Suppose your car overheats when the air conditioning is on or the temperature gauge goes up when the air conditioning is on. If so, this situation will make driving much more annoying, especially in summer.
The car's air conditioning system must cool the car's internal temperature without causing overheating.
Although car air conditioning and home air conditioning are used for the same purposes, car air conditioning works completely differently.
Car air conditioning needs a condenser, evaporator, compressor, manifold, expansion tube and other important components connected to the car engine.
So, here we will know the reasons why a car overheats when the air conditioning is on, what are the symptoms of car overheating when the air conditioning is on, and finally, how to solve car overheating problems when the air conditioning is on. It's on.
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What are the causes of overheating in a car with the air conditioning on?
Some of the most common causes of overheating in cars with the air conditioning on are an overloaded air conditioning compressor, a faulty coolant temperature sensor, clogged condenser fins, and a faulty water pump.
The car's engine drives the car's air conditioning. This is why you may find that the temperature gauge rises when something is wrong with your car's air conditioning system.
Here are some common reasons why your car overheats when the air conditioning is on:
- Faulty coolant temperature sensors
- Clogged or bad car radiator
- The water pump fails
- AC Compressor Overload
- Clogged condenser fins
- the fan does not work
- bad cooling system
1. Faulty coolant temperature sensors
Coolant temperature sensors or engine coolant temperature sensors are responsible for measuring the temperature of the car's engine.
The car's computer, known as the engine control unit, communicates with the coolant temperature sensors to keep the engine running at the optimum temperature.
But faulty coolant temperature sensors give incorrect temperature reports to the ECM.
When the engine control unit gets a wrong temperature reading, the ECM gives the car's cooling system the wrong direction, and eventually the car overheats just as quickly when you turn on the air conditioning.
Engine coolant temperature sensors are rare in this case, but I've seen many cars overheat when the air conditioning is on.
Related:What makes the car shake when the air conditioning is on?
2. Clogged or bad car radiator
The car's radiator is an important part of the cooling system. The radiator helps the engine run efficiently without overheating, which means the radiator removes excess heat from the engine.
As the radiator directs coolant through metal fins to the engine, it helps keep the vehicle running at its optimum temperature. But if the radiator stops working, it will cause your car to overheat when the air conditioner is on.
Over time, the radiator can become clogged or blocked with debris. The radiator can also leak coolant. And the radiator fins may be bent or broken. But rust is the main cause of the radiator becoming completely defective.
If you have a bad radiator or bad strip of metal in your car, it's always a good idea to check the radiator, especially if you notice your car overheating when you turn on the air conditioner.
3. The water pump fails
As you already know, a water pump is a crucial part of a car's cooling system that must be in perfect condition to maintain engine temperature.
The water pump ensures that coolant flows properly through the radiator, hoses, cylinder head and cylinder block to maintain the vehicle's operating temperature.
A faulty water pump cannot circulate coolant through the engine block. As a result, the car's engine temperature rises when the air conditioner is on or idling.
Faulty water pumps not only overheat the engine, but also, due to their long lifespan, can cause some particular damage to the engine.
See too:How to remove freon from car at home.
4. AC Compressor Overload
The most common reason for a car to overheat when the air conditioning is on is an AC compressor overload. The car's air conditioning compressor is responsible for converting the refrigerant from gas to liquid.
When you turn on the air conditioner, the compressor has to work with the engine, and the compressor moves the coolant cylinders to compress, which puts a lot of pressure on the engine.
As we know, car air conditioning consumes a lot of energy from the engine. It is a high load on the compressor that the faulty compressor cannot handle, causing the car engine to overheat.
Excessive load can damage or degrade the AC compressor, which is possibleprevent the air conditioner from blowing cold air.
Car owners should be especially careful with their car air conditioner compressor as an ideal compressor is needed to operate their car air conditioner.
5. Clogged condenser fins
Your car's air conditioning condenser is a heat exchanger that lowers the temperature of the refrigerant, but the condenser fins are there to keep anything from getting into the condenser.
Therefore, the condenser fins must also be clean enough to draw air into the condenser effectively.
A car's AC condenser fins can become clogged with dirt, debris, and various items.
But if your car's condenser fins are clogged, the condenser will not function at the optimal coolant temperature.
Appropriately, air conditioning puts more strain on the engine; Therefore, when the air conditioner is on and idling, the car overheats.
Also related:How to check the freon level in the car
6. The fan does not work
The cooling fan, also known as the radiator fan, is an essential part of a car's cooling system.
Depending on the speed of your car, the radiator fan ensures that the engine stays cool in any situation.
The cooling fan is placed between the radiator and the engine of a car. The convenient position allowed the cooling fan to cool the engine property.
If the cooling fan fails, the engine cannot be cooled; It is therefore normal for cars to overheat when you turn on the air conditioning.
You should also take care of the fan components like the fan switch, cooling motor, fan clutch, and more, as any broken component will cause the fan to not pass airflow.
