Why is the car air conditioner not cooling?
3 Answers
Reasons why the car air conditioner is not cooling: 1. The compressor protection device trips; 2. Poor heat dissipation; 3. Blockage in the pipeline system; 4. Accumulation of dust and scale on the evaporator or filter; 5. Lack of refrigerant in the air conditioner; 6. Failure of the control circuit board; 7. Overload or incorrect information from the temperature sensor; 8. Loose or poor contact in the power wiring; 9. Burnout of the starting capacitor or compressor starting coil. The car air conditioning system mainly consists of components such as the compressor, electronic control clutch, condenser, evaporator, expansion valve, liquid storage dryer, pipelines, condenser fan, vacuum solenoid valve, idle speed controller, and control system. These components are connected into a sealed system using copper pipes, aluminum pipes, and high-pressure rubber hoses.
Last time my car's air conditioning suddenly stopped cooling, it was unbearable driving in the summer heat. After inspection, the most common issue was refrigerant leakage, likely caused by aging and cracked system hoses that let all the coolant escape. Replacing the new hose fixed the problem. Compressor failure is also common—if it doesn’t make noise or operate when starting, the cooling stops completely. A non-functioning fan can also reduce cooling efficiency, making the airflow weaker. I regularly clean the AC filter because dust buildup can block airflow and reduce cold air output. If not repaired promptly, driving in extreme heat can be dangerous and lead to heatstroke. During routine maintenance, I always check refrigerant levels and filter conditions to prevent issues.
From my experience, air conditioning cooling failure is mostly due to insufficient refrigerant, possibly caused by minor leaks in the system that need repair. Compressor aging or weak starting force due to wear can also lead to cooling failure, often accompanied by abnormal noise signals. Dust accumulation on the condenser leading to poor heat dissipation affects performance, and low air volume results in weak cooling. Electrical faults such as blown fuses or damaged relays can interrupt operation. It's advisable to pay attention to the air conditioning response while driving and conduct early inspections to avoid chain damage to other components, such as compressor overload and subsequent higher replacement costs.
