Air conditioner not working

Tiny
2NDPHOTO
  • MEMBER
  • 2005 CHEVROLET MALIBU
  • 2.0L
  • 6 CYL
  • FWD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 128,700 MILES
When using the air conditioner set on maxim cool either on outside air on interior air the blower blows warm air out the vents on the drivers side and cold air out those on the passengers side
Friday, August 7th, 2015 AT 12:50 PM

26 Replies

Tiny
WRENCHTECH
  • MECHANIC
  • 20,761 POSTS
The first step is to go over this guide

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/car-air-conditioner-not-working-or-is-weak

Please run down this guide and report back.
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Friday, August 7th, 2015 AT 1:34 PM
Tiny
JBOSS37
  • MEMBER
  • 2 POSTS
  • 2005 CHEVROLET MALIBU
Air Conditioning problem
2005 Chevy Malibu 4 cyl Automatic

Dear Pros,
I have recently been having a problem with my 2005 Chevy Malibu. I'll be driving down the road with the air conditioner on, cycling the cabin air, then it will automatically switch to pulling outside air in. Any idea of what it might be? Thanks!
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Monday, June 29th, 2020 AT 1:27 PM (Merged)
Tiny
RHALL77
  • MECHANIC
  • 3,361 POSTS
Does it have automatic temp controls
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Monday, June 29th, 2020 AT 1:27 PM (Merged)
Tiny
JBOSS37
  • MEMBER
  • 2 POSTS
No, it does not have automatic temp controls.
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Monday, June 29th, 2020 AT 1:28 PM (Merged)
Tiny
RHALL77
  • MECHANIC
  • 3,361 POSTS
You may wanna have it scanned for trouble codes
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Monday, June 29th, 2020 AT 1:28 PM (Merged)
Tiny
BETTIE
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
  • 2004 CHEVROLET MALIBU
My car's air conditioner light and the system itself keep turning off and on sporadically. This causes my car to jerk back and forth each time it turns on or off. What can I do to fix it? Thanks :)
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Monday, June 29th, 2020 AT 1:28 PM (Merged)
Tiny
CALICOSCOOBY
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
My Malibu does the same thing- it also happens to be a 2004. I only notice a slight jerk when I am stopped and it turns on/off. It does shut off randomly, but especially when changing levels on the AC. I have taken it twice to Carmax where they replaced the HVAC head- they told me it wasn't a problem with the part and wasn't known to happen with this model, but I'm having the same issue again this year.
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Monday, June 29th, 2020 AT 1:28 PM (Merged)
Tiny
DOCFIXIT
  • MECHANIC
  • 18,828 POSTS
CHeck the Its usually the plug to AC clutch if okay Most likely the BCM I have a 2002 and it was doing that also would drop ,out of recirculation mode and AC light blinks. Needed to turn off then on and it would work. BCM solved


https://www.2carpros.com/forum/automotive_pictures/198357_Graphic_106.jpg

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Monday, June 29th, 2020 AT 1:28 PM (Merged)
Tiny
PAUL52
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
  • 2004 CHEVROLET MALIBU
  • 133,000 MILES
Fresh air button stays on all the time except when you put on ac on recirculate than it will jump back to fresh air again. Is this normal or is there a stuck relay I can change and where is it located?

The light on the fresh air button stays on all the time and takes in air all the time. When I turn on ac and push recirculate button it will go out and shut off fresh air for a little while. Than it will jump back to fresh air. Is this normal or is there a bad relay somewhere I can change out and where is it located? Ihope you can help
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Monday, June 29th, 2020 AT 1:28 PM (Merged)
Tiny
ASEMASTER6371
  • MECHANIC
  • 52,797 POSTS
It is somewhat normal. Either the fresh air or re circulate button will be lit. If it goes back to outside or vent, the ac has shut off for some reason. Get it checked from a shop to verify that it is the ac causing this.

Roy
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Monday, June 29th, 2020 AT 1:28 PM (Merged)
Tiny
MORI13
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
  • 2003 CHEVROLET MALIBU
Air Conditioning problem
2003 Chevy Malibu 6 cyl Front Wheel Drive Automatic

