Why does the car air conditioner suddenly stop cooling?

[Ortiz]

There are several reasons why a car air conditioner may not cool properly: 1. Excessive refrigerant, leading to reduced cooling efficiency: If there are too many impurities in the refrigerant and compressor oil, minor blockages can occur, resulting in insufficient cooling capacity. 2. Insufficient refrigerant, causing inadequate cooling: A dirty condenser or a loose compressor drive belt can also lead to poor cooling. 3. Excessive impurities in the refrigerant and compressor oil, causing minor blockages and insufficient cooling: If there are too many contaminants in the refrigerant and compressor oil within the entire air conditioning system, the filter screen will inevitably become clogged, reducing the refrigerant flow capacity, increasing resistance, and decreasing the amount of refrigerant flowing to the expansion valve, thus leading to insufficient cooling capacity.

[Jeff]

Last week while driving on the highway, my car's AC suddenly started blowing hot air, nearly causing heatstroke. After pulling over to inspect, I realized common issues include refrigerant leaks leading to insufficient cooling – just like how a flat tire performs poorly – or compressor failure preventing refrigerant circulation. These components in the engine bay are prone to heat damage. Additionally, condenser blockage causing poor heat dissipation or a clogged cabin air filter restricting airflow can make the AC feel weak. If encountering similar issues, I recommend first checking if the filter is dirty for DIY cleaning/replacement. If that doesn't help, promptly visit a repair shop to check refrigerant levels and compressor condition. Developing a habit of biannual AC maintenance, especially a system check before summer, can prevent headaches.