How Does The Ac Clutch Work
The AC clutch is located in front of the compressor and is in charge of taking energy from the engine and delivering it to the compressor. The compressor then uses this energy provided to perform its task of increasing pressure and eventually playing a crucial part in churning out cool air.
To transfer the energy from the engine to the compressor, the clutch engages and starts to spin. However, if it doesnt work in the first place, the compressor wouldnt function either and the whole process would stop.
Your Car Is Leaking Refrigerant
Your refrigerant is continuously recycled, only being recharged if there is a leak in the system. Think you might have a leak? The first symptom will be your AC blowing warm air. But how do we find the leak?
Sadly, it can be quite tricky due to the refrigerant returning to gas when it reaches areas of low-pressure where your leak might be. So what can we do? Fortunately, there are two avenues we can explore.
First, you can take your car to a mechanic. They will have far more experience and locate the leak, then either repair or replace the necessary parts. Unfortunately, these can be costly repairs to have completed depending on the severity of the leak.
Your other option is to use an AC leak sealer to stop the leaks. These are best suited for small leaks, so keep that in mind when considering your options. You can choose from two types of leak sealers.
The first type will condition your seals, causing them to swell, stopping a leak. The second type will flow through your entire system until it finds the leak, forming a solid substance to block it, reducing any leak space.
Leak sealers are an affordable option. They will often feature a nozzle to connect directly to the high-pressure port for easy use. Be sure to follow the instructions on your sealer carefully when using it.
Issue With The Thermostat
Does your car thermostat stay remain at C despite starting the car? If yes, then there may be a problem with the thermostat.
The thermostat housing is located near the dashboard. It opens when the coolant takes up the heat up to a specific temperature and needs to go into the radiator. If the thermostat is not working correctly, then hot coolant will not flow into the heater core, which is why your heater may not be working.
The best thing is you can change the thermostat and then check whether the car heater is blowing hot or cold air. If the heater is still blowing cold air, it could be because of other issues.
Recommended Reading: How To Trade In A Car With A Loan
How Your Vehicles Air Conditioning System Works
Before we explore the specific problems you may be having in greater detail, it is important to understand how a vehicles air conditioning works in the first place.
The air conditioning system doesnt create cold air. Instead, it takes all of the heat and moisture out of the air and then recirculates the cooled air. For this process to work, you need a refrigerant to remove the heat, a compressor to circulate the cool air, and a condenser to keep the refrigerant itself cool.
At any stage in this process, things can go wrong. Thats why when youre troubleshooting, you want to start with the most simple component first. In this case, that would be the refrigerant.
Using A Leak Detector To Find Leaks
Perhaps the simplest way to find a leak, is to use a device called a leak detector. Leak detectors detect refrigerant in the air. They will alert you when they sense a refrigerant leak.
Please note that refrigerant is heavier than the air, so you should check the low areas where it could be leaking to save some time.
Below are the steps you should take:
- Make sure your refrigerant is full and that the car is off in an area with minimal wind before you start testing to find out where the leak is coming from.
- Turn on the detector and point its wand around the engine where you suspect a leak. We recommend that you start with your O ring seals and then survey your whole condenser and all its hoses methodically. On your first go-through, you want to use the lowest test setting. If it passes that, try one more time in a higher setting just to be sure.
- If the detector begins to beep quickly or you see flashing lights, congratulations, you have found the source of your leak! Please remember to try and keep the sensor tip at the end of the wand away from dirt through this process so you can extend its life and have it if this problem ever happens again.
If you dont feel comfortable looking for the leak yourself, bring your car to a trusted mechanic. If you are in the Little Rock area, give us a call at !
You May Like: Can I Take My Car To Any Dealer For Service
Bad Or Broken Compressor
The compressor is considered the heart of the car AC, and thus, if it stops working, you know what can happen! The work of the compressor is circulating the refrigerant throughout the cooling system. So, if you want to fix a car air conditioner blowing hot air instead of cold air, you ought to look out for a faulty compressor.
When the compressor of the car AC does not function properly, the chances are high that the cooling system will not be able to produce cold air as the anti-freeze in the system would not be able to reach the AC condenser for cooling, thereby producing warm air. Most commonly, the issues in the compressor arise when it is kept unused for a more extended period.
And this happens mostly during winters when the car is non-functional. This is the prime reason why most automobile manufacturers are heading to keeping the condenser active for a year by activating it through the defrost setting.
