Most people aren’t interested in the way car air-conditioners work, so long as they’re working. So, if they stop working, one might ask – Why is no air coming from my car vents?
There are many possible reasons why air to ceases to flow out of your car’s vent. Some of these reasons include:
- An electrical issue with the relay blown fuse in the ventilation system
- Clogged ducts
- Broken belts
- A clogged air intake.
Do you want to know how to get your car’s vent fixed to receive fresh air? Well, this article will help you do that. Details on the problems listed above and some solutions to them are covered in this article.
Why Is No Air Coming From My Car Vents?
When the air isn’t flowing in your car, it could be because the intake is clogged, meaning that air isn’t getting in from the outside at all or isn’t circulating properly. There may be a blown fuse in the ventilation system. Electrical issues such as a bad relay could also be to blame.
Reasons Why Air Vents of a Car Can Stop Working
Why are there many causes why car vents fail to produce air? This is because the production of dry, cool air from the car is possible when many parts in the car work together.
The car’s AC system stops working when these parts develop a problem.
The car AC system functions when the refrigerant is manipulated from liquid to gaseous. When this change happens, humidity and heat in the car are soaked up and converted into dry, cool air.
Therefore, temperature and pressure are very important for a properly functioning system.
It takes all these parts working as a team for the AC to run smoothly. The AC system can stop working when one of these parts has a minor clog or break.
An example is a condenser that reduces refrigerant temperature, a dryer that removes water from the refrigerant, and a compressor that takes in and compresses pressure.
The car’s AC system equally has other components as well. For more information on how the system and its corresponding parts operate, check this article from Universal Technical Institute.
Once the basic function of the car’s air-conditioning system is understood, you can begin understanding the problem with it if it malfunctions or breaks down. For example, many people’s greatest problem is low airflow from their dash vents.
This problem is most commonly caused by Clogged air intake. The car has 2 places for the inflow of air. The first is sited close to the windshield’s lower half, while the second one is on your dashboard.
These two areas let air circulate inside your car, and when they’re clogged by dirt, the flow of air stops.
Clogged vents are likely why your car doesn’t have air circulation. However, other causes include the ones we listed above. Another example is a blown fuse inside your ventilation system.
More complex issues include; failed compressor or possible malfunction in the relay system.
Dealing with low air from your AC can be frustrating, especially if the weather is hot. Continue reading for more details on these airflow problems.
Also Read: Car AC Smells Like Vinegar (Causes & Solutions)
Most Common AC Air Flow Problems
There are numerous reasons why air does not flow through your car’s air-conditioning system. Because of this, it’s advisable to seek the help of an experienced technician.
When your car is taken in for the servicing of the air-conditioning system, the mechanic will first look out for the following:
- An old or broken blower motor
- Damaged belts and hoses
- Clogged vents
- A blown fuse
- A bad relay
Most likely, it’s caused by a bad relay or blown fuse. Sometimes, a fuse can be blown by a ventilation system. When this happens, the blower motor stops getting power, making the vents stop producing air.
Similarly, a bad relay can equally cause airflow problems. The car’s air-conditioning system relay serves as a circuit for electrical current in the system. It’s a regulator for big electrical currents in charge of ventilation. A malfunctioning relay should be replaced.
A Blower motor is another important component of a car’s air-conditioning system. Air passes through this part’s vents which are just like a fan. Any damage to this part can make the vent not produce air. Regular tear and wear or age can equally be reasons for the blower motor to malfunction.
It can be caused simply when things like trash, debris, or accumulations clog or block the area under the windshield where the car takes in air, thereby preventing air from coming in from the vent. Be sure your ducts are clean and nothing is blocking them.
Another likely reason the air-conditioning system and car vents are failing is damaged hoses or belts. When that is the problem, the car often makes grinding, squealing, or cranking sounds when the air conditioner is turned on.
Many belts and hoses are needed to operate the car’s air-conditioning system. Because of this, any slipping, blockage, or breakage can prevent the air from flowing properly.
We can see that many possible problems can stop airflow from your car’s vents.
Also Read: Does Car AC Use Gas? (Answered)
How To Fix Car Air Vents That Aren’t Working?
