First thing needed to check an AC system is a gauge set! When a car's ac blows warm at stops a common problem is the air conditioning condenser cooling fan. wiseautotools.c...
Thank you so much! I had the same issue and you saved me and my family a couple of hundred dollars to take it to someone only to tell us it is the fan, something I ended up replacing myself. I do most of the work on my truck myself but stop short at electrical (other than fuses and battery issues) and AC issues (other than recharging). Thanks again!
The evaporator would not cause cooling to stop at idle. If the evaporator is leaking it could cause low refrigerant. Low Freon would cause the air conditioning not to cool regardless, if the car is at a stop or going down the road. If driving down the road helps it cool, it's most likely the cooling/condenser fan by the radiator. The air blowing across the condenser while driving takes the place of airflow that the fan would provide. But it's a good to look at the whole system incl. readings
Sir please give me a solution on this , my car is ELENTRA 2015 model ,my a/c stops working in ideal , and works perfectly alright when crossing 70kmph ,some times it's working even in slow speeds....but not always on slow
Ok here's one, my 01 F350 7.3L, doesn't do it all the time. So far I've cleaned the condenser and the fans work. It blows ice cold when it does work. I live in the south around the New Orleans area, on really hot days It cuts out sometimes at lower speeds, say 0-40 mph. If I turn it off for a few minutes then back on sometimes it comes works again. It always works at highway speeds. This ones got me confused for sure. Thanks for the video. Best Wishes n Blessings. Keith
Have a 2011 optima 2.0T, A/C works when been driving a little, if in stop and go traffic or at idle it stops cooling. Soon as I turn a/c on the electric fan works, so isn't condenser fan. Also checked the low pressure side and was in full zone. If car sits until cold, the a/c does come on at idle until engine gets warm. Any ideas?
My 2009 Subaru blows warm when idle, but fans seem to be fine, because radiator temp doesn't go up, even at traffic jam. A while back the compressor was replaced, the rest is OEM.
I have a 2010 Nissan Armada. When im idling my air blows real warm. Then when i drive it takes a bit but eventually blows cooler. I checked the condenser fan and it was blowing. Im not sure what the problem could be. Any suggestions?
What if your vehicle does not have a condenser fan and sits in front of the radiator. Cold while driving not cold while idle. Could I ad universal condenser fan or would you just replace the condenser ?
When I rev the car at idle the AC comes on. When the rpms drop below about 1,500rpm the AC shuts off again. Works fine while driving as well, only as long as my rpms are up. Any idea on what this might be?
webeducation With the AC NOT working at idle, I would check to see if the clutch engages at below 1500 RPM's. It's possible there's a weak coil, that requires the higher voltage that comes with higher RPM's. Or that the A/C drive belt is slipping at lower RPM's. It's also possible that the air conditioning compressor is not pumping sufficiently at lower RPM's. If the A/C compressor clutch is engaged and the drive belt is not slipping, I'd check both high and low readings and go from there. Good Luck.
WiseAutoTools Had a hard time trying to find this information on the internet so thank you for this video and for getting back so quickly. These suggestions will at least give me a good place to start whereas before I didn't have a clue. Will definitely post back my findings. Thanks again!
I have a 98 Lumina LTZ that has a problem with the blower/vent system, and I'm hoping you can help. The air blows fine out of the dash vents when the car is idle or cruising but not under heavy load; when accelerating or hill climbing the air stops blowing out of the dash vents altogether. I want to say it starts blowing out other vents, but I haven't really had a chance to test that theory yet. What could cause this?
i need your help, my wife's car 2007 ford focus ac blows cold and then out of nowhere it blows just warm then cold again.. its been doing that for a little over a month and its getting annoying.. what do you think the problem is?
Ok let's say condenser fans are not properly working and gas refrigerant isn't being converted back into liquid. Would it cause an over accumulation on the high side gauge so maybe a spike in 25 -50psi?
Ivan Frias Most likely the IAC (Idle Air Control) valve not working. This raises the RPM's when the AC is on to compensate for the increased demand from the engine to turn the compressor while it's pumping. Good Luck.
im having same problem in a 07 grand marquis . A/C is fine then when i come to a stop i hear a click noise the engine idles down a few hundred RPM and then the A/C is hot till i take off again ..Can you help me ??
Can anyone help me, 08 civic ex compressor and clutch are running, pressure is good, plenty of AC liquid, only blows cold air when i press the gas pedal but when i stop it blows regular air not cold not hot but regular! Anyone know what can be causing the problem ?
In need of your advice, im driving a honda city 2012 model, My ac doesnt blow cold at idle , i already checked the fan and its working but doesnt blow cold at idle..what should i do?
Plz help! I have 2008 GMC Acadia with a/c not blowing Cold. I had a/c recharged but that didn't fix the problem. Doesn't have a freon leak either. Then I went all out and replaced the compressor and condenser but it's STILL not cold. According to mechanic gauges showing what their supposed to so a/c should be working but it's not. $1000 later....He's stumped and I'm frustrated! Any advice would be greatly appreciated.
Not sure why all these components were condemned in the first place. But if the pressures are in the correct range, there could be a door or actuator problem in the dash. For example, I've seen blend doors that allow half AC and half heat at the same time which obviously causes the AC to not work, even though AC gauge readings can be fine. Other vehicles that have a heater control valve issue could cause a similar problem. I suggest you take to a more experienced technician that can diagnose properly so you don't end up spending even more on replacing parts that aren't the problem. Good Luck.
