General Question

Coloma's avatar

Car experts: Why is the climate control in my car acting up?

Asked by Coloma (47193points) September 8th, 2012

The last few days I have noticed a marked difference in temperature in my cars AC vents. I have individual climate control and the vents on the passenger side blow icey cold while the vents on the drivers side are blowing warm air. I had my AC checked at the beginning of summer and everything was fine. Is it possible for just 2 vents to be clogged or malfunctioning in some way?

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11 Answers

gailcalled's avatar

I’ve had mice in the car who have clogged up the heating and AC vents with the husks from sunflower seeds.

When I turned on either one, the husks blew out of the vents under the seats and left the husks on the floor mats. But they are hard to miss.

Coloma's avatar

@gailcalled Yes, I had a mouse get minced in my AC fan a couple of summers ago. This time there is no squealing, fan working fine just the obvious difference in temp.
Maybe it’s a rattlesnake in there this time. lol

gailcalled's avatar

How big are your vent openings?

Coloma's avatar

@gailcalled Average I assume. haha No, there is NO way I have a snake in my AC. Nooooo!

Coloma's avatar

Well….where are all the car guys this morning? lol

jerv's avatar

Individual climate control is a fickle beast, and one I am not terribly familiar with. For instance, I am not sure if you have two separate heater cores. That is a possiblity, in which case one clogged core would not work while the other one would get nice, cold R134 and thus chill the air.

What type of car?

Coloma's avatar

I was just researching and it looks like it might be the passenger side air/door blend actuator. Whatever that is! Obviously the dash will have to come off, oh boy, $80 an hour labor.
Well shit…I will call my mechanic on Monday. Pfft! lol

flutherother's avatar

It might just need topped up with refrigerant

woodcutter's avatar

I bet you need to add refrigerant. That is one of the symptoms when it gets low, it blows cool on one side only.

Coloma's avatar

Oooh, maybe it is that somple. We shall see tomorrow. Thanks everyone!

Coloma's avatar

Yep, it was in need of 14 oz. of refrigerant. It has been a long, hot summer! Damn..still in the low 90’s this week….what I wouldn’t give for a giant freaking STORM right about now. haha
Thanks everyone for your input! :-)

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