AC isn’t working !!
I have a 2010 Chevy Cobalt. Ac wasn't getting cold, so I change the Expansion Vavles and in line filter, then recharged system. Ac was cool parked for 5 mins then drove it around and it got hot again! What's wrong?!
My car has 129000 miles.
My car has an automatic transmission.
Experienced mechanics share their insights in answering this question :
It sounds like you have a leak in the system. If you charged the system with leak detector style refrigerant, you can use a black light to try and find the leak. The green dye in the leak detector fluid glows brightly when a black light is used. Be sure to check all connections and the compressor for signs of leaking refrigerant. If you need help with this concern, I suggest having a certified technician, like one from YourMechanic, conduct tests to determine the exact cause of your A/C concern.
How to Identify and Fix Common car Problems ?
Our sources include academic articles, blog posts, and personal essays from experienced mechanics :
Leaking or Low Refrigerant
If your central AC is not blowing cold air, the refrigerant may be the problem. The unit could be running low and need additional refrigerant added. The most likely cause of this is a leak.
Numerous reasons can cause the compressor to not to connect with the vehicle AC. It could be an electrical failure in the circuit during charging, overheating vehicle, or maybe the coolant is just low. Today`s latest technology is capable enough to sense any sort of problem in the car.
The most common reasons a Chevrolet Cobalt ac isn`t working are a refrigerant leak, an electrical climate control issue, or a problem with the air conditioning compressor. You may not realize there`s a refrigerant leak until the air conditioner stops blowing cold.
Why do I get hot air from my Cobalt A/C? If your car`s air conditioning isn`t blowing cold air at all (or it tries, then turns warm), you could have a clogged expansion valve, a faulty compressor clutch, a leak, or a malfunctioning fuse in the system.
The most likely reason your air-conditioner isn`t cooling is the car`s air-conditioner is leaking. The car`s AC system needs freon to lower the ambient air temperature and creates some needed cold air. Whenever there is a freon leak on your car there is no way to cool the air.
A car A/C blowing hot air is often the result of a refrigerant leak. Refrigerant is a liquid that circulates through your car`s A/C system, expanding and contracting as it removes heat and humidity from the cabin. None of the other A/C components will function correctly without proper refrigerant levels.
Occasionally, an AC unit will stop cooling air as effectively as it once did. While this can indicate several problems, one of them might be low refrigerant or Freon. Having low refrigerant levels in your AC does not allow it to perform optimally and can cause other problems.
Your Air Conditioning Needs A Recharging
But if you do happen to notice that your car air conditioning is not cold, you might just be low on freon. In fact, it`s one of the most common causes for your car A/C to not be as cold as it should be. It`s easy for us to tell if your A/C has a leak.
So, if your air conditioner isn`t cooling, and you suspect a refrigerant leak, or if you`ve checked the air filter and thermostat to no avail, yes, you should shut your air conditioner off and call us right away.
Relevant Questions and Answers :
the most relevant questions and answers related to your specific issue
Honda Civic 2008. AC stopped working suddenly and engine check light came ON for a day.Next day AC worked and no engine light.
ANSWER : Hi there. In both cases, when an AC system is not working and a warning light is coming on the dashboard, typically a professional mechanic will complete the same initial inspection, which is to download the stored error codes that triggered the warning light initially. This tends to give them an idea as to what is causing the problems. This could be something as simple as an electrical relay that is faulty or loose or an indication of a computer related "glitch". Either way, the best way to move forward is to have a professional mobile mechanic complete a check engine light inspection.
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My AC does not always work. If I fiddle with the blower knob I can ususally get it to work on the lowest setting.
ANSWER : Hi There,
It sounds like you may have a faulty blower motor resistor. The highest speed setting may still work because in most cars in the highest fan speed settings the current bypasses the blower motor resistor. In some cars, if the resistor is failed, the fan may stop working completely. Another reason a blower motor resistor may fail is when the blower motor has a mechanical problem or when a foreign object jams the blower motor fan blade and prevents it from spinning freely. This leads to increased current through the resistor and causes it to overheat and fail. I would suggest having an expert from YourMechanic come to your location to diagnose your system to determine what may be causing the fan not to work properly.