I have an 05 Focus and my AC turns off after 15 minutes, I thought it needed a recharge but when I put the Gage it went to the red past 100 psi. Any ideas of what's going on with my AC? Thanks😀
My 2012 Kia Optima has this issue... Been to 3 different dealerships and they said its "fine", I also had relays replaced because sometimes the fan won't come on at all. On the first day the relays seemed to fix it, air blew cold all day. But then a few days later I noticed it being hot again at idle. It only does this on hot days usually. I noticed that my fan is really quiet unlike most cars, could it be that the fan isn't moving fast enough? I could really use some advice from anyone, thanks.
Help. I just recently replaced a new car compressor. my car ac blows only air when idle. but blows cold air when driving in highway at certain speed. i checked that condenser fan operating fine. and have already recharged freon. what seems to be the cause of problem?
When it blows only air, check if your compressor is still engaged(spinning with the pulley). A high pressure can cause the compressor to shut off, specially at a stop. It is also possible that your fans is not moving proper air flow(weak fan).
I have a 2003 Pontiac Sunfire. I have replaced the condenser, condenser fan motor, and radiator. Also had the water pump and thermostat replaced as well. I had my ac system evacuated and recharged. It is still blowing warm air when I am stopped or idle and then gets very cold when I am driving (usually 45-55mph) Anything under that speed will not work. I replaced the dryer/accumulator, orifice tube, and ac lines. Only parts of the ac I have not replaced is the compressor and evaporator (inside the dash). I am completely lost as what is happening. I did notice that the car is also running around 3-5 degrees hotter. Before, my car would run at 195 and maybe 196-197 when stopped. It is now getting up to 199-201 when I sit still. The fan engages but the ac will never start blowing cold again until I get back on the freeway doing above 45mph.
Dean Harris I would check the gauge readings at idle. Also the condenser fan may be working but maybe not on "high speed". That's another thing to check, possibly with a scanner. Good Luck.
WiseAutoTools Found out what was wrong. Somehow when they replaced my condenser fan, they crossed the wires and made the fan blow instead of suck. Now it is running the right way and blowing ice cold again. Weird how something so small can affect the cooling system.
Dean Harris Oh OK great! I've had that problem before with Chinese blower motors that came with the wires reversed in the electrical harness making the blower inside the car blow the wrong way. Never heard of the condenser fan being wired the wrong way, but I could see that happening. Glad you got it taken care of. And I appreciate you posting the solution. Stay Cool!
My ac works for awhile and than I hear a pop and it starts to blow hot air, so I turn off wait a bit turn on it works than after it pops again than hot air. Replace the relay still have same problem any suggestions? Thanks
Irene Brooks if you recharged the system without using proper gauge(ac manifold gauge), you could have overcharged it. If the pressure builds up the compressor will shut off(fail safe), this usuually happens when your car have warmed up and is at an idle. Can also be caused of bad Fan Resistor or Bad Fans...
The fact that that the rear cools means the compressor is working and the refrigerant is most likely ok. Most likely you have a bad expansion valve for the front. Another less likely cause would be a bad HVAC motor for a door. Good Luck.
2006 chevy hhr ac works perfectly fine when its not that hot outside.... it shuts off when its too hot outside it only has one fan i see that it blows way to little the air condenser has a dent on it idk if should change it out.... one time it smelled like vinegar through the air vents..... any idea what could it be..
+frankinsane1 I'd check the pressures - high and low. Sometimes being a little low on refrigerant can reduce the efficiency enough to affect performance. Just a little dent in the condenser shouldn't be a problem. Airflow is very important though. I'd do some testing, especially if the high side pressure is reaching 450-500 psi and shutting down the compressor. Checking the readings when the problem occurs is where I'd start. Good Luck.
i have 2001 1.3l Corolla Japanese model. i bought DENSO compressor 4 months ago. im expereiencing less cold air in idle. i opened the front and tested the cold pipes, it gets colder when i rev high. although my idle rev seems to be perfect. why my ac requiring high rev? i experience same issue before i bought this compressor, it got weaker and weaker. i dont want this new one to die to soon. not even 1st season passed. pls help
I'd check the low and high pressures and go from there. See my article "AC Gauge Readings Explained" for help determining what the pressures mean. Good Luck.
Question, my AC and Heater fan slows down and speeds up from an idle through acceleration. I notice this with the speed of my power windows, power seats, etc. I thought it was the battery strength, so I recently replaced it with a stronger model, but no change. The alternator reading is normal and shows no change from idle through acceleration. What do ya think is possibly causing this? Thanks for any help.
HI, I was hoping you could help me out. My AC is having a similar problem, instead it blows cool air while idle or driving at low speeds and warm air while driving at high speeds. It usually stops blowing cool air while driving 55-75 MPH. Any Ideas? Thanks in advance.
hi. my nissan note is a very nice car to use. But lately if the ignition is on, I could notice a heat and a strong heat smell even though I do not turn on the heater, what do you think this problem is, please?
Hi! i got a question. I have a chevy sonic 2013. Since i bought it the ac have gave me a lot of trouble. The car was ''repaired'' last November after 5 visits to the services center, the thing is that now is doing the same thing all over again. What my problem!? When i start the car, it start trowing cold air but after a minute, it suddenly start trowing warm air, when i hit the throttle and engage the car a 60mph it start blowing cold air again, after 2 o 3 times in this situation, the car keeps the cold blow air all the way... before all this back in October and November.. my car was recharged with freon cuz the car lost it all but they said dint find the leaked area... meaning that there is no leak of freon... never believed this. Things like this have made me think that factory warranty are no good and i know if i pay to a private Repairing AC Shop i could get my car finally fixed. Any thoughts? Thanks!!
