Car AC Airflow Problems

Often when faced with car AC airflow problems both professional and DIY car mechanics may think that it is a blower motor problem. Although this is one of the possibilities there are several other common ones that can affect the airflow from the air-conditioning or heat. A big one is clogged cabin air filters. These filters require regular maintenance.

What if the air is blowing but in the wrong place. One common complaint is when all the air comes out the defroster grille. On many cars this is the default selection. The job of the blend doors is to change the direction of flow and make sure that the air is also at the right temperature when discharged from the correct vents. Drivers using the climate control center control these doors.

But what happens when the driver selects the temperature and direction of the air but the results are different than expected. If the blower motor is running and no air comes out of the dash vents the problem can be a stuck or inoperative airflow control or blend door.

Types of AC airflow controls

Back in the old days and still used on some vehicles is the simple cable operated slide blend control. In this case the driver physically pushes open or closed the doors via a cable and lever to achieve desired results.

Used on both newer and older vehicles is the popular vacuum operated blend doors. This system uses the abundant engine vacuum to operate diaphragms that push or pull actuator rods. This will open or close the hinged flaps directing airflow into the proper ducts as selected by the driver.

The last type of control and most popular on modern automobiles would be the use of electrical motors that actually control the blend doors themselves. In this case when the driver selects the desired temperature the climate control module sends a signal to a remote mounted electric motor that performs the adjustment on the fly.

Having Car AC airflow problems?

Even the cable can experience problems such as binding or kinking that reduce the efficiency of the opening and closing of the blend doors. Often when this occurs the driver feels a spring back on the temperature control as they try to operate it.

When experiencing this problem inspection of the cable and possible replacement of the component will be needed. Car AC airflow problems on vacuum operated systems usually stem from missing vacuum inputs. No vacuum signal can cause the air to dump behind the dash and flow very weak from all of the vents.

When you hear the blower motor running and have weak or misdirected airflow checking the vacuum source is a good first step. Vacuum diagrams of air-conditioning system can be found in online car repair manuals.

An example of one of the most troublesome ones is pictured to the right. This is what the mid 90's GM actuator motor looks like. Many of these electronic controlled actuator motor's just plain failed. When this happens the driver may not be able to control temperature or the direction of the airflow.

Since the diagnostic tree charts vary with the model year and specific application it is recommended that you follow the diagnostic steps for your specific vehicle. In some cases, when you replace these AC airflow motors. They will have to be calibrated for proper operation.

The main lesson to learn is if you have car AC airflow problems and your blower motor is running your diagnosis should be heading for something that controls airflow not creates it. Identifying what type of system you have first is important.

It might be cable operated or have electrical motors or maybe the vacuum type. Knowing will lead you to the correct diagnostic steps. Vehicles older then or around twenty years, deterioration of the rubber or foam sealing strips on the flap may be a problem and should be inspected.

Give this car ac airflow problems page a bookmark or share with friends having a problem with their AC or automobiles heating systems.

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