Why does my A/C have weak airflow?

We feel your pain and discomfort caused by weak airflow. The sweat alone is enough to
drive any of us crazy. However, there are a lot of factors at play. If you notice reduced
airflow early on—rather than later—take the right step and have it looked at before other
fatal A/C system damage can occur.

Main causes of weak airflow:

 Mold or mildew may have accumulated in the evaporator core from residual moisture
that occurs during the cooling process. When this happens, air will have trouble reaching
your air vents.
 A hose has come loose. This usually happens with the blower hose that supplies air to the
blower unit.
 Ventilation fan is fried. If the fan’s not blowing, air won’t be flowing very well.
 Seals. No, not those seals down by the pier. Core case seals, blower house seals or
evaporator core case seals; All can open up and diminish air flow. A/C ventilation
systems are very sensitive and must remain sealed. Once they’re opened, the whole
system is compromised.

Whatever’s the cause of your airflow problems, we have the answer. Schedule an A/C
Performance Check.

Are there any system warning lights to alert me to an

A/C problem?
Typically, no, but some vehicles have Driver Information Centers (DIC) that may display
the status of many vehicle systems. Refer to your Owner’s Manual for more information.

My A/C isn’t as cold as it used to be, what’s going on?

There are several reasons an A/C system can lose its cool. Bring your ride to us as
soon as you start noticing this symptom, it could mean the difference between needing
a small repair, or worse, a large one. Here’s what can cause your cold air to lose its
cool.

The lack of precious cold air could be caused by:

 A Freon leak caused by a failed o-ring, seal, hose or component

 A clogged expansion tube or refrigerant charging hose
 Failed compressor or compressor clutch
  Failed blower motor or blower motor resistor
 Damaged or failed condenser or evaporator
 Vacuum leaks
 Failed switch, fuse, relay, control module, blend door or solenoid

Leaks can be devastating. When an A/C system develops a leak, you have what’s
called an “open system.” If you or your technician discovers the leak early, your repair
will be less expensive. Unfortunately, if a leak has been affecting your cold air for a
while, moisture will most likely have entered your A/C system and may have damaged
other vital and expensive parts. Stay cool. Schedule an A/C Performance Check.

The A/C starts out cool then starts getting warm,

what’s happening?
Well, like many complicated stories, there’s never one simple answer. A/C systems are
a fickle breed. Your best bet is to have us inspect your system for any of the following
listed symptoms.

From cold to hot and all the symptoms in between:

 The clogged expansion valve: The expansion valve distributes the proper amount of
refrigerant to your evaporator. If the valve is blocked, the refrigerant can’t flow into the
evaporator. With the valve clogged, the refrigerant will start to freeze the valve altogether
if moisture is present.
 Faulty compressor clutch: If the clutch is not engaging with your compressor, than your
compressor can’t maintain the correct pressure. Hot air will result.
 The blown fuse scenario: Fuses sometimes short out. If the fuse associated with your A/C
system goes, the power to certain parts will stop.
 Leaks are an A/C system’s worst friend: Leaks are the result of damage or the presence of
moisture. When moisture and refrigerant mix, nasty corrosive acids will eat away at seals
and components, causing a leak.

What is the smelly, gym locker odor coming from my

A/C vents?
Sounds like you have an odorific problem on your hands. There are a few issues that
may be causing this smell.

Potential causes of nasty “gym locker” odors:

 Dirty and old air cabin filter.

  Moldy evaporator case. A problem for many vehicles when water sits in the evaporator
case because the case’s drain is blocked. Mold will accumulate.

How do you test for an A/C system leak?

While we’re no C.S.I. unit, the ways to detect an A/C system leak are not far off from an
episode of the ever popular investigation show.

Detecting leaks:

 Black light enabled dyes. You read that right. A lot of refrigerants are pre-mixed with a
special U.V. dye that shows up under black light. We’ll run a black light over your A/C
system to see if any dye shows up.
 Bring in the “sniffer.” A sniffer is a special device that hones in on the refrigerant’s
chemical components. If there’s a leak, our sniffer will sniff it out.

What causes an A/C system leak?

Age and moisture. Plain and simple. Rubber seals and hoses can also lose their
elasticity over time and breakdown allowing Freon to escape and moisture to enter your
vehicle’s A/C system. Moisture is the kiss of death for your A/C system, mixing with
refrigerant and creating a system destroying corrosive acid.

Quick fact: If moisture is present, it could damage your accumulator, receiver or drier.
Remember, these devices are responsible for removing moisture from the A/C system
and will eventually stop functioning once they are exposed to an open system (leak or
crack).

How to Fix Your Car's Air

Conditioner
Co-authored by wikiHow Staff | Reader-Approved | 15 References
Updated: April 24, 2019
Explore this ArticleIdentifying the IssuePreparing to Add RefrigerantRefilling the
RefrigerantArticle SummaryQuestions & AnswersRelated Articles

A faulty automotive air conditioner can be one of the more

difficult issues to diagnose and repair. The first thing you should
 look for are signs of leaking or an A/C compressor that does not
engage. If the air conditioning system requires substantial
repairs, you may not have the equipment necessary to conduct
those repairs at home. If it is low on refrigerant, however, you
can recharge it using a recharge kit you can purchase at a local
auto parts store.

1
Part
Identifying the Issue
1.
 1
Start the vehicle and turn on the air conditioner. Use the key
to start the car and turn the air conditioner on high. Feel the air
coming out of the air conditioner and assess how warm, cool, or
cold it is. If the air is warm to cool, but not cold as it should be,
there may be an issue with air flow.[1]
o Check to see if the cooling fans on your radiator are
running. If they are not, there may be an electrical issue.
o You may need to replace the cabin air filter in your
vehicle to increase air flow.

