Why is there no air coming out of the two middle vents of the car air conditioner?
4 Answers
The reasons why the car air conditioner is not blowing air are as follows: 1. Check whether the air outlet switch is properly connected and whether there is a short circuit; 2. Check the fuse of the air conditioner to see if it has burned out; 3. Check whether the air outlet of the air conditioner is blocked; 4. Check whether the air conditioner motor fan is working normally; 5. Check the power distribution of the whole vehicle and inspect the battery. More related information is as follows: 1. The car air conditioner is used to adjust and control the temperature, humidity, air cleanliness, and air flow in the car compartment to the optimal state, providing a comfortable riding environment for passengers and reducing travel fatigue; it creates good working conditions for the driver and plays an important role in ensuring safe driving. 2. All car air conditioner vents have a wind direction switch, which is connected to the air duct conversion mechanism. Check whether this switch is set to the middle air outlet position. If not, it is necessary to disassemble the fan under the instrument panel for repair. It is recommended to go to a repair shop for inspection.
After driving for so many years, I've encountered the issue of the two center air vents not blowing air several times. The most common reason is accidentally closing the vent switch—that small wheel can block airflow when turned. Check carefully to see if it's stuck in the closed position. Another issue is the AC settings. Like last time when I set the mode to defrost, all the air blew upward, leaving the center vents with no airflow. Additionally, a dirty cabin air filter can block the air ducts, especially in cars that haven't had their filters replaced for a long time—the center vents are the first to be affected. Lastly, there's the issue of a faulty blend door actuator, which controls airflow direction. If it's broken, air might only blow toward the feet. In this case, the dashboard needs to be disassembled for repairs, so it's best to visit a repair shop and have a technician check the trouble codes with a diagnostic tool. Remember to clean the vents regularly to prevent dust buildup.
My car had a similar issue last year, and it turned out to be the air vent deflector getting stuck. Those two small plastic flaps responsible for adjusting the airflow direction were jammed by candy wrappers my kid stuffed in there. Another possibility is the air conditioning pipes freezing up, especially when blasting max cold air in summer—the evaporator coil ices over and blocks the ducts, with the center vents having the weakest airflow being the first to fail. Try turning off the engine for ten minutes to let the ice melt before testing again. Of course, the trickiest scenario is an electrical fault, like poor contact in the control panel buttons—where you’ve clearly set it to face-mode but the signal isn’t reaching the actuator. For DIY troubleshooting, start by resetting the AC system: turn off the AC, wait three minutes, then restart. If that doesn’t work, check the blower motor fuse in the fuse box.
First check the settings if there's no air from the center vents. For dual-zone climate control models, you must disable temperature sync, otherwise the system will automatically cut off center airflow when detecting different temperature settings on both sides. Another key factor is the air distribution mode - only the FACE position activates the center vents. Also inspect the air intake behind the glove box - my colleague's car had its duct blocked by a rat nest. Be careful not to let leaves fall in during inspection - last time I used a vacuum with a slender brush for cleaning. DIYers can remove the cabin air filter to check for mold or hardening - replacing it every six months is most reliable.
