Finally, always ask for written documentation from the AC technician that the problem is fixed—if the problem comes back, you want to be covered. Car AC Not Blowing or Is Your Car AC Fan Not Working? You might also have a low state of refrigerant charge. The DIY recharge kits found at auto parts stores may help in the short term, but improper service could damage the system or mask a serious problem, leading to a more expensive repair. Electrical problems can be some of the toughest nuts to crack when it comes to automotive diagnostics, but there are really only a couple of potential issues that could cause a car’s electrical system to totally shut down and then suddenly start working again. A low system charge can cause the evaporator coil to so cold that it freezes the condensation on the evaporator fins. If the fans don’t come on, the circumstance you have could occur. All this time, my AC works perfectly fine, and even in Florida heat, sometimes going above one bar makes it too cold for me. However, if shutting the van off fixes it every time, then I'd definitely be thinking 'puter problem. https://www.wikihow.com/Diagnose-a-Non-Working-Air-Conditioning-in-a-Car We understand that this can be an extremely frustrating thing to happen to your vehicle, so we wanted to equip you with the necessary knowledge to troubleshoot these things on your own if possible. Environmental regulations must be followed, and specialized equipment is required to service an air conditioner correctly. If your car is leaking coolant, do not top it off as a quick fix, leaking coolant is bad for the environment and it is what it is: a quick fix, it won’t last long. The ice builds up until it blocks airflow. Why does my air conditioner only work sometimes (intermittently) in my 2000 Toyota Tacoma PreRunner? 2000 Jeep Cherokee Classic 4.0L, in Palo Alto, CA. The AC system is sealed at the factory with a precise amount of refrigerant, known as a “charge.” The required refrigerant charge is under pressure at all times, so if there’s a leak, it will escape the system. To fix it, a mechanic will have to flush it out, which can get expensive. Once the refrigerant has escaped, your AC system won’t be able to cool the air. It seems to work when it wants to but it does seem to stop cooling if I've been out driving a couple hours. Yet unlike many simple repairs, automotive AC systems are often misunderstood and can be costly to fix. AC components are located throughout your car, and the complexity of the layout will vary by car model. A small refrigerant leak is the most common reason a car’s A/C gradually loses its cool. My Check Engine Light’s On—What Do I Do Now? Don’t let your AC system remain inoperable indefinitely, as it could deteriorate without refrigerant, further complicating the eventual repair. Basically, the AC system works by 2 principles: evaporating liquids absorb heat, while condensation from vapor to liquid transmits heat to objects and their surroundings. Let the car sit in your driveway idling, ac on. compressor clutch stops and fans do not run. The more miles you have on your car, the more wear and tear the compressor’s components have experienced. I noticed the fan was not blowing any air through the vents. Older cars might also have issues with the compressor. I work out of my car, and am driving in the city for about 4 hours a day. If you meant the front is intermittent, but the back works consistently, I'd suspect an intermittent wire. If the ac goes off, spray the radiator with water, and see if comes back on; then it's the thermostat. I didn't mention that when the compressor stops engaging both coolant fans work just the compressor stops working.I then let it sit or turn off the a/c switch for 5-10 minutes and it works great. Why Does My Air Conditioner Turn On and Off. But generally, AC systems shouldn’t need periodic recharges, so if your mechanic is regularly recharging your AC, there is almost certainly a larger underlying problem. Often, the age of the AC system contributes to leaks. It will be working fine,driving along and then will stop cooling.If you then Air conditioner intermittently works. 3. Your vehicle’s AC system consists of a compressor, condenser, evaporator, expansion valve, a series of tubes and several fans/blowers. If you turn on your AC on one day and nothing happens, you may be dealing with a major component failure. Hex Auto Parts Common AC Compressor Problems Cool But Not Cold If the air conditioning is set to max cool and fans on high, but is only blowing moderately cool air: 1. If your mechanic finds a leak, the leaking component will need to be replaced. 