7. Bad cooling system
The car's cooling system works with several components that are directly linked to the air conditioning system.
The main components of a car's cooling system are the freeze plug, radiator, cooling fan, heater core, pressure cap, hoses, overflow tank, and water pump.
Earlier, I talked about several important parts of the cooling system that can cause the car to overheat when the air conditioning is on.
The components of the car's refrigeration and air conditioning system play a very important role. The main purpose of the refrigeration system is to keep the air conditioning condenser at the proper temperature level.
When you turn on the heating air conditioner, the cooling system cools you down and releases cold air.
Condenser temperature rises when cooling system parts or components become clogged or blocked. So when the condenser heat gets too hot, it will cause the car to overheat when you turn on the air conditioner.
Car cooling system components can be damaged by corrosion or particles; Therefore, the cooling system components must be checked.
Make sure your car's cooling system components are working at their best with a radiator and water pump.
That's it, now you know what causes a car to overheat when the air conditioning is on.
Many people ask me about the overheating problem of a certain model or brand of car when the air conditioner is on. One question, how does a car overheat when the air conditioning overheats in a honda civic or jeep when the air conditioning is on? But all car air conditioners are the same.
Signs of car overheating when the air conditioner is on
Coolant leaks, frequent engine stalls, slow acceleration and a warning on the temperature gauge are the most common symptoms of a car overheating when the air conditioning is on.
These are the most common signs that a car is overheating when the air conditioning is on:
- car engine stops
- The engine makes a ticking noise
- coolant leak
- The car accelerates slowly
- Warning no temperature display
- Smoke is coming out from under the hood of the car.
- Weird smell from the car.
1. The car engine stops
If your car overheats, it will automatically shut off, regardless of the cause of the problem.
But when you turn on your car air conditioning and suddenly your car engine dies, it indicates that you have a problem with your car air conditioning that is causing your car to overheat.
In most cases, the car would not start until the engine cooled down. Therefore, it is necessary to lower the temperature before starting the engine.
2. Engine makes a ticking noise
Engine ticking is another symptom of a car overheating when the air conditioning is on.
The engine makes ticking noises, mainly due to the use of engine oil. Therefore, you should check your car's cooling system to see if the engine is making noise.
3. Coolant leak
Coolant leaks are always bad for a car's air conditioning system, especially the engine.
Coolant is a substance used to lower the temperature of a car's system. Refrigerant is the main chemical that air conditioners use to cool the air.
When coolant or antifreeze leaks from the car, the engine quickly overheats.
4. The car accelerates slowly
The car takes time to accelerate, as overheating the car when the air conditioning is on is a common problem.
If the engine temperature is too high, the auto throttle can sometimes fail. Therefore, you must take this matter seriously.
5. Warning no temperature display
Another common sign you'll notice when a car is overheating with the air conditioning on is a warning on the temperature gauge.
The car temperature gauge is responsible for measuring the temperature of the car's engine coolant.
Your car's normal temperature should be between 195 and 220 degrees, which you can see on your car's temperature gauge. So if your car's temperature gauge reads over 220 degrees, it's a sign that the car is overheating with the air conditioning on.
6. Smoke coming out from under the hood
One of the most traditional ways to tell that your car is overheating because of the air conditioning is by a cloud of steam coming out from under the hood of the car.
This method of indicating whether a car is hot or not is still a very useful method. So whenever you see clouds of steam under the hood, check your car for overheating issues.
7. Weird smell coming from the car
Car interiors and exteriors are usually made of plastic. Therefore, if you notice a smell of burnt rubber in your car, it is usually a symptom of your car overheating.
How to Fix an Engine That Overheats When the A/C Is On
Cleaning your car's radiator, flushing your engine's cooling system, and refilling your engine's coolant are the simple solutions to your car overheating with the air conditioning on.
Here are some solutions when the car overheats with the air conditioning on:
- Flush the cooling system
- Clean your car's radiator
- test the water pump
- Put water in your car's radiator
- Check your car's air conditioning condenser
- Top up engine coolant
Flush the cooling system
Flushing the car's engine cooling system removes dirt and rust from the cooling system. Flushing a car's cooling system also removes used coolant mixture from the radiator and replaces it with fresh coolant.
If you notice that the temperature gauge in the car rises when the air conditioner is turned on, you can flush the engine cooling system to protect the car from overheating.
Experts recommend flushing the cooling system every two years or 30,000 miles or replacing the coolant mixture with fresh coolant.
Clean your car's radiator
The radiator is the great central station of an engine's cooling system. And as I mentioned before, the radiator is the main component of a car's cooling system.
If your car's radiator is clogged, this could be the main reason why your car heats up when the air conditioning is on. When the radiator is blocked, the radiator cannot continuously pass antifreeze and water.