Nevertheless, if you do not own any such latest car model, do not be disheartened take your car to a mechanic so that the exact problem can be detected and solved quickly.
How Your Cars Air Conditioning System Works
Your cars air conditioning system works much the same way that the air conditioner in your home works. However, all the parts are generally smaller and are situated under the hood of your car. There are many complex parts that all work together to remove heat from the air, thus causing your air conditioner to blow cold air. The process is very complex as well, but here is how things work at a high level.
First, your air conditioning system requires refrigerant. This refrigerant is converted back and forth between high pressure and low pressure and gaseous and liquid states. The compressor is the part that compresses the refrigerant from low pressure into a high-pressure state. The condenser and evaporator are parts that act like small radiators in the system. They remove heat from the refrigerant as it passes through these parts. There are also cooling fans that blow on the condenser to assist in the removal of heat. The receiver, or dryer, removes moisture from the system to help prevent your system from freezing. Finally, the expansion valve controls the amount of refrigerant that flows through the system. It acts like the nozzle on a hose and can control how much refrigerant flows through.
This is an extremely high-level overview of how your AC system works. A problem with any of the parts in your system can cause the entire process to fail. So, what is the problem when you feel your AC blowing warm air? Lets dive in and take a look at the most common causes.
Read Also: How To Renew Car Registration In Florida
Your Compressor Clutch Is Bad
Anotherissue that might be affecting the performance of the compressor is thecompressor clutch. What is a compressor clutch? What does it do?
A car AC compressor clutch is the part of the compressor that connects and disconnects the compressor from the engines mechanical power.
Simply put, it connects the compressor to the engine so it can harness the rotational motion that the engine produces to make cooling possible, and when you dont need the AC, it is disconnected to save gas.
Unlike the transmission clutch that can transmit partial power, the AC compressor is either on or off .
Since it cycles between on and off continuously, it is also subject to wear and tear. A slipping AC compressor clutch means theres an incorrect air gap, shorted clutch coil, or just aging.
Thecompressor clutch wont engage if:
- The clutch fuse is blown
- The clutch relay is faulty
- System pressure is too low,which means the refrigerant is leaking.
- System pressure is too high,which means theres a blockage somewhere.
- The thermal fuse or flow controlvalve isnt working or is blown.
- Improper clutch plate air gap
Youllneed the service of a professional car AC technician to figure out which ofthese is the issue.
Blocked Or Broken Condenser
In most vehicles, the condenser is located at the front of the car near the grille. This is because it uses airflow to cool down the refrigerant as you drive. If you have a bunch of debris blocking the condenser, it wont be able to cool down the refrigerant properly.
Its pretty easy to discover if the condenser is blocked, and you can probably remove any debris yourself. After removing the debris, visually inspect the condenser for damage.
Since the condenser is usually at the front of the car, its especially susceptible to being hit and punctured by rocks and road debris, causing a leak. If you can see visible punctures and damage to the condenser, you probably need to replace it.
You May Like: What To Use Instead Of Car Wash Soap
Why Does My Auto A/c Suddenly Blow Hot Air
You get in the car. Its scorching hot both inside and out. Time to get that A/C going! You turn the key, the fan begins to blow and whats this? The air feels warm. How did that happen? It was blowing cold just yesterday!
First, dont panic. There is an inexpensive, fast, easy fix. You probably just need to recharge your a/c. Armed with that info, lets explore how you got into this mess.
A cars a/c system is a sealed system. Basically, refrigerant travels in a loop in your a/c, absorbing and releasing heat to keep your passenger compartment cool. The refrigerant does not get used up, like gasoline and will continue to do its job for the life of your car. So, if the refrigerant doesnt wear out and is in a sealed system, how did my vehicle get warm? One word: Leakage!
Your cars a/c operates in the harshest of conditions. Broiling hot in the summer, freezing in the winter with constant exposure to vibration, dirt and contaminates, its really no surprise that the a/c system can develop leaks. The a/c is made of both metal components, like your evaporator, condenser, compressor, and accumulator and rubber components, like hoses, gaskets and o-rings. After about 5 years the rubber components are particularly susceptible to wear, as they become brittle and can crack. Even small cracks will allow refrigerant gas to escape your sealed a/c system. Plus the metal components can develop multiple pin-sized holes that also allow refrigerant to escape.
