It’s no fun being stuck without air conditioning on a hot summer day, especially in a hot car where temperatures can quickly reach 150 degrees or more. But A/C is more than just comfort; it’s a safety issue too. In fact, one of the most dangerous places for someone to be during a heat wave is inside of their car without A/C since temperatures can spike to dangerous levels.

So if your vehicle’s A/C is only kicking out hot air, you should take steps immediately to get the problem fixed.

The four most common car A/C issues are:

• Leaking refrigerant
• Blocked/clogged condenser
• Broken condenser
• Electrical issues

1. Leaking refrigerant

A refrigerant leak can occur at any point in the air conditioning process and so it’s sometimes difficult to pinpoint the exact location of the leak. The most common places where leaks are found are at A/C unit hose connections.

It’s sometimes possible to see an oily substance accumulating around these connections, which is likely the source of the leak. 

2. Blocked Condenser

The condenser of your vehicle’s air conditioning unit is supposed to re-cool hot refrigerant once it has been compressed. This is done using the airflow that comes through the front of your car as you drive. If the condenser is blocked by some type of debris from the road, then it will be unable to properly cool the refrigerant and your car’s system will continue to operate with overheated refrigerant. This will quickly cause the A/C unit to only expel hot air.

3. Broken Condenser

If there doesn’t appear to be anything blocking the condenser, it’s possible that it may be broken altogether. A broken condenser can be caused by a puncture from road debris going through the grill of your car and damaging the part, or equipment failure.

If you notice any noticeable punctures in the condenser upon a visual inspection, typically the only way to fix the issue is through replacement.

4. Electrical Failures

Electrical issues are perhaps the most difficult problem to diagnose when it comes to an A/C unit that has stopped working. First, a visual inspection of all the wiring should be done to see if any wires are broken or frayed.

If any damaged wires are found, they should be mended with electrical tape or replaced altogether. If you’re unable to visually locate any electrical issues, it may be time to take your vehicle to an experienced dealer for further diagnosis.

 We can help you!

Just because your car air conditioner has stopped cooling doesn’t mean that all is lost. In fact, the fix may be a relatively inexpensive repair that can be done in just a matter of minutes. We understand that this can be an extremely frustrating thing to happen to your vehicle, so we wanted to equip you with the necessary knowledge to troubleshoot these things on your own if possible.