11 Causes of Car Air Conditioning Suddenly Not Cold and How to Overcome It
A car's AC suddenly not being cold is a problem that often occurs. If this issue is not addressed promptly, it can cause the driver and passengers to feel hot, thus reducing comfort while driving.
So, what factors cause this problem to occur and how can it be resolved?
Causes of a Car's AC Suddenly Not Being Cold
There are several things that can cause a car's AC to suddenly not be cold that you need to know. The complete causes are as follows.
1. Reduced or empty freon
Reduced or empty freon due to leaks in the shaft, pipe connections, and relief valve on the condenser can cause the car windows to fog up, the AC fan not to spin, and the car's AC to not be cold.
2. Broken fan belt
A broken fan belt can also cause the car's AC to suddenly not be cold because a broken fan belt prevents the compressor from spinning.
3. Extra fan motor disconnected
The extra fan motor is an additional fan in the car's cooling system (AC). This component helps facilitate the condensation process in the condenser so that the AC cooling cycle can work properly. If this extra fan motor is disconnected, the condensation process will be hindered, causing the AC to be unable to produce cold air.
4. Dirty and rusty condenser
A car's AC not being cold can also be caused by a dirty and rusty AC condenser, which prevents the condenser from expelling hot air from the high-pressure gas produced by the compressor.
5. Clogged evaporator
An evaporator clogged with dirt due to infrequent cleaning can also cause the car's AC to suddenly not be cold. This happens because the evaporator cannot cause hot air to be converted into cold air when expelled into the AC cooling system.
6. Worn compressor
A car's AC not being cold can also be caused by wear on the compressor. This wear occurs due to abnormal AC pressure, either too low (below 20 psi) or too high (above 250 psi).
As is known, the low-pressure threshold for AC is around 20-30 psi, while the high-pressure threshold is around 170-250 psi. A worn compressor can cause the AC to be unable to produce cold air according to the recommended cold temperature.
7. Worn magnetic clutch
Damage to the magnetic clutch, such as broken components, burned coils, or disconnection of the compressor pulley from the centerpiece, can cause the car's AC to not be cold.
8. Excess compressor oil
Excess compressor oil can also trigger the car's AC not to be cold because the excess oil volume can clog the freon flow space, reducing the freon volume capacity.
9. Clogged condensation water drainage
Clogging in the condensation water drainage can trigger several problems, including foggy car dashboards, wet carpets, and unpleasant odors, as well as the car's AC not being cold.
10. Damaged thermostat
The thermostat is a component that functions to read the temperature, which will then be forwarded to the amplifier for the compressor's cut-off timing process. If this component is damaged, the car will experience overheating, causing the car's AC to not be cold.
11. Electrical system issues
Car electrical systems that have issues can also result in the car's AC not being cold. This occurs due to damaged cables or connections linked to the AC compressor, as well as worn AC fuses and relays.
How to Fix a Suddenly Not Cold AC
Here are the ways to address it:
1. Turn on the AC while driving
Turning on the AC while driving can maximize the AC's performance in cooling the car.
2. Set to minimum temperature and avoid recirculation mode
To prevent the AC from suddenly not being cold, you need to set the minimum temperature when turning on the AC and avoid recirculation mode. This is necessary so that the AC does not work too hard.
3. Perform regular AC maintenance
Lastly, you need to perform regular AC maintenance at an official Daihatsu workshop.