Robert MRA Sorry about the slow response, we've just moved and were a bit overwhelmed. As far as the problems you've mentioned. Seems like two different issues. At WOT (Wide Open Throttle) the AC is designed to be turned off. This helps acceleration especially with smaller engines. Also on many cars it's normal for the computer to not allow the AC compressor on when the car is first started until the engine has warmed up. This is better for the long term health of the engine because of less stress on it until the engine oil is flowing well. As far as the leak, of course that's another issue. If it was empty at one point, there's obviously a leak. To be fair, some leaks are hard to find. But, I'd have another shop inspect it and hopefully diagnose the leak source. Don't have them repair it. You can have it looked at without causing issues with the car warranty, Good Luck.
I have a 2007 jeep liberty. A.c. does not cool. 75psi on the low side and 250 on high side. I did relieve the pressure down to 40 on the low side. High side dropped to about 175. The a.c. got hot then. Also noticed that the pressure started building up on its own. Low side went to 45 and the high side to 200psi but still the a.c. was hot. Any advice would be appreciated. Thanks
Hello. I have a 2006 Volkswagen Golf GLS, The AC is not running correctly at all. It won't blow any air at all sometimes. If I hit a bump in the road it will start running. it's will run on all setting low, med, high, cold, warm and hot. IT works on all areas like the floor board and air vents and defrost. Sometimes it will just stop working and turn on and off. The compressor turns on, it runs the right cold and hot. It just started not running at all when the compressor is on, only the defrost. I replaced my blower motor and my fan 4 years ago with kinda the same issue. IT was never this bad though. what do you think? Thank you for your time!
+Heather Palmer Sounds like a bad blower motor again or a loss of electrical connection to it, except for the part about "It just started not running at all when the compressor is on, only the defrost." When the blower is not working, I'd do some electrical testing to see if the blower motor is getting power and ground or not and then backtrack from there if needed. Good Luck.
I have a 2002 saturn and jst bought a refurbished ac compressor it doesnt cool when its idle and the mechanic said its an energy saving compressor. Is this true or does he not know what hes talking about?
Rulerpaco .paco I agree. It's frustrating. And now the starter is messed up. It seems like that compressor made the car start acting up. He also replaced a high pressure hose.
There is a problem with your system that burned your original compressor in the first place. That mechanic just wanted to get off easy. My dad always changes a big can looking thing when changing a ac.
Hi, I have A 2001 Subaru Outback and when i was driving about a week ago the air was fine and it started making a "train horn" like sound. After that a few days later the air started to not work as well and would not be cold at stops (red light, stop signs, etc). Currently whenever I turn the air on it makes a very loud screeching sound and sort of like a gurgle.
The horn sound was most likely refrigerant being released from the high pressure relief valve. If pressure gets too high, like when the cooling fan fails etc., the refrigerant is released to prevent damage to the compressor. Usually happens if pressures get to 450-500 psi. The relief valve can be faulty but in most cases it is working as designed. Look for oily residue and dye if the system has it, on and around the relief valve. It's usually located on the compressor itself on most models. Sometimes located on the AC hose assembly. I'd check fan operation and gauge readings when charged. Make sure valve doesn't leak. Good Luck.
I have the opposite issue. I have a 93 Town Car which I love and want to keep it forever. When the car is at idle, the ac works cold as ice, but after when its moving the or if i revv the engine the compressor kicks out. any ideas? perhaps low on refrigerant? Its around 40psi on the low side under idle but when i rev it goes lower and kicks off. Any ideas?
As always, checking the refrigerant charge is one of my first steps when checking a system. See article on AC Gauge Readings Explained for more info in diagnosing what the readings mean.
My fan kicks in and goes off and the problem with my A/C it blows warm at idle and cold when driving. Is my fan suppose to be on all the time when A/C is on?
Depends on many things. Like ambient (outside) temperature, blower speed, on Max air (recirculate) or on normal which pulls air from outside. On max ac, low fan speed in the 50's. With idle up a little 40's would be ideal. Again many factors can affect performance.
Mine works great at speed most of the time and does this when it is idling and sometimes when I'm driving. My condenser fan turns fine. I think it is my tensioner. What do you think?
hi and thanks , very helpfull, i have a problem with the fans, they work when a/c is on but at slow speed !,,,,and tha car is not Hi and Lo speed fans , i dont know what it is , when the a/c is off and the car reach temp the fan works at faat speeed ! ,b ut not when a/c is on ,, please help thanks again
I don't think the evaporator has anything to do with it since I got mine replaced recently. I'll be sure to check the fan to see if it's blowing in the right direction since getting the wires wrong seems to be a very common mistake by hackjob mechanics. I'm reading about how to read the gauges so that I'll not be totally clueless when I bring it to the shop. Thanks for the video. It was very informative.
ryvrdrgn15 The evaporator being new doesn't have anything to do with it getting too cold and icing/freezing up. Here's a link for more on car AC systems. blog.wiseautotools.com/car-air-conditioning-troubleshooting-repair-tips-ase-master-tech/
Oh, thanks for the answer! I'm sure it must be the fan in my car cuz after I had to change the compressor the person who did the repair had the fan mounted at a slightly different point which he said wouldn't be a problem
We have them on our website, but shipping cost would be too much for delivery from USA to Canada on this item. Not sure who has these in Canada. Maybe do a Google search for FJC 6025. Good Luck.
