What is your question?
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What is your question?
My air conditioning in my 2012 Kia Optima EX GDI non turbo runs fine while driving at higher speeds but at a stop light, stuck in traffic at low speeds it only blows warm or hot air. Only one fan on the car. What could be the problem
2 Replies
The radiator cooling fan is not doing it's job! .. At highway speeds don't need a fan, got ram air cooling the engine bay - BUT - when in slow traffic or stopped, cooling fan got to do the work! .. The fan also cools the A/C condenser to keep head pressure on the A/C compressor to a minimum, fan ain't doing that so the systems high pressure switch turns the compressor off... Then naturally hot air is emitted.
Its a really simple fix and will cost you nothing to diagnose and minimal to repair. Open the hood and on the divers side, open that black box (fuse cover) that looks similar to a air filter box. There are 3 small black rectangle boxes that are relays. The ones for the AC are closest to the front of the car. the group of 3 say start, ac high, and ac low. Swap the high and low relays. They will bull out like a plug, straight up. The low relay is most likely bad. This part is about $8 delivered on ebay. The part number is 95220-2s000. Hope this helps!
See the part in my first post about how ram air at highway speeds is keeping everything cool - and the *fan isn't even running* - then while in stop & go traffic or stopped the fan has to turn on and do the job? .. You see if a fuse is blown or another problem exists in the fan circuit the fan can not turn on when it needs to, therefore the AC quits working because of excessive engine bay heat. That's how it works!
I understood that part about ram air, but there is only a single fan on the car... At idle the fan is turning and if the fan were not working, from prior experiences, the car would at the very least run hotter than normal or overheat.
You failed to mention the fan was turning however - is it doing it's job? .. From my 'many' years of experience in the automotive troubleshooting and repair business, I think you really should have the air flow into the engine bay - while car is idling in park with ac on - investigated by qualified personnel .. Seems logical - Good luck to ya! ..
Did you ever find out what was causing the AC to blow hot when stopped? My car is doing the same thing. Your correct about if the fan weren't running the car would run hot. I had a loose connection in the past and my fan wasn't turning. My car started to over heat because of it. It also makes a humming noise at times but not all the time.
The air conditioning compressor will turn off at the slightest rise of heat due to excessive HEAD PRESSURE - however the engine will not show any signs of overheating. 99% of the time this problem is caused by insufficient air flow into the engine bay while vehicle is in slow moving traffic or at stop with engine and a/c on. My recommendation is to enlist the assistance of qualified personnel to perform the required **HANDS-ON** inspection - testing so the problem can be properly diagnosed and identified. Good luck to all !
I am having the same issue with a kia optima. Did you find out what the issue was? Thanks
I guess I need a new fan then... heres hoping I can find one cheaper than the OEM replacements.
Here's another though > IF that turns out to be the problem (and it 'more' than likely is) .. Look at the money you have save on diagnostic cost thanks to free advice from RepairPal Stated cooling fan isn't doing it's job .. Never said fan itself is the problem .. I would still check for a blown fuse etc before buying parts.. IF fan is proven to be defective, search eBay for replacement. Good luck to ya!
If the fuse was blown wouldn't it blow hot all the time?... the reason I ask is because it blows quite cold while moving above 40mph but then at the stop light it begins to blow ambient temp or warm like the outside depending on setting. I suspect the fan is the culprit and was going to check to see if it spins freely. I will happy so long as it isn't the compressor.