the a/c blower on my 2005 lincoln town car at times seems like it can't tell how hard it should be blowing

Question:
the a/c blower on my 2005 Lincoln town car at times seems like it can't tell how hard it should be blowing. ( sounds like it is out of breath..like a bellows. ) a dealer replaced the blower motor and blender door motor. problem still exists. please help. my warranty expires in 3-4 weeks. Already Tried: one dealer said they replaced the blender door motor as well as main blower motor. there were issues with direction of air flow as well as noisy blender door. these two things seem OK now but at times, especially when starting the car in a situation where the auto a/c should come on, it does come on but the blower huffs and puffs like it sounds and feels like it is out of breath.please respond

Answer;
I have only one suggestion. Check the cabin air filter. If it is clogged there will not be sufficient air flow for the blower. Check that and if that's it you can hit accept, otherwise I don't have anything else for you.

AC appears to work when driving, although inside car temp feels

Question:
AC appears to work when driving, although inside car temp feels like its on the increase. When stopped temperture guage increases from mid point to near full deflection, continued driving drives the temp sensor back towards mid point, although not much cooling going on. Clutch like sound from compressor kicking on and off, when observed flywheel appears to start and stop, large AC fan (top of cooling housing) does not kick in at any point, although it sounds like there is a demand for it. Complete cooling housing replaced appx 12-18 months ago...car odometer only 50000km operating in Saudi Arabia, extreem ambient temperature...any suggestions

Answer:
The compressor clicking on and off is a sure cut sign of the system being low on freon. Once the freon level is full then the system will work properly.

Reference Link: Air Conditioning Troubleshooting

heat and air does not come on anymore.

QUESTION:

I have a 2005 F250 Harley Davidson edition and the heat and air does not come on anymore. It has the auto control system in it. It started out with the air blower not being able to be controlled or shut off then it went to just nothing? Where should I start to look? So far just reset the battery to see if it rests the computer

ANSWER:

Assuming you have checked all the fuses.
The first place I would look would be the blower motor relay ( located in the battery junction box under the hood, for specific location refer to fuses and relay section in the owners manual). If it is sticking it would cause the issue at hand. the other thing that might be a problem would be the blower motor speed controller but not as likely.

Reference: Using a multi-meter

the a/c blower does not work on settings 1 thru 3, but it will work on 4

Blower Motor Resistor

QUESTION:
We unfortunately own a 2002 Kia Sedona. the a/c blower does not work on settings 1 thru 3, but it will work on 4(max)..


ANSWER:
You have a bad blower resistor. It is accessed on the passenger side either from under the dash or through the glove box. This is about a $55.00 part and is held in by 2 screws. Here is a picture of it so you know what you are looking for.

How the Air Conditioner Works

Air conditioning system and the flow of refrigerant

Any automotive air conditioning system employs four basic parts-a mechanical compressor, driven by the vehicle's engine; an expansion valve, which is a restriction the compressor pumps against; and two heat exchangers, the evaporator and the condenser. In addition, there is the refrigerant that flows through this system.

The belt-driven compressor uses engine power to compress and circulate the refrigerant gas throughout the system. The refrigerant passes through the condenser on its way from the compressor outlet to the expansion valve. The condenser is located outside the passenger compartment, usually in front of the vehicle's radiator. The refrigerant passes from the expansion valve to the evaporator, and after passing through the evaporator tubing, it is returned to the compressor through its inlet. The evaporator is located inside the vehicle's passenger compartment.

When the compressor starts running, it .... READ MORE

2004 Scion XB - air conditioner it does not cool down on the inside like it has

QUESTION:

I have a 2004 Scion XB, the problem that I just started experiencing in is that when I am running the air conditioner it does not cool down on the inside like it has in the past. This vehicle has been in an accident that had front end damage. could the accident have something do with the air conditioning not get as cold as it has in the past. Also the a/c unit has not been charged for 4 yrs or better yet since the scion was bought.

ANSWER:

More than likely it just needs to have the freon level topped off. Newer cars have tighter tolerances due to less freon being installed at the manufacturer. Have the freon topped off and all should be well once more. There is the possibility the condenser has been damaged and has a very slow leak.

Air Conditioning Diagnostics

heater/air conditioning fan that runs on high all the time

Air Conditioning Dash Console

QUESTION:

I have a 2007 Mercury grand marque that has the heater/air conditioning fan that runs on high all the time. the other functions on the system all seem to work fine. I HAVE ISOLATED THE CIRCUTS BY REMOVINE THE BLOWER FUSE AND THE RELAY AND THE FAN STOPS. IT HAS THE ELECTRONIC TEMP CONTROL MODULE ON IT, THE BLOWER DIAL SEEM TO MOVE OK. I'M THINKING IT MUST BE THERE

ANSWER:

In most cases the relay is stuck internally and replacing it should fix your issue. You can swap it with a "like" relay for testing. If this does not cure what ales your vehicle, then the only thing left is the module itself.