I have a 2010 Toyota corolla, it blows cold air while driving, and the air remains somewhat cool when I stop but not as cold as it is when I'm driving.
+Vanessa Alvarez The evaporator can develop mildew since it normally has a lot of moisture accumulation. I'd check the refrigerant level by looking at low and high pressure readings. The evaporator can be cleaned somewhat. The easy way is to spray Lysol in the return when the AC is on recirculate (max). More extensive cleaning can be done by removing the blower motor to access the evaporator core. But you have to be very careful not to drench water sensitive components. Good Luck.
+WiseAutoTools my 02 Tahoe has just had the AC clutch kit replaced. the AC worked fine for a couple weeks. first problem I had after a couple weeks was it would only cool when in high RPMs. now it cools very little in high rpms and hot in idle. I pulled on the AC tensioner by hand it is very loose to were I can pull it all the way down by hand. could this be the cause of the issue. AC compressor and clutch turn in with every turn of the switch. plz any help would work. I'm at my wits end. thx.
my a/c works only in the morning when the weather is cool but later on the weather gets hot my a/c completely stops working no sound or anything from my a/c
WiseAutoTools Help me out. My condenser fan is working. I have a 2002 chevrolet avalanche. New orfice tube new drier. I evacuated it 30 minutes and held a vacuum. Compressor runs several min at a time. The ac lines get very cold and the evap feels cold too. My issue is the ac is a lot colder at high speed than idle. At idle I get cool air only. Also the low side has been freezing up within a minute of starting but its only a thin frost layer. When driving down the highway it gets heavy frost and like I said its alot colder inside.
I have an 03 GMC Yukon that doesn't have an electric fan and has the fan on the water pump pulley when I'm driving very slow or come to a stop the air conditioner starts not working as well as it does when I'm driving I've already cleaned my condenser and everything out butt it's still working the same do you have any idea what I could look at or fix next
I'd check to see if the mechanical fan clutch is working properly and pulling enough air through the condenser. Also check the ac refrigerant charge. Another possibility is that the compressor is not pumping sufficiently, especially at idle when it's turning fewer RPM's. AC pressure readings will tell the story, along with checking the airflow through the condenser. I have an article - just Google AC Gage Readings Explained for more info on what the AC high and low side gauge readings mean. Good Luck.
I need help...car ac is cold when idle but when car is running ac blows air only...if I stop again cold air comes what could be the problem.? I'm driving a yaris 2007. thanks
The reverse is the case for my ml 350 4matic. It only cools when its idle. For some reason it stops cooling when I accelerate. Almost as if the compressor just shuts off when I step on the gas!! Any idea what could be causing this??
My fan runs. Works perfect while driving. Sitting still... blows hot.
2008 honda CRV
Thank you so much! I had the same issue and you saved me and my family a couple of hundred dollars to take it to someone only to tell us it is the fan, something I ended up replacing myself. I do most of the work on my truck myself but stop short at electrical (other than fuses and battery issues) and AC issues (other than recharging). Thanks again!
You didn’t cover vehicles that don’t have electric fans. Such as the typical truck with a fan run off the motor through a fan clutch.
The evaporator would not cause cooling to stop at idle. If the evaporator is leaking it could cause low refrigerant. Low Freon would cause the air conditioning not to cool regardless, if the car is at a stop or going down the road. If driving down the road helps it cool, it's most likely the cooling/condenser fan by the radiator. The air blowing across the condenser while driving takes the place of airflow that the fan would provide. But it's a good to look at the whole system incl. readings
Sir please give me a solution on this , my car is ELENTRA 2015 model ,my a/c stops working in ideal , and works perfectly alright when crossing 70kmph ,some times it's working even in slow speeds....but not always on slow
Is it possible to need to replace the condenser of 2011 Kia Optima if the ac is blowing warm when the car stops or in traffic?
Ok here's one, my 01 F350 7.3L, doesn't do it all the time. So far I've cleaned the condenser and the fans work. It blows ice cold when it does work. I live in the south around the New Orleans area, on really hot days It cuts out sometimes at lower speeds, say 0-40 mph. If I turn it off for a few minutes then back on sometimes it comes works again. It always works at highway speeds. This ones got me confused for sure.
Thanks for the video.
Best Wishes n Blessings. Keith
When it's not cooling I'd tap on the cycling switch on the accumulator. Could be that or many other things but that's where I'd start.
Have a 2011 optima 2.0T, A/C works when been driving a little, if in stop and go traffic or at idle it stops cooling. Soon as I turn a/c on the electric fan works, so isn't condenser fan. Also checked the low pressure side and was in full zone. If car sits until cold, the a/c does come on at idle until engine gets warm. Any ideas?
My 2009 Subaru blows warm when idle, but fans seem to be fine, because radiator temp doesn't go up, even at traffic jam. A while back the compressor was replaced, the rest is OEM.
I have a 2010 Nissan Armada. When im idling my air blows real warm. Then when i drive it takes a bit but eventually blows cooler. I checked the condenser fan and it was blowing. Im not sure what the problem could be. Any suggestions?
It’s the fan clutch or the cooling fan
What if your vehicle does not have a condenser fan and sits in front of the radiator. Cold while driving not cold while idle.
Could I ad universal condenser fan or would you just replace the condenser ?