It sounds like you may have a faulty blower motor resistor. The highest speed setting may still work because in most cars in the highest fan speed settings the current bypasses the blower motor resistor. In some cars, if the resistor is failed, the fan may stop working completely. Another reason a blower motor resistor may fail is when the blower motor has a mechanical problem or when a foreign object jams the blower motor fan blade and prevents it from spinning freely. This leads to increased current through the resistor and causes it to overheat and fail. I would suggest having an expert from YourMechanic come to your location to diagnose your system to determine what may be causing the fan not to work properly.
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My AC is not working took it the mechanic and he told me that’s it has a blown fuse box which is causing my AC not to work?
ANSWER : Hi there. I have not seen a fuse box fail very often on this vehicle. It is possible that he meant to say that the fuse for the AC is blown which makes a lot more sense. Most of the time when the AC fuse blows it is because the compressor is failing and has a short in the clutch.
The circuit is going to have to be tested for a short to confirm why the fuse blew. It can take some time to trace the wires, though it is probably the compressor. If you need to have this diagnosed, consider YourMechanic, as a certified mechanic can come to your home or office to inspect your AC system.
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My dash board don’t work my front light work when I change my light into high beam and my back window won’t go down
ANSWER : As unfortunate as it is, your vehicle would be considered flood damaged. Diagnosing electrical problems in a flood damaged vehicle is nearly impossible. This would take many hours or even days to determine which wiring harnesses and circuits have been affected. Then nearly all of the wiring under the dash would likely require replacement as well as many sensors and switches. On a BMW vehicle, the amount of wires and switches are likely more than that of a lower end vehicle. Due to the inefficiency in cost, you would likely be able to purchase another BMW like yours for less than what it would cost to fix your car. Many insurance companies would consider this type of damage to total out the vehicle unfortuantely.
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Hello, my car’s temperature isn’t rising, so the ac isn’t working, what do you think is the problem? Compressor, or Radiator?
ANSWER : The radiator is part of the engine cooling system and would not typically be inspected or serviced if the passenger compartment air conditioning system is not working. If the car engine is overheating you might inspect the radiator though. If the air conditioning system is not functioning, the refrigerant charge could be low, the compressor or compressor clutch might be defective, or there could be a problem with the controls (mostly electrical). There are other causes as well. If you have a malfunctioning A/C system, please request an A/C system diagnostic and the responding certified mechanic will get this taken care of for you. If you have further questions or concerns, do not hesitate to re-contact YourMechanic as we are always here to help you.
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AC wont blow on max
ANSWER : Based on the information you provided for your 2010 Dodge Avenger. It is likely that you have a leak in the air conditioning system. You may also have a resistor pack going bad, or the selector switch itself could be going bad. To have the problem verified, a certified technician from YourMechanic can come to your home or office to detect any leaks and make needed repairs.
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My ac slowly stopped working after just two days.
ANSWER : The air conditioning system relies on a full system charge to function properly. A poorly operating air conditioning system is usually caused by a low charge from a leak. If the air conditioning compressor electronic clutch fails, the fuse blows or the relay burns out, you will notice the lack of cooling. The refrigerant inside the air conditioning system is a gas whose use and handling require a certification. Consider hiring an experienced technician like one from YourMechanic who can come out and give your vehicles air conditioning system a performance check which includes checking system pressures in an effort to offer you a more personal diagnosis.
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Gas gauge isn’t working. Sometimes the speedometer and the temperature gauge doesn’t work. Limited lights around gauges and radio.
ANSWER : Hi there. The dashboard lights are burned out in the dash and the dimmer switch could be worn causing the lights to be weak. The gauges that seldom fail to work is most likely a loose wire in the dash panel. The fuel gauge that is not going to E when shutting off the car has a damaged rheostat within the sending unit. The sending unit is in the fuel tank attached to the fuel pump. If you need further assistance with your gauges not working, then seek out a professional, such as one from Your Mechanic, to help you.
Read Full Q/A … : AC isn’t working !!