2
Look to see if the A/C compressor is running. You will need
to ensure the air conditioner compressor is working to
determine the correct course of action to make repairs if
necessary. Locate the air conditioner in the engine bay and look
to see if the center of the pulley is turning along with the pulley
itself.[2]
 o There is a clutch that engages when the air
conditioner is working. With the clutch engaged, the middle of
the pulley will rotate along with the pulley itself.
o If the clutch does not engage, the A/C compressor
may be broken and require replacement or it may just need to
be filled with refrigerant.


3
 Check the wiring leading to the A/C compressor. Most
compressors have a wire leading to the electric clutch. Find the
connector in the middle of that wire, and unplug it. Take a
length of wire and run it from the compressor's wire to the
positive (+) terminal of your battery. If you hear a loud CLACK,
the electric clutch is functioning properly. If not, it will need to be
replaced.[3]
o Replacing your A/C compressor may require
specialized tools.
o Bring your vehicle in for repairs if the compressor or
clutch needs to be replaced.

4
Look for leaks in the air conditioning system. You can
purchase leak detection kits to help you identify any leaks in
your air conditioning system. These kits provide a dye that will
run through the lines and seep out of any leaks or cracks,
making them visible to the naked eye.[4]
 o Connect the leak detection can to the low side service
port and spray it into the air conditioning system.
o If you spot any leaks, you will need to take the vehicle
in for repairs.
o If you do not spot any leaks, the problem may simply
be low refrigerant.

2
Part
Preparing to Add Refrigerant
1.
 1
Purchase the correct type of refrigerant for your
vehicle.The easiest way to determine the correct type of
refrigerant for your vehicle is to check the year it was made. All
vehicles built after 1995 use R134a. If your vehicle is older than
that, it likely used R12.[5]
o You cannot refill R12 refrigerant on your own.
o If your vehicle uses R12, you should schedule an
appointment with an auto repair specialist to convert it.

2
Check a thermometer for the ambient temperature. In order
to read the gauge on the refrigerant, you need to know the
current temperature in your environment. Refrigerant occupies
a different amount of space within the can and air conditioning
system at different temperatures, causing the gauge to read
differently at different times.[6]
 o Knowing the ambient temperature will allow you to
effectively read the gauge on the refrigerant can.
o When refrigerant expands to take up more space, it
increases the pressure in the can.


3
Locate the low-side service port for the air
conditioning.Your air conditioning system will have two service
 ports: a low side and a high side port. When recharging your air
conditioner, you will need to locate and identify the low side
service port.[7]
o You can find the low side service port by following the
lines from the A/C compressor until you find a nozzle near the
bottom of the car.
o Refer to your vehicle’s service manual to help you
locate the port if you are unable to.

 4
Use a rag to clean the area around the service port. Make
sure you don’t clog the service port with any grime or debris by
wiping off the port, cap and area around it with a rag. Wipe the
cap and the line first, then remove the cap and wipe off the port
itself.[8]
o You can spray brake cleaner onto the line to help you
clean it if need be.

 5
Attach the charging hose to the low side service port.Take
the hose that comes with the refrigerant refill kit and connect it
to the low side service port you identified earlier. Make sure the
opposite end of the hose is connected to the nozzle on the can.
[9]

o If your can came with a gauge, the hose should be

connected to the nozzle on the gauge and then to the can.
o The hose should be long enough to allow you to
connect it to the port without placing the can all the way into the
engine bay.

6
Use the ambient air pressure chart on the gauge to
determine pressure. Read the gauge display while taking the
ambient temperature into account to determine what level the
refrigerant is currently at. Once you begin spraying, you will
need to keep an eye on the gauge to determine when the
system is full.[10]
 o Keep an eye on the gauge throughout recharging the
system to know when to stop.
o Read the instructions on the can if you are unsure of
how to read the gauge.

3
Part

Refilling the Refrigerant

1.
 1
Turn the valve until you puncture the seal on the can. Turn
the valve on the top of the refrigerant can clockwise until it
pierces the top and begins releasing refrigerant through the
hose and into the vehicle’s air conditioning system.[11]
o Some cans may require a different method to break
their seal. Refer to the instructions on the can for guidance if
need be.

 2
Hold the can upright. As you allow the refrigerant to pass
through into the vehicle’s engine, keep the can upright and
shake it occasionally. If you turn the can to the side, the
pressure will drop and the can will fail to refill the system. [12]
o Shaking the can occasionally will help maintain
pressure as it continues to force refrigerant into the system.
o Do not turn the can or hold it upside down.

 3
Look for leaks. Keep your eye out for signs of leaking in the air
conditioning system as you refill it. If you spot a leak, it will need
to be repaired by a professional mechanic. Make a note of
where the leak was to make it easier to find and address.[13]
o Leaks should be fairly easy to spot as you refill the
system.

 4
Remove the charging hose and store the can somewhere
cool. Once the gauge reads as full, remove the hose from the
service port and return the cap. If there is refrigerant left in the
can, you can keep it to recharge another vehicle or to service
the same vehicle again in the future.[14]
o If the can is empty, you can throw it away.
 o Be sure the can is not leaking if you opt to store it.


5
Bring the vehicle in for repairs if necessary. If you spotted a
leak or the air conditioning compressor fails to engage, you will
need to bring the vehicle in for repairs. Replacing an A/C
compressor may require specialized tools in your application, so
it is often beyond the scope of most hobby mechanics.[15]
o Be careful dealing with refrigerant leaks as the
temperatures can be cold enough to injure you.