When I rev the car at idle the AC comes on. When the rpms drop below about 1,500rpm the AC shuts off again. Works fine while driving as well, only as long as my rpms are up. Any idea on what this might be?
webeducation With the AC NOT working at idle, I would check to see if the clutch engages at below 1500 RPM's. It's possible there's a weak coil, that requires the higher voltage that comes with higher RPM's. Or that the A/C drive belt is slipping at lower RPM's. It's also possible that the air conditioning compressor is not pumping sufficiently at lower RPM's. If the A/C compressor clutch is engaged and the drive belt is not slipping, I'd check both high and low readings and go from there. Good Luck.
webeducation Also, would check the condenser fan...
WiseAutoTools
Had a hard time trying to find this information on the internet so thank you for this video and for getting back so quickly. These suggestions will at least give me a good place to start whereas before I didn't have a clue. Will definitely post back my findings. Thanks again!
webeducation what was the problem
My car's AC stops working when going uphill on a hot day. Any ideas?
I have a 98 Lumina LTZ that has a problem with the blower/vent system, and I'm hoping you can help. The air blows fine out of the dash vents when the car is idle or cruising but not under heavy load; when accelerating or hill climbing the air stops blowing out of the dash vents altogether. I want to say it starts blowing out other vents, but I haven't really had a chance to test that theory yet. What could cause this?
i need your help, my wife's car 2007 ford focus ac blows cold and then out of nowhere it blows just warm then cold again.. its been doing that for a little over a month and its getting annoying.. what do you think the problem is?
Ok let's say condenser fans are not properly working and gas refrigerant isn't being converted back into liquid. Would it cause an over accumulation on the high side gauge so maybe a spike in 25 -50psi?
pls help. i have a problem my ac doesnt work when i stop or in idle, but wen i turn on my rear ac it blows cold,do u have anay idea why? thank you
I have the same issue at idle. Fans are working properly. Also I noticed when the fans kick on the freon level drops, is that normal?
What does it mean when I turn my ac on and the idle goes down then up. Sounds like it wants to stall at times. 2001 ford focus zx3
Ivan Frias Most likely the IAC (Idle Air Control) valve not working. This raises the RPM's when the AC is on to compensate for the increased demand from the engine to turn the compressor while it's pumping. Good Luck.
im having same problem in a 07 grand marquis . A/C is fine then when i come to a stop i hear a click noise the engine idles down a few hundred RPM and then the A/C is hot till i take off again ..Can you help me ??
Can anyone help me, 08 civic ex compressor and clutch are running, pressure is good, plenty of AC liquid, only blows cold air when i press the gas pedal but when i stop it blows regular air not cold not hot but regular! Anyone know what can be causing the problem ?
In need of your advice, im driving a honda city 2012 model, My ac doesnt blow cold at idle , i already checked the fan and its working but doesnt blow cold at idle..what should i do?
don alpuerto. Have you recharged the system? If so could be overcharged, week fans, or lazy expansion valve).
thank you for you prompt response, I live in ontario California, not Canada,
Plz help! I have 2008 GMC Acadia with a/c not blowing Cold. I had a/c recharged but that didn't fix the problem. Doesn't have a freon leak either. Then I went all out and replaced the compressor and condenser but it's STILL not cold. According to mechanic gauges showing what their supposed to so a/c should be working but it's not. $1000 later....He's stumped and I'm frustrated! Any advice would be greatly appreciated.
Not sure why all these components were condemned in the first place. But if the pressures are in the correct range, there could be a door or actuator problem in the dash. For example, I've seen blend doors that allow half AC and half heat at the same time which obviously causes the AC to not work, even though AC gauge readings can be fine. Other vehicles that have a heater control valve issue could cause a similar problem. I suggest you take to a more experienced technician that can diagnose properly so you don't end up spending even more on replacing parts that aren't the problem. Good Luck.
I have an 05 Focus and my AC turns off after 15 minutes, I thought it needed a recharge but when I put the Gage it went to the red past 100 psi. Any ideas of what's going on with my AC?
Thanks😀
My 2012 Kia Optima has this issue... Been to 3 different dealerships and they said its "fine", I also had relays replaced because sometimes the fan won't come on at all. On the first day the relays seemed to fix it, air blew cold all day. But then a few days later I noticed it being hot again at idle. It only does this on hot days usually. I noticed that my fan is really quiet unlike most cars, could it be that the fan isn't moving fast enough? I could really use some advice from anyone, thanks.
Paultwice22 i have the same year and model! Did you ever get it fixed? I have the same issue
Help. I just recently replaced a new car compressor. my car ac blows only air when idle. but blows cold air when driving in highway at certain speed.
i checked that condenser fan operating fine. and have already recharged freon. what seems to be the cause of problem?
I'd check high and low readings and go from there. Good Luck.
When it blows only air, check if your compressor is still engaged(spinning with the pulley). A high pressure can cause the compressor to shut off, specially at a stop. It is also possible that your fans is not moving proper air flow(weak fan).
I have a 2003 Pontiac Sunfire. I have replaced the condenser, condenser fan motor, and radiator. Also had the water pump and thermostat replaced as well. I had my ac system evacuated and recharged. It is still blowing warm air when I am stopped or idle and then gets very cold when I am driving (usually 45-55mph) Anything under that speed will not work. I replaced the dryer/accumulator, orifice tube, and ac lines. Only parts of the ac I have not replaced is the compressor and evaporator (inside the dash). I am completely lost as what is happening. I did notice that the car is also running around 3-5 degrees hotter. Before, my car would run at 195 and maybe 196-197 when stopped. It is now getting up to 199-201 when I sit still. The fan engages but the ac will never start blowing cold again until I get back on the freeway doing above 45mph.
