Car aircond not cold? The common causes, and what a proper check looks for
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- Air Hitam, Klang
- All car brands welcome
Car aircond not cold any more? The cause is usually one of a few things: refrigerant that has leaked out, a blocked cabin filter, a cooling fan or condenser that can't get rid of heat, or a compressor that isn't doing its job. In Klang's heat it's tempting to just top up the gas, but finding the real cause first saves you paying twice.
What you notice, and what it usually points to
The way the aircond fails is a useful clue. These are the patterns drivers describe most often, and the usual suspects behind each one:
- Never really cold, even on full
- Often low refrigerant from a leak, or a compressor that isn't switching on.
- Cold at first, then warm after a while
- Can point to a cooling fan or condenser problem, or a system that's low on refrigerant.
- Cold while driving, warm in traffic
- Usually airflow over the condenser: a cooling fan that's weak or not running when the car is stopped.
- Weak airflow from the vents
- Often a clogged cabin air filter, or a blower fan problem, rather than the gas.
- A bad smell when it's on
- Usually a dirty cabin filter or build-up in the system that needs cleaning.
- A new noise when the aircond is on
- Worth checking soon: it can come from the compressor or a fan.
Why topping up the gas is rarely the fix
Refrigerant runs in a sealed system. It doesn't get used up like fuel, so if the level is low, it has leaked out somewhere.
Topping it up without finding the leak brings the cold back for a while, then the same thing happens again. That's why we check the system first to find out why it isn't cooling, then service or repair what's needed.
Got this problem right now?
Send us your car model, year and what it's doing on WhatsApp. We'll tell you what we think it is and give you a quote.
WhatsApp us nowQuick checks you can do yourself first
None of these need tools, and they can save you a trip:
- Check the aircond button is on and the temperature is set to cold, not just the fan
- Try recirculation mode on a hot day: it cools the air already inside the car
- Look at the front grille: leaves or dirt blocking the condenser stop it getting rid of heat
- With the aircond on and the car parked, listen for the cooling fan behind the radiator
- Think back to when the cabin filter was last changed
If the air is still not cold after these, the cause is inside the system and needs a proper check.
What a proper aircond check covers
A good check works from the symptom back to the part, instead of guessing. It usually covers:
- Asking what the aircond is doing and when it started
- Checking how cold the air is at the vents and how strong the airflow is
- Checking the compressor, the cooling fans and the condenser are working
- Looking for the cause of any lost refrigerant before refilling
- Explaining what was found, and quoting before any repair
At Carzy World we do aircond diagnostics, aircond servicing and the repairs found during the check, for all car brands. A recent job was an aircond service on a Perodua Myvi.