Engine overheating or poor air conditioning due to problems with your condenser or cooling fan relays in your air conditioning system cause your powertrain to record a fault code of P0480 to P0485 and P0530 to P0534. A service technician attaches a scanner to your powertrain wiring system to read the diagnostic codes to determine the mechanical or electrical problem. The cooling fan does not turn on if the cooling fan relay is bad.
If the cooling fan will not turn on, your powertrain records a diagnostic code of P0485 indicating power is not getting to the cooling fan relay or it is not properly grounded. The compressor clutch slips when voltage is low, creating friction and heat, or causes low voltage. If the cooling fan circuit works and the compressor is running but no cool air is blown into the car, the blend air door probably will not leave the heat position. Another possible cause of condenser and cooling fan relay problems is a defective automatic climate control system, a bad interior temperature sensor or a bad control module. Complex automatic climate control requires a qualified service technician with special tools to repair it.
An inoperative blower motor and fan cause your compressor to disengage. Your vehicle may have two fans. The main cooling fan is near the radiator and another fan is near the condenser. Diagnostic code P0480 indicates that the main cooling fan failed and diagnostic code P0481 means cooling fan 2 failed. Both fans operate while your air conditioner is on. The cooling fan draws air from the engine compartment through the radiator and air conditioning condenser. If the fans do not operate properly, the compressor may overheat and fail, causing your car's engine to run hot or overheat.
In 2010, new car compressors turn off if the refrigerant is low or contaminated. Bad relays, fuses, wiring, switches or the control module can cause your compressor to malfunction. Your compressor must be adequately lubricated with specific oil designated by the manufacturer. Too much oil, a clogged orifice or expansion valve causes most new car compressors to shut off. The condenser collects filth and oil out of the refrigerant from the compressor through the expansion valve. The sludge can clog the valve or tube and damage the compressor. If oil cannot flow through the condenser, the compressor does not receive oil, lacks lubrication and overheats. If the condenser is dirty, flushing the compressor moves sludge through the system. Parallel flow air conditioners are difficult to flush because many tubes are attached to them.
