Why Isn’t My Air Con Cold? Answers & Advice

Is your air conditioning not working as expected? 

When you get into your car on a warm day, we all tend to go for the A/C button for that refreshing, cool breeze. But what happens if you switch it on and the air con’s airflow is lukewarm — or rather lukecold? 

In this article, we’ll explore some of the signs, symptoms and solutions for faulty car air con — along with some tips to keep it performing well in the future. 

Signs your AC isn’t working properly

Noticing that your air conditioning isn’t blowing out cold air is just one of many signs of malfunctioning AC. Here is a wider list: 

• It blows out warm air that doesn’t get cold
• The airflow is weak 
• It smells strange 
• It sounds strange 
• You’ve noticed a leak

If you’ve identified a problem, next you’ll need to find the cause. 

Why is my car air con not working?

Let’s take a look at some of the most common reasons why air con fails, along with their respective solutions. 

• Low refrigerant: Refrigerant keeps the AC system’s air cool. Without it, the air conditioning can’t do its job which could be caused by a leak. A professional will need to pinpoint the leak’s location and administer a repair. For your reference, cars manufactured after 2017 will most likely use refrigerant code HFO-1234yf while vehicles manufactured before will use R134a. 

• Clogged condenser: The condenser is a key part in cooling down the air generated by the AC. If it’s blocked up by debris, this can cause the condenser to struggle. 

• Broken fans: If any part of the fan system is faulty, it can’t do its job to circulate cool air and may need to be fully replaced depending on the issue.

• Electrical problems: If there’s no power, there’s no air conditioning. Any issues with the electrics, whether that’s a blown fuse or a faulty connection, needs to be diagnosed and resolved by a qualified expert. 

• Compressor issues: The compressor plays a part in keeping the air and coolant moving around the AC system, and so if the compressor gives in, the AC can’t work at all. Not using the air conditioning for a while could result in the compressor getting stuck and so this needs to be resolved by a mechanic. 

If you’re now wondering how can I fix the air con, we recommend you contact a professional auto mechanic who can quickly diagnose and attend to the problem with minimal hassle. 

An air conditioning recharge, also known as air conditioning regas, means replacing old refrigerant with new, and this should ideally be done once every two years to enjoy super chilled temperatures.

How can I help prevent my air con from failing in the future?

To keep your air con at peak performance into the future, there are a few things you can do to make things easier on your AC: 

• Put the windows up when the AC is on otherwise it has to work harder to cool the cabin when competing with external temperatures
• Park in shadier spots so your air con doesn’t have to struggle to reduce the temperature
• Turn your AC on for at least 10 minutes each week to prevent the compressor getting stuck. As well as making the car cooler, it also has uses such as demisting the windows 
• Get your air con serviced along with the rest of your vehicle on a routine basis to catch problems early – this can include an antibacterial treatment to limit microbes & mould causing smells & allergies

For car air conditioning repair in Central England, simply get in touch with your local Mr Tyre today. As the leading chain of autocentres for the region, we can diagnose and repair vehicles of all makes and models. Benefit from our 50+ years of experience.