Dean Harris I would check the gauge readings at idle. Also the condenser fan may be working but maybe not on "high speed". That's another thing to check, possibly with a scanner. Good Luck.
WiseAutoTools Found out what was wrong. Somehow when they replaced my condenser fan, they crossed the wires and made the fan blow instead of suck. Now it is running the right way and blowing ice cold again. Weird how something so small can affect the cooling system.
Dean Harris Oh OK great! I've had that problem before with Chinese blower motors that came with the wires reversed in the electrical harness making the blower inside the car blow the wrong way. Never heard of the condenser fan being wired the wrong way, but I could see that happening. Glad you got it taken care of. And I appreciate you posting the solution. Stay Cool!
Dean Harris Of course.Your fans are going the opposite way.
how did you later get it back cooling when its iddling?
My ac works for awhile and than I hear a pop and it starts to blow hot air, so I turn off wait a bit turn on it works than after it pops again than hot air. Replace the relay still have same problem any suggestions? Thanks
Irene Brooks if you recharged the system without using proper gauge(ac manifold gauge), you could have overcharged it. If the pressure builds up the compressor will shut off(fail safe), this usuually happens when your car have warmed up and is at an idle. Can also be caused of bad Fan Resistor or Bad Fans...
I haveTaho Z71 model 2003.Its A/C started to cool the back side only and there is no cooling in front side?Any advice would appreciated
The fact that that the rear cools means the compressor is working and the refrigerant is most likely ok. Most likely you have a bad expansion valve for the front. Another less likely cause would be a bad HVAC motor for a door. Good Luck.
2006 chevy hhr ac works perfectly fine when its not that hot outside.... it shuts off when its too hot outside it only has one fan i see that it blows way to little the air condenser has a dent on it idk if should change it out.... one time it smelled like vinegar through the air vents..... any idea what could it be..
+frankinsane1 I'd check the pressures - high and low. Sometimes being a little low on refrigerant can reduce the efficiency enough to affect performance. Just a little dent in the condenser shouldn't be a problem. Airflow is very important though. I'd do some testing, especially if the high side pressure is reaching 450-500 psi and shutting down the compressor. Checking the readings when the problem occurs is where I'd start. Good Luck.
i have 2001 1.3l Corolla Japanese model. i bought DENSO compressor 4 months ago. im expereiencing less cold air in idle. i opened the front and tested the cold pipes, it gets colder when i rev high. although my idle rev seems to be perfect. why my ac requiring high rev? i experience same issue before i bought this compressor, it got weaker and weaker. i dont want this new one to die to soon. not even 1st season passed. pls help
I'd check the low and high pressures and go from there. See my article "AC Gauge Readings Explained" for help determining what the pressures mean. Good Luck.
Question, my AC and Heater fan slows down and speeds up from an idle through acceleration. I notice this with the speed of my power windows, power seats, etc. I thought it was the battery strength, so I recently replaced it with a stronger model, but no change. The alternator reading is normal and shows no change from idle through acceleration. What do ya think is possibly causing this? Thanks for any help.
Some fluctuation in blower fan speed is normal.
i have that problem but when in traffic car wants to overheat, once i get going it is fine,
HI, I was hoping you could help me out. My AC is having a similar problem, instead it blows cool air while idle or driving at low speeds and warm air while driving at high speeds. It usually stops blowing cool air while driving 55-75 MPH. Any Ideas? Thanks in advance.
I'd check AC gauge readings and go from there. Good Luck.
hi. my nissan note is a very nice car to use. But lately if the ignition is on, I could notice a heat and a strong heat smell even though I do not turn on the heater, what do you think this problem is, please?
Can't sniff that problem out over the Internet lol. Maybe a heater core leak? Has to be checked in person. Good Luck!
Hi! i got a question. I have a chevy sonic 2013. Since i bought it the ac have gave me a lot of trouble. The car was ''repaired'' last November after 5 visits to the services center, the thing is that now is doing the same thing all over again. What my problem!? When i start the car, it start trowing cold air but after a minute, it suddenly start trowing warm air, when i hit the throttle and engage the car a 60mph it start blowing cold air again, after 2 o 3 times in this situation, the car keeps the cold blow air all the way... before all this back in October and November.. my car was recharged with freon cuz the car lost it all but they said dint find the leaked area... meaning that there is no leak of freon... never believed this.
Things like this have made me think that factory warranty are no good and i know if i pay to a private Repairing AC Shop i could get my car finally fixed.
Any thoughts?
Thanks!!
Robert MRA Sorry about the slow response, we've just moved and were a bit overwhelmed. As far as the problems you've mentioned. Seems like two different issues. At WOT (Wide Open Throttle) the AC is designed to be turned off. This helps acceleration especially with smaller engines. Also on many cars it's normal for the computer to not allow the AC compressor on when the car is first started until the engine has warmed up. This is better for the long term health of the engine because of less stress on it until the engine oil is flowing well. As far as the leak, of course that's another issue. If it was empty at one point, there's obviously a leak. To be fair, some leaks are hard to find. But, I'd have another shop inspect it and hopefully diagnose the leak source. Don't have them repair it. You can have it looked at without causing issues with the car warranty, Good Luck.
I have the same problem with my nissan pathfinder 06 but it's with the heat it blows only while driving???
Sorry not enough information. Should be checked in person.
