Why is My Car Air Conditioning Not Blowing?

No matter what time of year it is, you expect the air conditioning system in your car to be working properly. It could be an unexpectedly warm fall day or an overly wet and humid day where you just want to dry out your car or defog your windshield. Either way, when you find your air conditioner not blowing air or not turning on, it can be extremely frustrating.

Fortunately, your air conditioner not blowing is a common problem and a relatively easy fix without having to bring your car to the repair shop. If you are actually getting no air from the ventilation system in your car, you might not have a problem with your air conditioning system at all! If you’re getting air to blow but it’s not getting cold, that’s a different problem but hopefully still an easy fix.

Car AC Not Blowing or Is Your Car AC Fan Not Working?

If your car’s AC isn’t blowing air, it could be a problem with your car’s fan. 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. These different speeds are usually controlled through a set of resistors or a small computer module which is controlled by the fan switch. The blower motor resistor or blower module gets hot as it powers the fan so, often times, they can burn out causing certain speeds of the fan in your car to stop working, the fan can be stuck on one speed, only work on high speed, or not work on any settings. Since these resistors get hot, many car manufacturers will install them into the ventilation ducts of your car to keep them cool. Changing them can be as easy as removing two screws and one electrical connection and installing a new set of resistors or a new module which are available at your local parts store. Although each vehicle is a little bit different, these systems are often very similar so this instructional article may be helpful. Another reason why your car AC fan is not working could be due to your cabin air filter. Cabin air filters serve as a filter to the outside air coming into your car to make sure it is clean and not filled with contaminants. However, if this air filter isn’t changed, it can become clogged which can prevent full force air circulation through your car’s ventilation system.

Why Is My AC Blower Not Blowing Cold Air?

The second problem you may have on a hot day is having your ventilation system continue to only blow warm air or hot air even when the air conditioner is turned on. This problem has to do with your air conditioning system itself. Your air conditioning system uses a refrigerant, a compressor, an expansion valve and two heat exchangers to manage air flow and cool the air inside the cabin of your vehicle. Therefore, it is possible that your car is low on refrigerant that is preventing your air conditioning from working properly. This is the most common reason for why your car’s AC is not blowing cold air. For a more in-depth look at automotive air conditioning systems, read this How Stuff Works article! With little or no use during a long winter, the air conditioning system may have problems when re-engaged. Occasionally there could be problems with the compressor, but usually, the problem is a slow leak that has caused enough refrigerant to leak out causing your air conditioner to malfunction.

How To Fix a Leak in Your Car’s AC System

To fix your air conditioning system, you must first seal the leak and then replace the lost refrigerant. Red Angel A/C Stop Leak and Conditioner can accomplish the most difficult part, sealing the leak, all in an easy to use aerosol can. Red Angel A/C Stop Leak and Conditioner comes in an easy-to-use container with an attached coupler for the R-134a air conditioning system in your vehicle. Red Angel A/C Stop Leak and Conditioner is a powerful leak stopping agent that will not harm or clog any of the components in your system and will remain inert in the system until it reaches the leak. The temperature differential at the leak will activate the leak sealer in Red Angel, sealing the leak permanently. Once the leak is sealed, you can add the correct amount of R-143a refrigerant to your cooling system getting your air conditioning back to working like normal.