Car Air Con Not Blowing Cold? Common Causes and Fixes

Air con loses gas over time

Car air conditioning is a sealed system, but a small amount of refrigerant naturally escapes through seals and hoses every year. After a few years, there is not enough gas left for the system to cool properly and you notice the air coming through lukewarm.

This is the most common reason air con stops working well, and a regas is usually the fix.

When it is more than low gas

If the system has lost gas quickly, or it stops working completely, there is likely a leak or a failed part. Condensers sit at the front of the car and can be holed by stones. Compressors, pressure switches, fans and blend flaps inside the dashboard can all fail too.

Refilling a system with a large leak is a waste of money because the gas will simply escape again. We check pressures and test for leaks so you are not paying for a regas that will not last.

Bad smells from the vents

A musty smell when you switch the air con on usually means bacteria or mould has built up on the evaporator behind the dashboard. A blocked or old cabin filter makes it worse. An antibacterial treatment and a new cabin filter normally sort it.

Use it all year round

Run your air con for a few minutes at least once a week, even in winter. It keeps the seals lubricated, helps prevent leaks and dries the air, which makes it the quickest way to clear a misted windscreen on a cold morning.

Air con regas and repairs in Oldbury

We regas and repair air conditioning on all makes and models from our workshop on Park Lane in Oldbury. Call us on 0121 544 3736, tell us what the air con is doing, and we will book you in.