Thanks for your reply, the information and video you provided is very helpful thanks very much.
I have a 2007 jeep liberty. A.c. does not cool. 75psi on the low side and 250 on high side. I did relieve the pressure down to 40 on the low side. High side dropped to about 175. The a.c. got hot then. Also noticed that the pressure started building up on its own. Low side went to 45 and the high side to 200psi but still the a.c. was hot. Any advice would be appreciated. Thanks
Hello. I have a 2006 Volkswagen Golf GLS, The AC is not running correctly at all. It won't blow any air at all sometimes. If I hit a bump in the road it will start running. it's will run on all setting low, med, high, cold, warm and hot. IT works on all areas like the floor board and air vents and defrost. Sometimes it will just stop working and turn on and off. The compressor turns on, it runs the right cold and hot. It just started not running at all when the compressor is on, only the defrost. I replaced my blower motor and my fan 4 years ago with kinda the same issue. IT was never this bad though. what do you think?
Thank you for your time!
+Heather Palmer Sounds like a bad blower motor again or a loss of electrical connection to it, except for the part about "It just started not running at all when the compressor is on, only the defrost." When the blower is not working, I'd do some electrical testing to see if the blower motor is getting power and ground or not and then backtrack from there if needed. Good Luck.
Thank you for the fast response! Have a great day!
I have a 2002 saturn and jst bought a refurbished ac compressor it doesnt cool when its idle and the mechanic said its an energy saving compressor. Is this true or does he not know what hes talking about?
i don't think there's such thing. ac needs to blow cold at all times if not there's a problem, it might not be the ac compressor
Rulerpaco .paco I agree. It's frustrating. And now the starter is messed up. It seems like that compressor made the car start acting up. He also replaced a high pressure hose.
There is a problem with your system that burned your original compressor in the first place. That mechanic just wanted to get off easy. My dad always changes a big can looking thing when changing a ac.
Energy saving compressor. LOL. 😂
Hi, I have A 2001 Subaru Outback and when i was driving about a week ago the air was fine and it started making a "train horn" like sound. After that a few days later the air started to not work as well and would not be cold at stops (red light, stop signs, etc). Currently whenever I turn the air on it makes a very loud screeching sound and sort of like a gurgle.
The horn sound was most likely refrigerant being released from the high pressure relief valve. If pressure gets too high, like when the cooling fan fails etc., the refrigerant is released to prevent damage to the compressor. Usually happens if pressures get to 450-500 psi. The relief valve can be faulty but in most cases it is working as designed. Look for oily residue and dye if the system has it, on and around the relief valve. It's usually located on the compressor itself on most models. Sometimes located on the AC hose assembly. I'd check fan operation and gauge readings when charged. Make sure valve doesn't leak. Good Luck.
+WiseAutoTools thank you
i have the same problem. can you tell me which direction the electric fan should spin on a 03 durango? should it spin clockwise or counter clockwise?
Wouldn't be the problem unless juts replaced blower motor with aftermarket and now does not blow through vents.
WiseAutoTools its spinning counter clockwise now. no connector . just butt connected together
The easiest thing to try is reverse the wiring if you have no airflow and you think it could be wired wrong.
right now its pulling air inside the hood through the coils. not sure if it should pull air from outside or push air TO outside
What about a clutch fan system?
Hi 2008 Ford Focus. I have this same problem but recently replaced the radiator fan. Is this the same thing?
Only checking in person would verify the issue. Good Luck.
I also have a Ford Flex, did you ever find out the issue?
I have the opposite issue. I have a 93 Town Car which I love and want to keep it forever. When the car is at idle, the ac works cold as ice, but after when its moving the or if i revv the engine the compressor kicks out. any ideas? perhaps low on refrigerant? Its around 40psi on the low side under idle but when i rev it goes lower and kicks off. Any ideas?
As always, checking the refrigerant charge is one of my first steps when checking a system. See article on AC Gauge Readings Explained for more info in diagnosing what the readings mean.
My fan kicks in and goes off and the problem with my A/C it blows warm at idle and cold when driving. Is my fan suppose to be on all the time when A/C is on?
Yes. The cooling fan if Eletric should turn on as soon as you turn the ac on.
Is it by chance related to the evaporator that the AC is unable to blow cold air while idling??
my car has the same problem. I took it to a shop and was told that its the resistor that needs to be replaced. is that true??
what is idle temperature at which car ac vent blows air
Depends on many things. Like ambient (outside) temperature, blower speed, on Max air (recirculate) or on normal which pulls air from outside. On max ac, low fan speed in the 50's. With idle up a little 40's would be ideal. Again many factors can affect performance.
my ac works fine but when im coming to a stop my idle drops to 400 rpm then goes back to normal any ideas?
Possibly a vacuum leak or bad o2 sensor
I have a good set of manifold gauges. i can give you the readings if that would help?
15-35 Low and 250 to 350 high.
Mine works great at speed most of the time and does this when it is idling and sometimes when I'm driving. My condenser fan turns fine. I think it is my tensioner. What do you think?
I'd check the tension of the belt if I thought that was related. I'd also check the low and high pressures. Good Luck.
hi and thanks , very helpfull, i have a problem with the fans, they work when a/c is on but at slow speed !,,,,and tha car is not Hi and Lo speed fans , i dont know what it is , when the a/c is off and the car reach temp the fan works at faat speeed ! ,b ut not when a/c is on ,,
please help
thanks again
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I replaced the condenser and the only fan on the radiator (16") still have this issue
Kross Theriot Sorry not enough information for me to go on. I don't know why you replaced the parts you did (how you diagnosed). Good Luck.
