With the obvious expectation of feeling the cool air on switching on your air conditioner, the confusion is when you’re treated with warm air instead. There might be various several reasons causing this. This issue might be related to the overall repair or servicing of the car. So, here are 10 reasons why your car AC is not cooling enough.
1. Leaking Refrigerant
Car AC Cooling Reduces Due To Refrigerant Leak |
It is one of the most common reasons for the AC not cooling enough. When a car AC system develops a leak, it is referred to as the ‘open system’. The natural wear and tear of the system, road salt and brine used during the winter months can cause the erosion of the parts or even the damage caused by the road debris or accidents and the moisture entering through a rubber hose or any other component break causes these leaks.
2. Bad Compressor
The car AC compressor is the heart of the entire system. A dirty coil, blocked suction lines, low refrigerant charge, incorrect suction line size, too much refrigerant are some of the common causes which hamper a compressor. Faulty Cooling Fans. These damages can irregulate the refrigerant flow, can cause loud noises, may leave the clutch immobile and can damage the entire AC system affected.
3. Broken Condenser
The major causes for the broken condenser are the simple wear and tear of the seals and parts caused by the ageing. As the seals alone cannot be replaced, the entire condenser has to be replaced and thus it is an expensive procedure. Lukewarm air from the vents, burning smell, overheating while idling, noticeable coolant leaks, warning lights on the dashboard is some of the visible effects of a broken condenser.
4. Clogged Cabin Air Filter
Clogged vs Clean Air Filter Reduces Car AC Cooling
The cabin Air filters can capture dust, bugs, leaves and other various types of debris. A dirty air filter can impede your AC’s ability to cool and sometimes could cause unnecessary strain on the entire system. Poor airflow, unusual odour from vents, increased fan noise are some of the obvious signs that the car cabin air filter is clogged.
5. Clogged Condenser
It is a common phenomenon that the condensers get clogged with the remains of the refrigerant and other particle deposits. Also, since the condenser is located at the front of the vehicle, it is more exposed to debris from the road such as leaves, plastic bags or rocks that could cause punctures. A clogged condenser fails to cool down the hot refrigerants, thus damaging the whole system.
6. Damaged serpentine belt
The serpentine belt is a long, winding, rubber belt which encircles the pulleys connected to the car engine and its accessories, including the AC unit. If it breaks the AC will not operate because the compressor is not pumping. A technician can inspect the belt for wear and use a special gauge to determine how much life it has left.
7. Faulty AC Blower
If you are actually not getting air from the AC of the car, the problem may not even be in the main AC system. This is a problem with the car’s fan. Most vehicles today have one multi-speed fan that blows air through a series of ducts and vents based on the driver’s selection in their climate control system. The blower motor resistor or blower module gets hot as it powers the fan so, oftentimes, they can burn out causing certain speeds of the fan in your car to stop working.
8. Stuck up Blend Air Door
When the car AC is stuck in heat mode when the cooling mode is on, a malfunctioning temperature blend door actuator motor could be the cause. It determines the temperature of the air flowing through the passenger compartment. If the A/C is operating, the air is dehumidified and cooled. The more air the blend door directs through the heater core, the warmer the air entering the passenger compartment.
9. AC Evaporator Core
The AC evaporator acts like a huge ice cube with holes in it. It allows the hot, cabin air to flow through the core, rapidly cools this air, and blows it out into the cabin again. The cool air felt from the dash vents is provided by the AC heater blower motor assembly. The number one cause of failure of the core is a leak due to age and wear. A green and oily substance may appear in the drain tube if larger leaks are present.
10. Electrical Issues
The wiring, switches, fuses, relays, and other components of the electrical system carry power to the AC unit and are designed to shut down in the event of even one part failing. While this prevents serious trouble such as electrical fires, it also means that a single blown fuse can cause the entire air conditioner to stop working. Some of the most common causes of AC failure are rooted in electronics.
Also, read 10 Signs That Your Car Needs Brakes Replacement
Just because the AC system is not cooling enough, doesn’t mean it cannot be fixed. Proper car servicing and maintenance, the various issues related to the car AC system can be dealt with. You can always rely on certified mechanics at Pitstop to diagnose and rectify any problem with your car’s AC system.