Try to check the radiator and keep it clean regularly. It would be very helpful if you could clean the inner tubes of the radiator with tools every now and then.
test the water pump
The water pump's job is to cool the engine with coolant. But if the water pump cannot circulate the coolant through the car's engine, the engine will overheat.
By listening to noises, checking the air temperature and so on, you can easily test the water pump to see if it works or not.
Replacing or fixing a faulty water pump works best with the car's cooling system to keep the engine cool.
Put water in your car's radiator
The refrigerator needs water to function properly. So check the radiator regularly to make sure there is enough water.
When you see that the cooler is dry, fill it with distilled water. The car's water pump draws water from the radiator and pumps it back through the engine to the radiator, where the cycle begins again.
Check your car's air conditioning condenser
The car's air conditioning condenser is placed between the car's grille and the engine's radiator.
It is necessary to check the AC condenser when the car overheats when the air conditioner is on or idling.
Because if you notice that your car's AC condenser is clogged or blocked, you need to clean it so that it can properly condense the refrigerant from gas to liquid.
Top up engine coolant
Coolant (also known as antifreeze) is a colored liquid that mixes with water to regulate your car's engine in extremely cold temperatures.
It has been said here a few times that the lack of coolant is the cause of the car overheating. Therefore, if you want to avoid problems with overheating your car with the air conditioner on, you should always top up the engine coolant.
What to do if a car with the air conditioning on overheats in traffic?
It's not uncommon for cars to overheat in traffic with the air conditioning on; This often happens, especially when a car has problems with the cooling system.
Here are the steps to take if your car overheats in traffic with the air conditioning on:
Step 1: You must stop as soon as possible
If, while driving, you suddenly notice that the temperature gauge rises when the air conditioner is turned on without thinking about anything, it is better to start the car.
Remember, the longer you run the vehicle, the more the engine will overheat. Then pull over and stop the car.
Step 2: Turn off the air conditioner immediately
The best thing to do when a car overheats with the air conditioning on is to turn off the car's air conditioning in any situation.
Even if you are stuck in traffic but your car's air conditioning engine is overheating, turning off the air conditioning is enough to keep your car safe.
Step 3 - Open your car's hood
When a car overheats with the air conditioning on, steam often escapes from under the hood. Therefore, after stopping and opening the hood of your car.
A common way to cool the car engine is to open the hood of the car and this is a useful method.
Step 4: Stop the engine with the ignition on
After checking under the hood of your car, turn off the car's engine but leave the key in the ignition as it should be on.
The reason for leaving the ignition on is that it keeps the fan running, which helps the engine cool down.
Step 5 – Wait for about 30 minutes
From my experience, I have found that it takes no more than 30 minutes for an overheated car to completely cool down. So leave your car for half an hour and then check your car temperature.
When your car engine is cold, you should check and look for leaks in your car.
You can get help from roadside assistance to properly check your car to find out why your car overheats so fast and why your car overheats when the air conditioning is on.
Can a faulty air conditioning compressor cause the car to overheat?
Yes. A car air conditioning compressor can cause the car engine to overheat. When your car's air conditioning compressor is stuck, the belt cannot move properly.
The AC belt connects the AC compressor clutch to the engine crankshaft, allowing the compressor to rotate through engine power when engaged.
That's why the car's air conditioning belt is an important part. You can drive your car with a broken belt, but the car will overheat after a few miles.
When it comes to car overheating issues, you also need to know many parts of your car's cooling system.
Can low freon levels cause cars to overheat?
A lack or low level of freon in a car can cause it to overheat because if the freon or refrigerant runs out, the car's air conditioning compressor cannot compress the freon.
This is the reason why air conditioning compressors put an excessive load on a car's engine; Eventually the whole car will overheat.
Can air conditioning overheat your car?
Your car's air conditioning can overheat your car due to faulty AC components resulting in your car overheating.
Most importantly, your car's cooling system has the significant capacity to heat it up.
So if your car has faulty AC components then this can cause your car engine to overheat.
final thoughts
Broken components of the car's cooling system are the main cause of the car overheating when the air conditioner is on.
Here, I have shared all possible reasons, symptoms and solutions to fix car overheating with air conditioner on.
You should not consider your car overheating problem as a simple or minor problem. Car overheating issues will damage the engine, which can be very expensive for you to fix.
If you've tried every possible solution on your car and haven't found the correct solution, contact a professional or automotive service center to look into the problem and get solutions.
As we already know, car overheating problem can cost you a lot of money if you lose it. In addition, overheating the car can put you in great danger anywhere and anytime. Therefore, you must take care of your car's air conditioning to protect yourself and your family.
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Miraj Sarkar
Hello,
How are you?
I'm Meraj Sarker. I'm an auto mechanic and auto restoration student here in Florida, USA. I've been studying automotive for about 9 years. Then you can trust my recommendation. For me, studying and learning about automobiles is a lot of fun and fun. I will help you find solutions for your car through this website. If you need help, please let me know.
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