an auto expert for diagnosis.
Help Improve the Lives of Our Struggling Vets
Did you know that a barely running automobile can be transformed into a life-changing instrument for the benefit of struggling American veterans? If you have such a clunker, hand it over to us at Veteran Car Donations, and we’ll use it to improve the lives of the suffering vets in your community, making it possible for them to live the life they long to have.
We’ll put your vehicle up for auction, with the proceeds going to our veteran-focused nonprofit partners. These IRS-certified 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations are fully committed as we are to extend assistance to former service members who are homeless and jobless as well as those who are suffering from service-connected disabilities and illnesses, including mental health disorders.
These nonprofits use the funding that we provide them to deliver free quality health care, financial aid, housing assistance, employment opportunities, family support, educational scholarships, psychotherapy services, and many other benefits to deserving veterans and their families.
Your act of charity will also allow you to dispose of a clunker you no longer need at no cost to you. We’ll provide you with our free professional towing service wherever you are in the country.
Moreover, your gift will entitle you to receive the maximum tax deduction in the next tax season.
Best of all, you’ll get to experience the priceless satisfaction of helping our nation’s heroes live the decent and satisfying life they fully deserve.
We accept almost all types of vehicles regardless of their age or condition for as long as they have valid titles and are not a total wreck. If you’re uncertain about your vehicle’s eligibility for our program, check out this page.
For more details on our vehicle donation program, including our quick and easy donation process, visit our FAQs page. Call us at 877-594-5822 or send us a message here should you have any questions or concerns that you’d like us to address.
Support Our Hurting Heroes Today!
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That old commuter car lying dormant in your garage is worth so much more than you think. Hand it over to Veteran Car Donations and we’ll use it to transform the lives of the hurting heroes in your community. Call us at 877-594-5822 or fill out our online donation form now!
Last Updated: August 23rd, 2023