889 Great Deals out of 22,183 listings starting at, 82 Great Deals out of 2,442 listings starting at, 16 Great Deals out of 463 listings starting at, 1,628 Great Deals out of 32,396 listings starting at, 2,928 Great Deals out of 64,308 listings starting at, 28 Great Deals out of 1,052 listings starting at, 949 Great Deals out of 26,407 listings starting at, 991 Great Deals out of 27,787 listings starting at, 7,319 Great Deals out of 223,019 listings starting at, 722 Great Deals out of 27,083 listings starting at, 2,039 Great Deals out of 68,534 listings starting at, 112 Great Deals out of 2,598 listings starting at, 40 Great Deals out of 1,172 listings starting at, 9,217 Great Deals out of 250,719 listings starting at, 2,346 Great Deals out of 65,259 listings starting at, 66 Great Deals out of 1,834 listings starting at, 4,046 Great Deals out of 115,020 listings starting at, 23 Great Deals out of 1,016 listings starting at, 2,142 Great Deals out of 62,555 listings starting at, 950 Great Deals out of 23,212 listings starting at, 226 Great Deals out of 5,227 listings starting at, 3,687 Great Deals out of 109,938 listings starting at, 1,911 Great Deals out of 53,711 listings starting at, 5 Great Deals out of 503 listings starting at, 568 Great Deals out of 11,747 listings starting at, 1,567 Great Deals out of 40,243 listings starting at, 713 Great Deals out of 17,715 listings starting at, 473 Great Deals out of 9,008 listings starting at, 94 Great Deals out of 2,606 listings starting at, 1,055 Great Deals out of 28,819 listings starting at, 11 Great Deals out of 402 listings starting at, 2,310 Great Deals out of 55,840 listings starting at, 26 Great Deals out of 1,696 listings starting at, 326 Great Deals out of 12,137 listings starting at, 4,049 Great Deals out of 128,837 listings starting at, 37 Great Deals out of 3,275 listings starting at, 361 Great Deals out of 9,676 listings starting at, 1,813 Great Deals out of 53,350 listings starting at, 7 Great Deals out of 490 listings starting at, 7 Great Deals out of 452 listings starting at, 22 Great Deals out of 1,481 listings starting at, 84 Great Deals out of 2,979 listings starting at, 1,734 Great Deals out of 47,704 listings starting at, 10 Great Deals out of 506 listings starting at, 145 Great Deals out of 2,896 listings starting at, 6,138 Great Deals out of 167,086 listings starting at, 1,754 Great Deals out of 42,025 listings starting at, 590 Great Deals out of 12,654 listings starting at, 25 Great Deals out of 579 listings starting at, The content above is for informational purposes only and should be independently verified. I've had the car for 3 years and the A/C had always worked fine. i have a 2000 Toyota, sienna, the ac was working super cool until something punctured the ac pipe under the car which supplies Freon to the back evaporator and all the gas leaked out. Even if you still have cold air blowing, this noise could signal trouble with the air conditioner’s compressor. © 2021 CarGurus, Inc., All Rights Reserved. Lines, valves, and sensors run throughout the vehicle, connecting everything. Please see our, What to Do When Your Car’s Air Conditioner Stops Working. If your AC system is low on refrigerant, a technician will add new refrigerant and check for leaks using a specialized sensor. Another possible thing could be this air filter (cabin filter) is clogged. It seems to do it more on very hot days. If you have a situation where your car’s air conditioner compressor clutch doesn’t engage, try the troubleshooting techniques described here. The list goes on and on. What to Do When Your Car’s Air Conditioner Stops Working by Paul Gaylo CarGurus https://www.cargurus.com If you’ve ever sat stranded in an endless traffic jam baking away on a 100-degree summer day without air conditioning, you’ll agree that a functional AC system is essential. One of the most common causes for a failed AC unit or one that slowly stops working is a leak in the system, this causes your cars AC to function with little to no refrigerant fluid/coolant gas. First: Avoid the temptation to service your own AC. If a technician finds that your AC compressor is malfunctioning, your whole AC system may be contaminated with rust or metal particles. Hello, I have a 2006 Jetta TDI with about 140,000 miles, and a very peculiar problem- My air conditioning stops working on long highway trips. 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. If it is, take a large fan and direct the air flow through the grill into the radiator. Having your system serviced at the first signs of a problem can reduce the risk, although it’s not cheap: Replacing the compressor and flushing the system can cost over $1,000. Compressor works for only a few minutes on cold starts, then stops working. The AC works by shutting down the compressor when ambient temperature is reached. Completely or partially? Low car AC charge causes evaporator freeze up and low airflow. My air conditioner clutch stops engaging after driving in hot weather. The refrigerant is pumped from the compressor under high pressure and under high evaporation temperature. If your car’s AC isn’t blowing air, it could be a problem with your car’s fan. One thing you might try when the A/C quits working is to first make sure the compressor is turning. 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