Is It Normal For My Cars Ac To Blow Hot Air
Your AC may blow warm air for just a few seconds when you first turn it on. However, it should begin to cool off quickly. Within 30 seconds to a minute, even in the middle of summer, your AC should be blowing cold air from the vents. If it is not, then you have a problem. Let a mechanic take a look so that you can get your air working properly again.
Read Also: How Long Car Tires Last
Why Doesnt My Car Ac Work When Its Hot
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. Like broken condenser fans and electrical fault can cause a normally working system to stop working simply due to a bad connection or faulty sensor.
Why does my car AC keep blowing warm air?
No matter its your home ac or the car ac, there is a device named condenser in each of them. Its job is to cool the warm refrigerant, and that makes the air cold when it reaches the evaporator. This condenser has cooled and fans to push the air through.
What happens when your car air conditioner is not working?
When it is working properly, your cars air conditioner is a wonderful thing. 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 Ac Condenser Is Bad
The condenser is the part of the AC unit thats responsible for radiating or dissipating the heat from the liquid refrigerant coming from the compressor.
When this component works as expected, it allows the liquid refrigerant to cool down a bit so it can return to a gaseous state again as it flows back through the rest of the unit.
On and on, the cycle continues.
When the process fails, thats when you get punched in the face by a fistful of hot air.
It looks a lot like the engine radiator, only a bit smaller. It is located at the front of the car, between the radiator and the grate.
Youll spot a pair of cooling fans mounted in front of the condenser to help move the heat away from the unit.
Whenthe ventilation holes on condenser are blocked by the accumulation of dirt androad debris, air wont flow freely over the copper coil, thereby forcing thecomponent to retain some of the heat and the result is weak cooling or hot air.
If on inspection the condenser doesnt look blocked or clogged, you should ensure that the copper pipes look okay.
If theres an area on the pipe that looks compressed, then it might be blocking the free-flow of refrigerant through the unit.
This might result from road projectile smashing into the pipe or an accident that caused a bump in your fender or bumper.
Recommended Reading: What Is The Cheapest Car To Lease
Troubles With The Condenser
Assuming that you did not have any problem with the electric connections or the freon level, the next step is to look at the condenser. Unfortunately, problems with the condenser can be severe and can mean a lot of money on repair, especially if you’re dealing with a completely failing condenser. A failing condenser can easily get you to wonder, why does my car AC blow warm air?
However, there are many situations where all you are dealing with is just some blockage in the condenser. For instance, if you didn’t use it for a long time, some degree of dirt might be blocking the different pathways throughout your condenser, causing trouble.
Your mechanic should be able to decide whether you need to perform a quick clean-up of the condenser or whether you’re dealing with a significant problem that needs to install a new one.
Since we are virtual with this type of problem, we always encourage our readers to turn on the AC system a couple of times during the winter season so no blockages are created, and you don’t get to a point where you have to replace to convince her because of simple issues like dirt or contaminants.
The Ac Compressor Clutch Is Bad
If you notice that the car air conditioner blows hot air sometimes, then look out for faults at the most coveted parts of the cooling system. The AC compressor clutch is one such part that ensures the AC blows cold air throughout. And so, minor damage in the compressor clutch may lead to the AC not functioning properly and blowing hot air instead of cold.
The function of the AC compressor clutch is to drive the compressor efficiently so that it can circulate the cold air throughout the cooling system. If and when the compressor clutch becomes faulty, it wears down the functioning of the compressor much quicker than usual. And if you keep driving with a bad compressor clutch, it will more likely result in further damages that can make the repair costly too!
Not only does the faulty compressor clutch make the car AC compressor unworthy of any work, but it can also wreak havoc on the serpentine belt in the car and degrade its working capabilities as well. Thus, it is advised that you change the faulty compressor clutch as soon as possible to avoid extra damages and to lower the repairing cost also.
Don’t Miss: Can I Put Synthetic Oil In My Car
A Faulty Expansion Valve
Whenever your car AC continuously switches back and forth between hot and cold, chances are that the expansion valve is faulty.
The job of the expansion valve is to distribute a certain quantity of refrigerant to the evaporator.
In a situation where the valve is clogged, the flow of refrigerant could be obstructed or without restriction.
If the refrigerant is restricted even slightly it can cause the expansion valve to get so cold that frost or ice collects on the exterior of the hardware.
The result? Your car AC blows warm on the inside but cold on the expansion valve.
If you notice a poodle or drops of fluid under the car, then its very likely from a bad expansion valve .
This could help your mechanic to diagnose and fix the problem.
