{"id":912,"date":"2023-04-09T07:54:15","date_gmt":"2023-04-09T07:54:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/yourcarquestions.com\/?p=912"},"modified":"2023-04-09T07:54:15","modified_gmt":"2023-04-09T07:54:15","slug":"car-ac-cold-only-when-driving","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/vehicleuniversity.com\/car-ac-cold-only-when-driving\/","title":{"rendered":"Car AC Cold Only When Driving? [Here’s Why And How to Fix!]"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
If you live in a hotter environment, your car air conditioning system is a lifesaver. Unfortunately, air conditioning systems don\u2019t always work right, and they don\u2019t care whether or not it\u2019s mid-summer. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
One of the most common problems you\u2019ll face with your car\u2019s air conditioner is the system only works when you\u2019re actually driving. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Some of the most common reasons a car air conditioner may only be cold when driving is because of a broken condenser fan, a blockage in the condenser, or low coolant levels.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Let\u2019s look at what happens when each of these things goes wrong and what you can do to help fix the problem at hand. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
1. The Air Conditioner Condenser Fan Isn\u2019t Coming On<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
In case you can\u2019t tell, based on all of our potential problems being related to condensers, they are the main part of the air conditioning system. Unfortunately, various parts of the condenser system often go wrong, and the condenser fan is one of the most significant problems you can face with this system. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The number one sign you\u2019ll notice if you\u2019re having a problem with your condenser fan is that the car will only cool when driving at highway speeds. The condenser fan brings heat from the inside part of the vehicle to the outside. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
If you\u2019re traveling at a higher speed, often, the condenser fan won\u2019t need to do any real work because there will already be a lot of air circulating through the system. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Another thing you\u2019ll notice is that the car begins to overheat when it is idling. Often, you can help pull heat out of the engine by running the heater on full blast while idling, but I can tell you from experience that this is downright terrible in the middle of summer. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
You may also begin to notice the air conditioner has a burning smell when you turn it on. If you smell burning while running the air conditioner, you\u2019ll want to avoid driving your vehicle and take it to a mechanic\u2019s shop. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
This can be dangerous because it usually means that the other components of your air conditioning unit are beginning to burn. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Causes and Solutions<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
One of the primary reasons your condenser fan may suddenly be having problems is because of a blown fuse. This isn\u2019t always the first thing that comes to mind, particularly when you\u2019re sweltering in the heat, but make sure you consider this because it\u2019s probably the easiest fix. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
If you think this may be an issue, you\u2019ll want to find your car breaker box, usually located underneath the steering wheel on the left side of the vehicle, and look for any flipped breakers. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
You\u2019ll know that the breaker has been flipped if it\u2019s going in the opposite direction than all the rest. You may also need to replace the fuse, a fairly simple process.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
You may also find the temperature sensor isn\u2019t working quite right, which is prohibiting the condenser fan from kicking on. One way to test this is by placing a jumper wire across the connector and observing whether or not the fan turns on. If it does, then it\u2019s likely your temperature sensor. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Lastly, if you hear noises from the fan, the problem is likely with the fan itself. If you hear any grinding or scraping when you attempt to turn on your air conditioner, it\u2019s time to take your car to the mechanic. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
2. You Have a Blockage in the Condenser<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Most people don\u2019t take the time to clean some critical parts of their vehicles, including the condenser. If you suddenly find that your car\u2019s air conditioner isn\u2019t working quite right and you\u2019ve already checked out the fan, I would look at blockages in the condenser next. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Often, condensers become clogged with dirt, preventing air from properly circulating throughout the system. It\u2019s best to take care of this problem sooner rather than later. Otherwise, you\u2019ll end up needing to replace your entire air conditioning system eventually. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Causes and Solutions<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
We\u2019ve already talked about the cause for the most part. Over time and with usage, anything collects dirt, and since your car operates outdoors, it\u2019s always exposed to a lot of dirt. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
When driving, especially if you\u2019re using your air conditioner, the dirt gets sucked in along with the air and eventually builds up in the coils. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
So let\u2019s talk about how you can clean your condenser. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
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Start with a cool engine. <\/strong>This should be a no-brainer, but sometimes you don\u2019t think about it. Give your car plenty of time to cool down before doing any work. Ideally, you should let it cool overnight to be sure no parts are still hot. <\/li>\n\n\n\n
Remove the front bumper. <\/strong>If you aren\u2019t sure how this works, you can read your car\u2019s owner\u2019s manual or look up a quick video on YouTube. <\/li>\n\n\n\n
Be sure to protect the condenser with plastic. <\/strong>There are some parts you\u2019ll want to keep dry, so be sure to cover these sensitive areas with some plastic. You can tape it down to get it to stay. <\/li>\n\n\n\n
Begin removing dirt with a shop vac or brush. <\/strong>This process will remove the majority of the dirt. <\/li>\n\n\n\n
Apply coil cleaner and allow it to sit for about 5 minutes. Y<\/strong>ou can grab coil cleaner at any of your local automotive shops. <\/li>\n\n\n\n
Rinse with a hose or spray bottle. <\/strong>Make sure to allow the condenser to dry before putting everything back together. <\/li>\n\n\n\n
Put the front bumper back on. <\/strong>Once everything has had the time to dry, ensure you place your front bumper back on very securely. <\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n
3. Your Coolant Levels Have Gotten Too Low<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Your car uses coolant, also known as Freon, to keep your air conditioner running smoothly and operating with nice cold air. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Over time, however, those levels drop, and usually, you end up with an air conditioner that will only produce cold air while driving. Sometimes it doesn\u2019t even do that if the coolant levels are really low. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Usually, if coolant levels are dropping dramatically, it\u2019s due to a leak in the condenser itself. The components within the condenser are very prone to wear and tear and will often form holes over time. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Causes and Solutions<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
As I discussed, rapidly falling coolant levels are usually due to a leak in the condenser itself. So what\u2019s the answer? <\/p>\n\n\n\n
If your coolant levels have decreased over time, you can simply add coolant to the vehicle, and you should be good to go. Sometimes if your car only has a small leak, you can still add coolant and it shouldn\u2019t leak out for a while. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
If you have a major leak in your condenser, the best thing to do is take your car to a professional. Condenser leaks can be difficult to fix, and if you aren\u2019t sure what you\u2019re doing, you might cause more harm to the vehicle. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
One Other Thing to Consider<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Sometimes the air conditioner isn\u2019t working right because it\u2019s simply been too long since you serviced it. While air conditioners don\u2019t need regular checkups like brakes or oil changes, they do need to be recharged at times.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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