What Causes the Air Conditioning to Stop Cooling After Replacing the Radiator?
2 Answers
Car air conditioning not cooling has little to do with a lack of water in the radiator. The reasons for not cooling are roughly as follows: 1. Refrigerant Leakage: Manifested as both the indoor and outdoor units working, the compressor also running, but with no effect. 2. Compressor Capacitor Damage or Malfunction: The symptoms are similar to the above, but the compressor does not rotate and overheats. 3. Room Temperature Sensor Resistance Value Change: The symptoms are the same as when the air conditioner stops after reaching the set temperature. 4. Remote Control Malfunction or Air Conditioner Receiver Malfunction: Manifested as the air conditioner not responding when turned on, or working intermittently. 5. Four-Way Valve: Single-cooling units do not have this fault, or there is high and low pressure cross-leakage in the compressor, the air conditioner runs but has no effect. The symptoms are the same as the first case.
I'm the kind of person who loves tinkering with cars myself. After helping a friend replace the radiator, I encountered an issue with the AC not cooling. When replacing the radiator, it's common to disturb the fan area—the fan wiring harness might not be plugged in tightly or could be misaligned. The AC condenser and radiator are positioned closely together, and even a slight bump can cause leaks in the refrigerant lines, especially if the rubber hose connectors are old and brittle, leading to refrigerant leakage with minimal contact. Also, during repairs, if the AC fuse isn’t reinserted or the compressor plug is forgotten, the fan won’t spin at all, causing cooling issues. It’s best to recheck all the wiring around the radiator, focusing on any oil stains near the pipe joints, and use a pressure gauge to test if the refrigerant level is sufficient.