Air Conditioner Problems

Any automotive air conditioning system employs four basic parts-a mechanical compressor, driven by the vehicle's engine; an expansion valve, which is a restriction the compressor pumps against; and two heat exchangers, the evaporator and the condenser. In addition, there is the refrigerant that flows through this system. Avoid the need for an auto air conditioner service call Look Below for car auto air conditioning repair Troubleshooting Procedures

The freon is compressed and flows through the condenser where it is cooled into a liquid. The freon passes through the receiver/dryer to remove moisture. Once the freon leaves and enters the expansion valve/orifice tube The high pressure liquid becomes a vapor and is extremely cold as it passes through the evaporator and on to the compressor to repeat the cycle.

Air Conditioner blows warm air
1. Air conditioner system is discharged. Have the system evacuated, charged and leak tested by an MVAC certified technician, utilizing approved recovery/recycling equipment. Repair as necessary.
2. Air conditioner compressor clutch not engaging. Check compressor clutch wiring, electrical connections and compressor clutch, and repair or replace as necessary.

Air Conditioner Not Working - Troubleshooting

Air Conditioning System Diagram

HOW IT WORKS:
Freon is compressed and flows through the condenser where it is cooled into a liquid. The freon passes through the receiver/dryer to remove moisture. Once the freon leaves and enters the expansion valve/orifice tube The high pressure liquid becomes a vapor and is extremely cold as it passes through the evaporator and on to the compressor to repeat the cycle.

HOW TO TROUBLESHOOT IT :
Check for Compressor Clutch Engagement - Turn the air conditioner to the "on" position and set controls to the coldest setting. Start the engine and allow to idle. Then open the hood and inspect the clutch at the front of the compressor, is it turning? "engaged" if so, the system has enough refrigerant to activate. If the system is low on refrigerant it will not work properly. In this case an air conditioner recharge kit is needed to recharge the system. If the compressor clutch is not turning proceed to next step.

a/c is blowing warm and my engine is overheating

my 2002 Hyundai Elantra a/c is blowing warm and my engine is overheating. The belts are all in place. there are no leaks of coolant on the ground. There are no noises coming from the water pump. Do you have any ideas what may be the problem? I ran over a deer a few weeks back on the interstate. The car has ran fine since, but I did sustain some damage around the radiator (braces got bent up). I am wondering if this problem has popped up after the fact.

Answer:
Most likely cause (since you hit a deer) would be that there is a hole in the A/C Condenser (Reference Diagram) that is located in front of the radiator. This would allow the freon to escape.

As for the overheating, since some brackets were bent, etc. there is probably some damage that was done to the fan assembly not allowing the fan to function for the radiator. This would make it overheat.

Another thing that would cause both issues would be air flow restriction. If there is deer fur stuck in the condenser and blocking air flow, neither the A/C system would work properly nor would it allow air to flow through the radiator also causing the engine to overheat.

ac not working

Question:
I have a alero Oldsmobile gls 2.4 and the ac is not working. leak test negative pressure is fine compressor not kicking on

Answer;
Most common issue is low freon. Even if it is low on freon it can still have pressure:

Now if you are certain it is not low on freon, then it is electrical. The first test to do would be to apply power directly to the compressor to see if the clutch pulls in. If it does not: Replace the compressor/Clutch (most come together).

If it does pull in then follow these steps to diagnose the issue
STEP by STEP Air Conditioning Troubleshooting

Troubleshooting your Air Conditioning System

Air Conditioning Compressor

Ok, the Air Conditioning Compressor Clutch will not engage, so lets figure out why not. With the ignition key on, unplug the low pressure switch (clutch cycling switch) and place a jumper wire across the connector. The switch is generally located on the side of the accumulator. If the compressor clutch does not click in then you need to check for Battery Voltage at the connector.

If you do have Power leaving the A/C Clutch Relay and heading to the compressor but not power at the clutch, then replace the wire between the two.

Troubleshooting your Air Conditioning System

The a/c starts out good when I first start the car. Then as it gets to cold in the car I turn it down

I have 2003 S 60 2.4t The a/c starts out good when I first start the car. Then as it gets to cold in the car I turn it down that is when I have a problem with it. It gets to a point where it is hardly blowing out air no matter high high or low the fan control is. If I turn it off for a few minutes then it will start working again I don't know if it is related but one of the lines is frozen in the engine compartment. Already Tried: Changing the cabin air filter

Answer:

You have a bad evaporator temp switch, It is not shutting the compressor of when the temp gets too low, and your evaporator is freezing over, thus the insufficient air flow, when the evap melts, its blows again. You need to replace this switch. You just remove the harness, then remove the switch and install the new one. See above diagram.

