Three Reasons Why Your Car May Start To Overheat When Running The Air Conditioner

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When you run your vehicle's air conditioning system, you expect cold air to come out. However, if your temperature gauge starts to increase, indicating your car may be overheating, you may be wondering what is going on. There are a few common reasons why your car may start to overheat when you run the air conditioning system, and auto repair services can troubleshoot your car and determine what is going on. Here are three of the reasons why your car may start to overheat when you are running the air conditioning system.  

Your Engine Cooling Fan Is Going Out

One of the reasons why your car may start to overheat when you are running the car's air conditioner is because your engine cooling fan is going out. The engine cooling fan is responsible for blowing away the hot air that builds up on the engine. When the cooling fan is starting to go bad, it may not be able to blow fast enough, or at all, and hot air sits on the engine, causing the temperature increase you see on the temperature gauge.

The AC Compressor Is Starting to Go Bad

Another reason why your car may start to overheat when you are running the air conditioning in your car is because the AC compressor is starting to go bad. The AC compressor uses a series of cylinders that move to compress refrigerant. This creates a lot of strain and heat, but the regular load is something the engine can bear. However, when cylinders are starting to go bad, the compressor works harder and produces less cool air. This puts a larger heat strain on the engine, causing it to overheat. 

Your Radiator or Condenser Tubes Are Dirty or Clogged

The final reason why your car may start to overheat when you are running the air conditioner system is that your radiator coils are dirty or your condenser tubes are clogged. This minimizes airflow, which traps hot air on the engine. These are the easiest and least expensive issues to repair. 

If your car is overheating instead of cooling when you run the air conditioning system, there are three common reasons why. The engine cooling fan may be going out, the AC compressor may be starting to go bad, or the radiator or condenser tubes are clogged or dirty. Reach out to a local auto repair service to learn more. 

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21 June 2023

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