I don't think the evaporator has anything to do with it since I got mine replaced recently. I'll be sure to check the fan to see if it's blowing in the right direction since getting the wires wrong seems to be a very common mistake by hackjob mechanics. I'm reading about how to read the gauges so that I'll not be totally clueless when I bring it to the shop. Thanks for the video. It was very informative.
ryvrdrgn15 The evaporator being new doesn't have anything to do with it getting too cold and icing/freezing up. Here's a link for more on car AC systems. blog.wiseautotools.com/car-air-conditioning-troubleshooting-repair-tips-ase-master-tech/
WiseAutoTools Thank you very much. I'll go have a look~
Hi! i would like to inquire also on a opposite situation. May AC stop cooling when driving on the highway from 40kph above.
+Nico Tornato I would check the refrigerant charge going by the pressure readings. Good Luck.
+Nico Tornato i am having the same issue. have you gotten it sorted out? if you did please let me know what was the issue
Hi Ipixit, currently not because im still looking for another shop. But i'll let you know once we found out the exact problem and solution.
Nico Tornato Thanks for responding. I am doing the same as well. Please remember to let me if there's any luck and I'll do the same
Thank you, very helpful
Thanks.
thanks i have same problem blow hot air at idle but fan is working this only happen in extreme warm days
I'd check AC pressure readings...
Oh, thanks for the answer! I'm sure it must be the fan in my car cuz after I had to change the compressor the person who did the repair had the fan mounted at a slightly different point which he said wouldn't be a problem
great video where I can buy the conversion kit for my old r12 Guage to r134, thank you cheers from ontario ca
We have them on our website, but shipping cost would be too much for delivery from USA to Canada on this item. Not sure who has these in Canada. Maybe do a Google search for FJC 6025. Good Luck.
I have a 2010 Toyota corolla, it blows cold air while driving, and the air remains somewhat cool when I stop but not as cold as it is when I'm driving.
+Tyler Drolc I'd check high and low gauge readings and go from there. Good Luck.
08 dodge nitro stops cooling at idle and it also has a smell of mildew.
+Vanessa Alvarez The evaporator can develop mildew since it normally has a lot of moisture accumulation. I'd check the refrigerant level by looking at low and high pressure readings. The evaporator can be cleaned somewhat. The easy way is to spray Lysol in the return when the AC is on recirculate (max). More extensive cleaning can be done by removing the blower motor to access the evaporator core. But you have to be very careful not to drench water sensitive components. Good Luck.
+WiseAutoTools my 02 Tahoe has just had the AC clutch kit replaced. the AC worked fine for a couple weeks. first problem I had after a couple weeks was it would only cool when in high RPMs. now it cools very little in high rpms and hot in idle. I pulled on the AC tensioner by hand it is very loose to were I can pull it all the way down by hand. could this be the cause of the issue. AC compressor and clutch turn in with every turn of the switch. plz any help would work. I'm at my wits end. thx.
You look like al pachino
If I only had his money!
my a/c works only in the morning when the weather is cool
but later on the weather gets hot my a/c completely stops working no sound or anything from my a/c
More like Kevin Spacey
+silly sicily my dose the same thing. especially now that the weather is cooler it actually gets cold but if was 90 or above a/c blows warm
low side 15-20psi high side 50-55psi about 86 degrees out
Low refrigerant if your readings are accurate.
WiseAutoTools I'm dry I mistyped that. 86F outside . 15psi lowside 150psi highside.
Still low, should be 15-35 Low and 250 to 350 high.
thank you.
WiseAutoTools Help me out. My condenser fan is working. I have a 2002 chevrolet avalanche. New orfice tube new drier. I evacuated it 30 minutes and held a vacuum. Compressor runs several min at a time. The ac lines get very cold and the evap feels cold too. My issue is the ac is a lot colder at high speed than idle. At idle I get cool air only. Also the low side has been freezing up within a minute of starting but its only a thin frost layer. When driving down the highway it gets heavy frost and like I said its alot colder inside.
So what if your car dosen't have a condenser fan?? Another waste of a video that answers nothing.
I have an 03 GMC Yukon that doesn't have an electric fan and has the fan on the water pump pulley when I'm driving very slow or come to a stop the air conditioner starts not working as well as it does when I'm driving I've already cleaned my condenser and everything out butt it's still working the same do you have any idea what I could look at or fix next
I'd check to see if the mechanical fan clutch is working properly and pulling enough air through the condenser. Also check the ac refrigerant charge. Another possibility is that the compressor is not pumping sufficiently, especially at idle when it's turning fewer RPM's. AC pressure readings will tell the story, along with checking the airflow through the condenser. I have an article - just Google AC Gage Readings Explained for more info on what the AC high and low side gauge readings mean. Good Luck.
hi, I have a Ford escape 2010 and my a.c. starts, cool and everything then dies down. what do you it might be?
Very hard to say without seeing the readings when it's acting up.
I need help...car ac is cold when idle but when car is running ac blows air only...if I stop again cold air comes what could be the problem.? I'm driving a yaris 2007. thanks
I'd check high and low gauge readings and go from there. Good Luck.
The reverse is the case for my ml 350 4matic. It only cools when its idle. For some reason it stops cooling when I accelerate. Almost as if the compressor just shuts off when I step on the gas!!
Any idea what could be causing this??
+Be enlightened Many have WOT cut-off when accelerating heavy.