Air conditioning not blowing cold air

My air conditioning won't blow cold air.
Experienced mechanics share their insights in answering this question :
When it comes to A/C problems, there are usually a few different reasons as to why the air conditioner is failing to provide cold air in your Nissan Altima. It can be quite challenging to point you in the right direction without more information and examining the vehicle in person. It is possible that if the A/C system is low on refrigerant, the system will not function properly and fail to provide the passenger compartment with cold refreshing air. If the problem lies with the ventilation system inside the dash board, it could be a matter of a broken blend door or perhaps a faulty blower motor. Due to the many possibilities, I highly recommend enlisting the assistance of a certified mechanic who can diagnose your AC issue.

How to Identify and Fix Common car Problems ?

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If your air conditioner is running, but not lowering temperatures inside, one issue could be a blocked or clogged condenser coil. When operating correctly, the condenser fan draws air into the outdoor unit through the condenser coil to pull heat energy out of your home.
The most common causes of broken air conditioning are leaks or compressor issues. If your air is blowing cool but not cold, the problem could be a clogged filter, cooling fan problem, radiator trouble, or it could simply be that you need to recharge your AC.
Troubleshooting Nissan Altima A/C Problems

An A/C system that starts off blowing cold air but then turns warm may be due to a clogged expansion valve, faulty compressor clutch, blown fuse, or leak.

The most common reasons a Nissan Altima 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.
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.
You`ll most likely hear a quiet clicking sound followed by air moving through the ductwork. You can also place your hand on a vent to feel for hot or cold air. If you don`t hear or feel anything within a minute or two of making the changes, your thermostat may need to be replaced.
Your air conditioner`s internal circuitry needs some time to reset after you turn it back on. This can take approximately a half-hour, so sit tight for about 30 minutes. Turn your air conditioner back on at the thermostat. After 30 minutes have passed, turn your air conditioner back on at the thermostat.
The temperature buttons are usually up and down arrows with TEMP written by them. Pressing the UP button will increase the set temperature and pressing the DOWN button will decrease the temperature. Most units have a MODE button which will cycle through the air conditioning units` different operations.
Freon, or coolant, is the chemical in the air conditioning system that cools the air.
Your car`s air conditioning is most efficient when set to the lowest temperature and adjusting the fan for comfort. Most air conditioning systems cool the air to 3-4 C. A higher temperature forces the system to re-heat the air, burning more fuel.
This can be caused by an electrical fault in the A/C compressor circuit or the magnetic clutch that drives the compressor. Another cause could be an internal obstruction inside the refrigerant circuit that is preventing refrigerant from circulating inside the A/C system.
Four problems account for the majority of the problems with the Nissan Altima`s AC system. These problems are: The compressor control valve. Refrigerant leak.
If your coolant level is a-okay, but your car heater is blowing cold air and your engine is overheating, then you have a clog in your cooling system. Conversely, if your engine temperatures are unrealistically low after a drive, your thermostat is likely the culprit.
What`s making my Altima A/C put out warm air? 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.
Why is my Rogue A/C blowing hot air? An A/C blowing hot air has several possible root causes. There could be an issue with your compressor clutch, a blown fuse, a leak, or a clog in the expansion valve.
Common Causes of an Air Conditioner Blowing Warm or Hot Air

These can be due to clogging issues, electrical problems, low refrigerant, evaporator coil malfunctions, or compression problems. If you`ve ever had the ac system in your car stop functioning, it`s often due to a refrigerant leak or dirty coil.

Locate the high pressure switch near the compressor (a cylindrical device piped into the refrigeration system with two wires a red button on the top). Push in the button to reset. Push the rocker switch to restart the unit.
When your thermostat is working correctly, you can keep it as cool or warm as you need. A bad thermostat can cause your AC to not cool or heat the room to the desired temperature. Air conditioning concerns are more apparent: Your thermostat is one of the best indicators of your air conditioning system`s health.
Start your car`s engine and allow it to idle. Look through the radiator filler neck to see if the coolant flows. At this time, it should not be flowing as your car has not reached the operating temperature to cause the thermostat to open. If you find the coolant is flowing, it means the thermostat valve is open.
One of the first things you will notice is the temperature gauge is higher than normal. It may even start to fluctuate frequently. If you notice the gauge is hovering ¾ of the way from the top, then your thermostat is experiencing damage in the form of overheating. This can soon lead to your engine and car overheating.
Standard thermostats: Enlist a friend or family member to assist, Position one person by the thermostat and one person by the furnace. Slowly turn the thermostat from off to heat and increase the temperature. Both the thermostat and furnace should make a sound.
Your thermostat controls your HVAC system. If it is broken, your furnace, AC unit, and whole-house fan won`t work either.
When an AC suddenly stops working, the thermostat is usually the first thing you should check. Check the thermostat to see if it`s on. You can also try changing the temperature on the thermostat to see if that kicks the AC into operation. The location of your thermostat can also affect your AC.

