Why is my AC Blowing Warm Air?

Hot summer days make for fun car cruising…that is, unless your AC isn’t working. If cool air isn’t coming out of your car’s air conditioner, there are several possible causes that need to be examined. With a little luck, you will be able to solve the problem and be back to basking in that sweet, chilly air in no time. Here are a few areas to troubleshoot to get to the source of the problem:

Potential Cause #1– No refrigerant in the AC system.

Before going any further, you should check to make sure your air conditioner has enough refrigerant. This is both the most common cause of an air conditioner blowing warm air and one of the simplest fixes.

To check your refrigerant levels, connect an AC pressure gauge to the High Side service port located in the hose between the compressor and the condenser in the front of the engine compartment. The gauge will tell you if there is any pressure. If there is no pressure or it is extremely low, this means the system is out of refrigerant. By replenishing the refrigerant in your AC unit, the output will be instantly cooler.

Potential Cause #2– Failure of AC compressor to engage.

This is a bit more serious of a problem. If the AC compressor isn’t engaging when you turn on the AC controls on your dashboard, it could be the cause of an electrical fault in the AC compressor circuit, or possibly in the magnetic clutch that powers the compressor.

To determine any compressor issues, you can jump the compressor clutch wire directly to the battery using a fused jumper wire. If cool air comes out of the AC when you jump the compressor, you may be looking at a bad compressor clutch relay, cycling switch or pressure switch.

Potential Cause #3– Obstruction inside the refrigerant circuit.

If something is stuck in the circuit, it may be preventing the refrigerant from circulating properly inside your AC system. This can be fixed by checking the orifice tube inside the high-pressure hose between the condenser in front of the radiator and clearing it of any obstructions.

Contact South Park Service Center for Auto AC Repair

If you are unfamiliar with Auto AC repairs, let South Park Service Center help you. We can safely and effectively diagnose your car’s AC issues and get your cold air blowing out again in no time! Our team of certified professionals proudly services all makes and models of cars in Morgantown, WV and surrounding areas. Don’t suffer with a bunch of hot air- contact South Park Service Center today to schedule your auto AC repairs!