There are plenty of reasons to consider when a car is not producing much air as supposed or when it’s not producing any air. These causes are mostly related to broken components in your vehicle’s air-conditioning system or clogs.
The first thing to do is check for a clog.
Check where the vehicle takes in the air under the windshield, then try determining if you can see pollen, debris, or buildup of dust inside.
If you notice that the system is blocked by something, try clearing out the clogs using a toothpick, a duster, or other tools lying around you.
Your air-conditioning system filter can equally be the clog culprit. Usually, It’s not easy to access the AC filter, and different car models come in different directions.
In this case, you can research ways to access a vehicle’s filter online or call a professional. Then, clean or change it if it has dust or grime once you can bring it out.
If you find out your air filter or intake is not blocked, you can consider other common problems, for example, a failed fuse or bad relay.
If your vehicle isn’t still producing air, you need to seek a professional/experienced technician to help you find out the problem.
Check out this video for more tips on how to fix this issue
Car Air Conditioning Explained
A car’s air-conditioning system can be complicated. Because of this, many people resort to professional technicians to fix any problem. However, if you’re looking for more details concerning the workings of these systems, these are the basics.
A car’s AC system manipulates refrigerant to a gaseous and liquid state. The change occurs when the refrigerant soaks up humidity and heat in a vehicle to produce dry, cool air that the vehicle’s vent pushes.
As mentioned above, many parts of the system can age poorly or break, giving the car vents limited airflow. The compressor is one of such parts. So, where the whole system power comes from is the component of a car’s air-conditioning unit.
Low-pressure gas is separated and compressed into high-pressure gas and high temperature. The location of the compressor is in the engine, and it functions using a serpentine belt.
The next explained essential part is the condenser. The compressor lowers the refrigerant’s temperature while maintaining a high pressure that forces air to transfer heat. The condenser can equally be located at the back of the grill in the car’s front.
Another important part is the dryer. The dryer uses a drying agent to remove water from the refrigerant. It is located close to the condenser beside a critical metering device piece. As a result, the metering device lowers the refrigerant pressure.
The car’s air-conditioning system is powered when the parts mentioned above and more work together. So if any of them break down over time or malfunction, it’s crucial to replace them, or else you may have problems, like no air coming out of your vents.
Also Read: Car Shakes When AC Is On (Causes & Solutions)
Frequently Asked Questions – Why Is No Air Coming From My Car Vents?
Why is my AC running but no air coming out of vents?
There are two possible reasons why the air handler would refuse to blow air but still run; a motor problem or a broken air-conditioning blower belt. When the air handler hums or buzzes without making motor running mechanical sounds, it’s probably still a motor problem.
Why is my dashboard air vents not working?
The issue can be caused by either a damaged resistor or blower motor, damaged fuse, torn hose, or blocked air intake. These common factors can be used to check the cause of a car’s vent issues.
Why is my air on but not blowing air?
When the air-conditioning unit runs without producing it from the vents, it’s likely to be a problem with an old fan capacitor. The compressor runs, and the HVAC system’s indoor and outdoor fan motors blow with the help of fan capacitors.
Why is the AC not blowing air?
The problem might come from the refrigerant when the central air conditioner stops blowing cool air. Possibly the unit can run low and require extra refrigerant to be added. A leak usually aggravates the situation. In addition to keeping the air-conditioning unit from properly cooling, a leak can cause other problems.
How much does it cost to clean car vents?
Cleaning a duct can cost approximately $50 and $25 per vent. Each vent uses ducts to connect the HVAC system to each room. Count each duct and multiply by $35 to know the average price.
Why is my car heater not blowing air?
The car’s blower fan may be problematic when the heater blows cool air as the system is turned on. Either the motor has burned out or is not receiving electrical power. An old car’s blower motor burns out over time and may need replacement.
Conclusion – Why Is No Air Coming From My Car Vents?
When you cannot get air from your vehicle’s vent, you’ll most likely feel uncomfortable, hot, and seeking an easy and quick fix.
The first thing is checking and ensuring nothing is blocking your vehicle’s vents. Next, clean any dirt clogging your vent, especially if you’ve not cleaned the dash for a while.
When all this is done, and the issue persists, it might signal that more parts of your vehicle’s air-conditioning system are malfunctioning or broken. Seek the help of a professional technician to get the problem fixed.