air conditioner not blowing air from dash vents, but blowing air from side vents
The air conditioning in my cadillac doesn't blow out of the vents on the dash. But it blows air out of the side vents on the doors. How do I use the self diagnostics feature on my air conditioner?
Experienced mechanics share their insights in answering this question :
A few different items can cause the air to not blow out of the dash vents. The most common are a blend door or a control switch. The best method for the AC diagnosis feature can be found in the vehicles owners manual. I recommend having your AC checked by a qualified technician, such as one from YourMechanic, to have the problem diagnosed and repaired correctly.
How to Identify and Fix Common car Problems ?
Our sources include academic articles, blog posts, and personal essays from experienced mechanics :
If your air handler is running but not blowing air, there are two likely scenarios; either a broken AC blower belt or an issue with the motor itself. If the air handler is humming or buzzing, but not making the mechanical sounds of a motor running, you`re most likely talking about an issue with the motor itself.
Here are some of the most common causes of why air doesn`t flow out of your vehicle`s vents: Your air intake is clogged, meaning that air isn`t getting in from the outside at all or isn`t circulating properly. There is a blown fuse in the ventilation system. Electrical issues such as a bad relay.
Problems like a fan clogged with dirt, a dead motor, a loose fan belt or a stuck wheel can all cause your blower to not work properly. These problems can keep the blower fan from blowing enough air out of your vents to keep you cool. Your evaporator coil needs air to blow over it to complete your AC`s cooling process.
Your car`s air-conditioning stopped working most likely because of a freon leak or a bad compressor. While these causes may be the simple to spot reasons that your air-conditioning isn`t cooling in your vehicle, a dirty cabin filter or a bad belt could also be the problem.
If there is no air coming from your vent/s but the system is running, this usually means something has blocked the duct so no air can get through to the vent. Solution: Call an air conditioning service technician to unblock the duct and to make sure all systems are working correctly.
The blower motor relay is the electrical switch that is used to supply the power for the vehicle`s blower motor. The blower motor is the component responsible for pushing air through the vents of your vehicle`s heating and air conditioning systems.
It is usually located inside the blower compartment on the side of the blower motor. Be cautious as the housing may be hot. If the button is popped up, press it down.
Car AC Not Blowing Cold Air: A Bad Fuse
Find the fuse associated with the A/C blower motor. If the blower motor fuse is still in-tact, your problem is located elsewhere. If the fuse is blown, simply replacing the fuse with an identical fuse of the same amperage rating could get your system working again!
Turn your HVAC system on and return to the areas where ductwork is accessible. Check the connections between each section of duct, placing your hand over the metal. If you feel air against your hand, the connection is loose and there is an air leak. A common place for leaks is the duct joints.
The return vents allow stale indoor air to enter the return ducts and cycle back to the HVAC unit. The air is then warmed or cooled by the HVAC system and pushed back out through the distribution ducts and vents. Supply vents blow conditioned air out of them. Supply vents are often high on walls or near the ceiling.
An easy indication that your air ducts are dirty or clogged is when the system turns on, you may see a cloud of dust coming out the air vents. You can double-check this by turning off the HVAC system and waiting a few minutes after it has shut down. Turn it back on and see if dust clouds come out the vents.
When you turn the furnace on but no heat comes out, there may be an obstruction. Dirty air filters restrict airflow, which can make it feel like not much heated air is coming out of your vents. Check the furnace filter and replace it if its surface is covered with contaminants.
Relevant Questions and Answers :
the most relevant questions and answers related to your specific issue
air conditioner not blowing air from dash vents, but blowing air from side vents
ANSWER : A few different items can cause the air to not blow out of the dash vents. The most common are a blend door or a control switch. The best method for the AC diagnosis feature can be found in the vehicles owners manual. I recommend having your AC checked by a qualified technician, such as one from YourMechanic, to have the problem diagnosed and repaired correctly.
My heater is blowing air through the driver side air vents but is blowing cold air through the passenger side and rear console ven
ANSWER : Hi there:
Climate controlled vehicles have multiple electrical relays that open and close vents to maintain the desired temperature. In some instances, these relays can wear out overtime. However, it’s also common for debris to clog up vents (especially side vents) which may restrict the flow of cool air. The best way to determine why your AC is not working efficiently, it might be best to have a professional mechanic complete a AC inspection; so they can pinpoint the source of your issues and recommend the right repairs.
Air conditioner blows hot air on the left side and cold air on the right side
ANSWER : A common issue across many makes and models with dual AC in the temperature blend door actuator failing and causing drastic temperature differences between the driver and passengers sides. Have the HVAC system inspected by an experienced professional to find the specific cause. A certified professional from YourMechanic can come to your car’s location to diagnose the AC and assist with proper repairs.
When idling, car overheats and A/C blows hot air – 2001 Saturn L100
ANSWER : Hello. The most likely cause of the issue that your are having would be a faulty cooling fan. The cooling fans purpose is to keep the radiator and condenser for the air conditioning cool during the idling function of the vehicle.
If the cooling fan is not working, this will cause the radiator and condenser to get very hot. When the radiator and condenser get hot, this can cause the vehicle to overheat and the air conditioning not to work. When the vehicle is driving at higher speeds, the force of air that is created towards the vehicle will flow through the radiator and condenser and therefore keep them cool. I would recommend having the cooling fan checked to make sure that it is working properly. If not, I would recommend having the cooling fan replaced.
Air conditioner blowing warm air. Heat blowing warm air. Neither hot or cold
ANSWER : If the A/C system is full and pressures are reading correctly, and the cooling system is in proper working order (thermostat opens, no overheating, etc.), then most likely the problem lies with the dash. The climate control head unit may be at fault. One or more blend doors behind the dash may be stuck or broken. If you’re unable to fix this issue yourself, consider YourMechanic, as one of our mobile technician can come diagnose the issue with your A/C firsthand and help you fix it accordingly.
hot air blows out driver side vents but only cold air out passenger side vents?
ANSWER : Hello, thanks for writing in about your Toyota 4Runner. Your A/C has separate temperature control actuators on the A/C evaporator case and the passenger side one may be stuck in cold position. Replace the actuator and it should fix the problem. If you decide to get this fixed, consider YourMechanic, as a certified technician can diagnose the issue with your AC and help you fix the actuator if necessary.
Problem with AC/heater – 2005 Ford Explorer
ANSWER : Hello. The problems you describe with the front system may either be a faulty control switch or faulty vacuum motors for the air blend doors. The problem in the rear is likely the rear heater control valve, which regulates the flow of hot coolant to the rear heater core and air duct system. The clicking noise may be a broken vacuum motor for that valve (integrated in the valve).
I would recommend having a certified mechanic, such as one from YourMechanic, come to your location to perform an inspection of the heater and suggest the needed repairs.
Air conditioner blows hot air. 1995 Mercedes-Benz E300
ANSWER : Hi there, thanks for writing in about your 1995 Mercedes-Benz E550. This could be a variety of issues, such as no pressure or low refrigerant levels, a bad compressor clutch, or a compressor not engaging correctly. Check to see if the cooling fans are on when the AC is running. Most systems are designed to have them run when the AC is on. Also, check to be sure the compressor is engaged. Look to see if the pulley is spinning when the car is running with the AC on. If you need help with this, a qualified professional from YourMechanic can come to your car’s location to inspect the AC system and pinpoint the necessary repair.
