Why Does My Car Blow Hot Air Through the Vents?

If you have enjoyed the benefits of a properly working air conditioner in your vehicle, then you will quickly notice if it starts to blow hot air through the vents. Having information on why this occurs could be beneficial to any car owner looking to beat the heat.

Causes

  • There are several reasons your vehicle may be blowing hot air through the vents, such as a need to recharge refrigerant. There could also be a problem with the air conditioner's compressor. Vents will blow hot air if the compressor does not activate when the A/C is turned on.

Compressor

  • To find out if the air conditioner's compressor is causing hot air to come from your vents, you can test it by connecting its clutch wire to a battery. If the compressor fails to turn, it is likely that you will need to have it replaced.

Refrigerant

  • If your air conditioner is low on refrigerant, it can be recharged to combat this issue. However, checking for leaks should always be done before taking this action. Also, your air conditioning system's vacuum should have all air removed from it prior to recharging refrigerant.