WHEN I TURN ON MY AIR CONDITION THE AC LIGHT TURNS OFF ON ITS OWN. SOMETIMES IT COMES ON AND STAYS ON BUT MOST OF THE TIME IT STAYS OFF BLOWN JUST AIR (NOT COLD).
IS IT A SHORT, SWITCH OR WHAT PLEASE HELP.
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Monday, June 29th, 2020 AT 1:28 PM (Merged)
Tiny
RHALL77
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When it stays on, does it blow cold air?
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Monday, June 29th, 2020 AT 1:28 PM (Merged)
Tiny
MIKEDA
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
The problem is a bad air conditioning control head. I have the same problem on my 2003 Malibu. I had it replaced at 23,000 miles and now at 47,000 miles it is doing it again. This time the cost will be $350. You would think Chevy could make a switch that would last longer than 3 years. Looks like a design problem to me.
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Monday, June 29th, 2020 AT 1:28 PM (Merged)
Tiny
HARRISC
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
  • 2003 CHEVROLET MALIBU
  • 6 CYL
  • 2WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 70,000 MILES
When I turn the air on in the car only the number
4 and 5 positions on the switch blow out cool air.
On the # 1, 2, and 3 positions the air is cool, but the
blower part of it doesn't work. What gives?
Thank you
cynthia
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Monday, June 29th, 2020 AT 1:28 PM (Merged)
Tiny
JOHNNY_RIVIERA
  • MEMBER
  • 2 POSTS
Hi Cynthia. I had the exact same thing happen to my 2001 Malibu. It turned out to be the fan blower resistor. It is the same for your car as it was for mine. It is what regulates the different fan speeds. The dealer sells it for about 25 to 30 dollars. You can change it yourself if you are handy with a screwdriver. It is located in the cabin, underneath the glove box. On the bottom, there are a couple of panels you can remove with a screwdriver. Behind the panel, you will see what looks like a housing for the actual blower fan. Inserted into that, there is the resistor. It is a plastic rectangular shaped piece with a rubber seal around it (about 3in. By 2in), that has a wiring harness hooked up to it. When you remove the piece, you will see a circuit board on there, that is inserted directly into the blower housing. It is there because it cools off from the fan in there. You can buy the part before you look, so that you will know what to look for. Unplug the harness from it, replace it with the new resistor, insert it back into the housing and everything should be back to normal. If you inspect the old circuit board, you will probably notice that it is partially burned out. Do not try the new one without placing it back in its location first, because it gets extremely hot and can burn out. That is why it is located in that housing. Good luck. John
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Monday, June 29th, 2020 AT 1:28 PM (Merged)
Tiny
KLEEH42
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
  • 2003 CHEVROLET MALIBU
Air Conditioning problem
2003 Chevy Malibu 6 cyl Front Wheel Drive Automatic

My 2003 Malibu's AC continuosly turns on and off. The freon level is fine. It has something to do with the blower switch (knob) I'm sure because the AC light goes on and off all of the time. When it is on, the ac cools fine, when it is off, no cooling. If I touch the fan switch, the ac light comes back on an it cools. However, when I let go, it may stay on for a minute or so, but will invariably will go off again and I have to play with the switch again. It is like I have to drive with one hand on the steering wheel and the other playing with the fan control. I feel like it has to be a lose contact or something to that effect. Can the switch be pulled off and cleaned possibly? I have tried to pull it off but there was quite a bit of resistance and I did not want to force anything. Any help would be appreciated. I live in South Texas and AC in your car is pretty much a necessity.
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Monday, June 29th, 2020 AT 1:28 PM (Merged)
Tiny
SATURNTECH9
  • MECHANIC
  • 30,869 POSTS
First of all thank you so much for your donation. You really can't take apart the switch and clean it. What's really happening is the contacts are worn in the switch and the connection is arching inside sometimes when they do this they get hot and melt the switch or the connector going into it.I emailed you a switch let me know if that is the control panel you have. Your best bet is to just replace the switch.
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Monday, June 29th, 2020 AT 1:28 PM (Merged)
Tiny
SATURNTECH9
  • MECHANIC
  • 30,869 POSTS
You would remove the a/c control assembly unhook all the wire's and there is two screw's holding the switch to the assembly. It look's like they sell the switch by itself it's like 76 for the switch.I emailed you instruction's on removing the a/c assembly.
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Monday, June 29th, 2020 AT 1:28 PM (Merged)
Tiny
ERICJ1
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
  • 2000 CHEVROLET MALIBU
  • 3.2L
  • 6 CYL
  • 2WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 242,000 MILES
When I push the button to turn on my air conditioner the light comes on, but no cold air comes out. I have checked and there is plenty of air conditioner coolent in the car. However, I was recently having problems with it cycling back and forth between the fresh air setting and the recycle air setting. It was still blowing out cold air but would not stop cycling between the two settings. Now no cold air comes out at all.
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Monday, June 29th, 2020 AT 1:28 PM (Merged)
Tiny
HMAC300
  • MECHANIC
  • 48,601 POSTS
Have your temp acutuator checked it may no t be working. Try pulling hvac fuse inside car for 60 seconds with key on then reinstall it may work.
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Monday, June 29th, 2020 AT 1:28 PM (Merged)

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