My air is blowing cold-hot-cold-hot-cold-hot…
My air was not blowing as cold as it used to, so we put some coolant in. After that, it blew colder for about 2 hours and then it started blowing hot. Then it blew cool again, and then hot. It mostly blows warm air now, as if it does not work, but once in a while, it will blow cold air for about 5 seconds.
My car has 68000 miles.
My car has an automatic transmission.
Experienced mechanics share their insights in answering this question :
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.
How to Identify and Fix Common car Problems ?
Our sources include academic articles, blog posts, and personal essays from experienced mechanics :
If your air conditioner is blowing out warm air, your unit`s refrigerant levels might be low. This usually indicates a refrigerant leak in your system! If that`s the case, your air conditioner will continue to run and blow out warm air, trying to reach the temperature you set on your thermostat.
Reasons Your AC Is Blowing Hot Air
Refrigerant Leak: Refrigerant is a liquid that circulates through your vehicle`s AC system and removes heat and humidity from the cabin. A leak can happen from a broken hose, punctured evaporator, or other malfunctioning connection mechanisms of the AC.
Temperature Settings Adjusted Differently for the Passenger and Driver Side. Sometimes the AC blows cold on one side and hot on the other because the settings are set that way. This can be remedied by adjusting the temp on the cold side or vice versa to the preferred degree.
If the outside condensing unit consistently loses power and trips a circuit breaker, it may mean that the compressor is about to fail. It`s a sign that the compressor is overheating and needs too much power to do its job.
If the air filter is clogged, air circulation suffers, the AC struggles to cool the house, and the AC may overheat. The solution is to clean or replace the air filters regularly. Apart from air filters, vents and registers also contribute to proper air circulation.
One of the most common reasons your car AC is blowing hot air is because of a refrigerant issue—specifically, a loss of refrigerant. This loss of refrigerant can occur either due to a leak or because your car`s refrigerant levels are too low.
One of the most common reasons why your engine overheats when your AC is on is a faulty engine cooling fan, fan switch, or fan motor. A bad engine coolant sensor, an overloaded AC compressor, a broken water pump, and blocked AC condenser fins can also create overheating issues.
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 AC actuator is located above or below the coil. It can be set to either single speed or variable speed. When it is not working properly, your AC will be ineffective, and your power bills can skyrocket.
You can easily tell if your condenser fan motor is overheating by placing your hand on top of the unit. It may feel warm to the touch, but if it is noticeably or excessively hot, there is likely a problem that needs to be addressed. The air conditioning may not work as expected if there is a problem.
If you can hear the compressor running but the fridge isn`t cooling, the problem is most likely either frost-clogged evaporator coils or a stuck or broken evaporator fan.
Air leaks and poor insulation are a common cause for making your house feel hot, even when the AC is working, as they can allow the air your air conditioner has worked so hard to cool to escape, leaving your house hot. Humidity can interfere with your thermostat`s ability to track temperatures and also traps heat.
Relevant Questions and Answers :
the most relevant questions and answers related to your specific issue
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.
Read Full Q/A … : My air is blowing cold-hot-cold-hot-cold-hot…
Air conditioner blowing warm air. Heat blowing warm air. Neither hot or cold
ANSWER : If the A/C system is full and pressures are reading correctly, and the cooling system is in proper working order (thermostat opens, no overheating, etc.), then most likely the problem lies with the dash. The climate control head unit may be at fault. One or more blend doors behind the dash may be stuck or broken. If you’re unable to fix this issue yourself, consider YourMechanic, as one of our mobile technician can come diagnose the issue with your A/C firsthand and help you fix it accordingly.
Read Full Q/A … : My air is blowing cold-hot-cold-hot-cold-hot…
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.
Read Full Q/A … : My air is blowing cold-hot-cold-hot-cold-hot…
air conditioner not blowing air from dash vents, but blowing air from side vents
ANSWER : A few different items can cause the air to not blow out of the dash vents. The most common are a blend door or a control switch. The best method for the AC diagnosis feature can be found in the vehicles owners manual. I recommend having your AC checked by a qualified technician, such as one from YourMechanic, to have the problem diagnosed and repaired correctly.
Read Full Q/A … : My air is blowing cold-hot-cold-hot-cold-hot…
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.
Read Full Q/A … : My air is blowing cold-hot-cold-hot-cold-hot…
When idling, car overheats and A/C blows hot air – 2001 Saturn L100
ANSWER : Hello. The most likely cause of the issue that your are having would be a faulty cooling fan. The cooling fans purpose is to keep the radiator and condenser for the air conditioning cool during the idling function of the vehicle.
If the cooling fan is not working, this will cause the radiator and condenser to get very hot. When the radiator and condenser get hot, this can cause the vehicle to overheat and the air conditioning not to work. When the vehicle is driving at higher speeds, the force of air that is created towards the vehicle will flow through the radiator and condenser and therefore keep them cool. I would recommend having the cooling fan checked to make sure that it is working properly. If not, I would recommend having the cooling fan replaced.
Read Full Q/A … : My air is blowing cold-hot-cold-hot-cold-hot…
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.
Read Full Q/A … : My air is blowing cold-hot-cold-hot-cold-hot…
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.
Read Full Q/A … : My air is blowing cold-hot-cold-hot-cold-hot…