The A/C blower motor remains on after the climate controller Off button is pressed

Question:
I have a 1994 Buick Park Avenue Ultra. The A/C blower motor remains on after the climate controller Off button is pressed. It also remains on after the ignition switch is turned off. Please advise as to what the problem is.

Answer:
Your problem is very common and is either a faulty blower relay or a blower fan control module. I would replace the relay first as it would be the easiest and most cost effective diagnosis. If my memory serves me correct the relay is near the firewall under the hood it should be marked on the cover. Check that first. You could switch it out with another relay under the hood and see if it fixes it.

Water collects on the interior floor when the air conditioner is used

1. 
   Air conditioner evaporator drain hose is blocked. Clear the drain hose where it exits the passenger compartment.
   
2. 
   Air conditioner evaporator drain hose is disconnected. Secure the drain hose to the evaporator drainage tray under the dashboard.

Troubleshooting your Air Conditioning System

Problem: A/C compressor - pump oil and refrigerant all over the engine

Question:
Got a great one for the curious professional. 1971 GMC C2500 Kustom; 3/4 ton pickup; 2-whl drive; automatic transmisson; 402cc engine. Problem: A/C compressor. System inop. Event#1 - replace comp/receiver-dryer/evaporator coil. Pull a vacuum and charge - cools fine down to 36 degrees. 10 hours into operation some clutch seal or gasket fails and distributes pump oil and refrigerant all over the engine compartment. In fact the clutch assembly basically exploded. Okay, return the warranteed part and start over. Again, install goes well - cools to high 30''s but after 10-15hrs of operation the compressor begins to throw a mix of oil and refrigerant across the engine hood and compartment. Can''t really identify from where it originates. By now we involve a shop - what''s up? They say on GM only there is an adjustment (pressure) somewhere within the system that has to be dialed down when converting from r12 to r134a - makes sense - too

Answer:
I have seen this before. The oil that is spraying everywhere is coming from the pressure relief valve located on the compressor. It is supposed to do this when the pressure is too high to avoid the compressor from actually blowing up.

The problem you are having is a failed high pressure switch. Yes it is that simple. On the high side of the system there is a high pressure switch and it is supposed to shut off the compressor when the pressure gets to a certain point and then once it drops, it allows the compressor to kick back in.

P.S. there is no adjustment for dialing down the pressure. Just replace the high pressure switch and all will be fine.

My AC starts off blowing nice and cold, but after 5-20 minutes it it loses its cool (blows warm air)

My AC starts off blowing nice and cold, but after 5-20 minutes it it loses its cool (blows warm air) it is a 2001 ford escape.

Answer:
Look under the hood when it quits blowing cold and see if the accumulator looks frosted. This is common to a Sticking A/C Relay. To locate the relay, look in your owners manual under fuses/relays. Just replacing the relay should fix this common issue.
What is happening is the compressor is not able to shut off and causes the system to freeze and does not work again until is has time to thaw out.
Online Air Conditioning Information Resource

July 4th Fireworks are Hot, so keep cool with your Air Conditioning on the way there

Independence Day is one of my favorite times of the year. Local communities across the United States have celebrated with parades and festivals for years. Many larger cities offer huge fireworks displays for all the family to enjoy. So this means everyone will need to pile in the "family truckster" and make your way through the heavy traffic during one of the years hottest days of the year. We all know just how hot it can during the stand still on the way there especially if the air conditioning if on the fritz. Don't let this become one of your worst days of the years. Check your car's Air Conditioner and make sure your vehicle is in good working condition before heading out to enjoy July 4th fireworks. A few milutes to check your fluid levels and your Air Conditiong operation may just save the day before it needs saving. Now that we have done an ounce of prevention we can enjoy a pound of fun. Be safe and Happy 4th of July !!

GMC Yukon with dual zone AC

Question:

I have a 1999 GMC Yukon with dual zone AC - leak in freon dist lines to rear unit - Does GM sell both line sets that that allow me to convert to standard front only system ?

Answer:

You would have to change the accumulator and the liquid lines to keep the system in the front and all the parts are available for this from your local dealer.

The AC is only blowing out the defrost vents

Question:
The AC is only blowing out the defrost vents and not the front AC vents. What could be the problem?Optional Information: 2001 Jeep Grand Cherokee

Answer;
Automatic Climate Control:
This is a common issue with the the Grand Cherokee's. This is caused by a failed electronic actuator that controls the mode(directional) door inside the air flow box mounted under the dash. Removal of the dash is required for this repair and can take up to 13 hours of labor. I do recommend having a dealer do this for you unless you are a seasoned mechanic.
Manual Climate Control:
A vacuum line going to the mode(directional) door manual vacuum actuator inside the air flow box mounted under the dash has cracked or the actuator has failed. Removal of the dash is required and can take up to 11 hours of labor.