Relevant Questions and Answers :

the most relevant questions and answers related to your specific issue

Air conditioning blowing mildly cold air on the coldest setting, turned off/on again, now blowing cold air, should it be checked?
ANSWER : If you are getting ready for a long trip and suspect the cooling fan may be not coming on for the radiator and a/c then you should have the a/c and cooling system performanced checked before trip. Nothing worse than breaking down when out of town in a strange area.

Hot air mixed with cold blows from air conditioning
ANSWER : Hey there. You will most likely have to have a mechanic bypass the heater coolant lines to have this resolved. Your A/C may not be controlling the air flow inside the evaporator correctly out of the vents and may be the blend door actuator stuck in the heat position. Have the AC system diagnosed first before bypassing the heater.

everytime I turn my car on the ac starts to blow air even if I switch it off. it won’t blow cold air or heat.
ANSWER : Hi there. Based on your question and input, it looks like your AC control switches are damaged, causing the vents to activate even if the switch is not activated. This is sometimes an electrical problem, as it could be triggered by a damaged electrical relay. You might want to have a professional mechanic complete an AC is not working inspection, so they can determine what is causing this issue you’re experiencing and recommend the right repair.

My air is blowing cold-hot-cold-hot-cold-hot…
ANSWER : It is possible that you have a leak in the AC system. There are pressure switches that will turn off the compressor if the pressure is too high or too low. The low refrigerant level could cause the AC compressor to cycle on and off. If you would like to have this done, a certified technician from YourMechanic can come to your car’s location to diagnose the AC system and make the correct repair.

My 2003 Hyundai air conditioning works fine but often starts blowing hot air, especially when idling.
ANSWER : Hi There,
It sounds like you may have a condenser fan that may not be cooling the AC condenser properly. As you may know, the job of the AC condenser fan is to cool down the AC condenser as it generates a lot of heat during the course of its primary function, which is to convert the AC gas refrigerant into a liquid form, a process that generates a significant amount of heat. As the AC condenser fan blows cool air across the condenser, this allows the condenser to remain cool, keeping the pressure down in the AC system which helps to generate cooler air. I would suggest having a professional from YourMechanic come to your location to take a look at your vehicle.

While driving defroster set to hot blows hot air as it should, while idling it is blowing cold air.
ANSWER : First, the coolant level should be checked to make sure the radiator is full. While the overflow tank may be full, the radiator cap must be taken off to check the level inside the radiator. If you find the level is very low, you have a coolant leak that must be fixed. If coolant levels are normal, an engine thermostat or heater control problem may be what you’re experiencing. Consider hiring an experienced technician like one from YourMechanic who can come out and take a closer look at your lack of heat concern to offer a more personal diagnosis.

My heater is blowing air through the driver side air vents but is blowing cold air through the passenger side and rear console ven
ANSWER : Hi there:

Climate controlled vehicles have multiple electrical relays that open and close vents to maintain the desired temperature. In some instances, these relays can wear out overtime. However, it’s also common for debris to clog up vents (especially side vents) which may restrict the flow of cool air. The best way to determine why your AC is not working efficiently, it might be best to have a professional mechanic complete a AC inspection; so they can pinpoint the source of your issues and recommend the right repairs.

Air conditioning is blowing hot air – car stalls when A/C is on
ANSWER : In order to diagnose all the different problems you have, I having the A/C pressures checked to see if the system is low on refrigerant from a leaking compressor or another component. The rough idle may be due to a dirty throttle body and idle control system. If you would like to have this checked for you, a certified professional from YourMechanic can come to your car’s location to inspect the A/C and rough idle in order to proceed with the proper repairs.