My service light comes on and stays on. When the cool air system is in use it sometimes blows out hot air. Also the temperature gauge nears the hot zone when the cool air system is in use. It hasn't reached the hot zone yet but it has come pretty close. I haven't used the air cooling system since Monday and the temperature gauge has stayed at normal levels. I had some coolant added on last Thursday and when I checked it on Monday there was none in the the reservoir at all.
My car has an automatic transmission.
This can be caused for a variety of reasons such as a malfunctioning thermostat, a radiator not flowing properly, a faulty coolant temp sensor or AC refrigerant not properly being supplied to the AC compressor. Your car’s AC system puts a heavy strain on your car’s engine when it runs as it requires a lot of power to run. When the AC compressor comes on it puts additional strain on the motor that may be already struggling to stay cool as a result of any of the issues named above. I would recommend having an expert from YourMechanic come to your home to diagnose and repair.
How to Identify and Fix Common car Problems ?
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Another symptom of a bad or failing ambient temperature sensor is inconsistent cooling. As the ambient temperature sensor plays a direct role in the automated function of the AC system, when it is having a problem this may interfere with the system`s ability to cool the vehicle.
When the temp shows “cold” the AC will not cycle on; that`s normal. The issue is in the temp sensor circuit. The fans running is because the ecm does not see a temp sensor so it assumes a hot condition. If battery disconnect solves the problem it is resetting the ecm (engine control module; i.e. computer).
The thermostat sensor is located near the evaporator coils. These coils are inside your air conditioner unit. As the air is sucked through the return vents, the air passes by the sensor and the coils. As the air passes the sensor, it reads the temperature and compares that reading to the setting on your thermostat.
Faulty cooling fan – A faulty cooling fan, cooling motor, or any connectors` controls that activate the cooling fan could also be the cause of your car overheating when idle and the AC is turned on.
Signs of a Faulty Sensor
You might notice that your air conditioner doesn`t turn off when the house reaches the set temperature if you have a faulty sensor, Your AC will just continue to blow cold air. The temperature may even become uncomfortably cold.
If you notice that your engine overheats, the coolant temperature sensor could be the problem. At times, the coolant temperature switch may fail such that it starts transmitting hot signals permanently. This causes the computer to erroneously counterbalance the signal, thereby causing the engine to misfire or overheat.
Look online for the hot and cold readings of your vehicle`s temperature sensor — or check the car`s manual — and compare your readings to see if they closely match. If they do, your sensor is functioning properly and you may have an issue elsewhere. If not, you`ll need to replace your sensor.
Also known as an air conditioning sensor, a thermostat sensor is a component in central AC systems that is designed to measure the ambient air temperature. It works in conjunction with a thermostat to provide control over your home`s indoor temperature.
A temperature sensor can help if you`re consistently too cold or too warm in a room in your home. A thermostat only measures the temperature in the room that it`s in. It heats or cools your entire home based on that temperature, even if it`s different from the rooms where you spend the most time.
Car overheats when driving but not when idling
If your temperature gauge is fine until you make the car work, the most likely issue is coolant flow.
Can a Bad AC Compressor Cause My Car to Overheat? The compressor itself cannot cause the vehicle to get overheated. However, if the compressor clutch is engaged but the compressor is dragging to function properly, the extra strain on the engine can cause your car to overheat.
The calibration screw is inside a piece of metal in the thermostat. Using the proper size screwdriver, you can turn the screw to open the contacts. After a few seconds, turn the screw to close the contacts. This will reset the contacts to provide a good connection.
A coolant temperature sensor (CTS) (also known as an ECT sensor or ECTS (engine coolant temperature sensor) is used to measure the temperature of the coolant/antifreeze mix in the cooling system, giving an indication of how much heat the engine is giving off.
A failing oxygen sensor is an oft-overlooked cause of overheating. Your converter links to oxygen sensors in your vehicle. These sensors are used to measure the mix of air and liquid fuel. If the mix is off and becomes too rich, your catalytic converter can overheat as a result.
The Freon is Leaking
Freon, or coolant, is the chemical in the air conditioning system that cools the air. If the system is leaking, then this chemical will eventually run out. Today`s A/C systems are more sensitive than the older ones. The air conditioner will not work properly if there is not enough of this chemical.
Traditional air conditioner uses a temperature sensor installed on the evaporator of indoor unit for feedback control.