Why Isn’t My Air Conditioning Cold?

There can be a number of reasons for an air conditioning system to blow warm instead of cold air.

Refrigerant Leak

A slow refrigerant leak will reduce the effectiveness of your air conditioning system over time. Leaks occur most commonly at the condenser but can also happen at the evaporator, hoses or even at the compressor itself.

There are a number of ways to check for an air conditioning leak:

• Poor cooling. Your A/C system will still blow cool air even if it only has 50% of its full coolant charge, but its power will be reduced.
• Check the sight glass. Some air condition systems will have a small glass window near the receiver or accumulator where you can look inside the system. If the glass is clear, and there is no cold air, there is likely a leak. If you see foam or bubbles in the glass it means the system is low and needs a refrigerant recharge.
• The most accurate way to determine the refrigerant level is with a set of A/C gauges that will show the level of pressure. Your mechanic can check this, as well as do a visual inspection.
• Wet, oily streaks or pools radiating from the compressor shaft or seal indicate that refrigerant is leaking from your system.

Note that most air conditioning systems normally leak some refrigerant over time. After five or six years of use it is normal for your air conditioning system to need recharging, and may not indicate a leak.

The solution to an A/C leak is to find the leak and fix it by installing replacement components. This is a job best left to your mechanic. If you suspect you have a leak in your A/C system, have it inspected by your local mechanic at Kelowna Nissan.

A/C Compressor failure

The A/C compressor is responsible for pressurizing the system. If there is a loud noise when you turn on your air conditioning, it may indicate an issue with your compressor.

You can also open your car’s hood and watch the compressor to see if it engages when you turn on the air condition. The clutch should start to spin shortly after you engage the system. If it does not, then the compressor has likely failed and will need to be replaced.

Clogged System

Another potential reason your air conditioning system isn’t working is a cogged orifice tube. This is located between the condenser in the front of the radiator, and the evaporator in the passenger compartment. If there is an obstruction in the tube then it will stop the refrigerant from reaching the evaporator, causing your system to blow warm air.

There are other reasons that your air conditioning system could be malfunctioning, and electrical diagnostics may be required in some cases.

If you think you need your air conditioning system repaired or recharged, book an appointment at Kelowna Nissan today.