A/C blows in back vents, but not front

SMUCKY

MEMBER
2010 SATURN OUTLOOK
244,765 MILES

This is my first car, and the summer heat is awful without A/C. It blows through the back ceiling vents fine, not super strong but still works, but not the front. I can hear my car working to blow the air and defrosting works as well although it does take a while. Any help would be so greatly appreciated as I only make so much an hour and would like to try and fix it on my own if possible or to guesstimate a ballpark price I'd have to save up to. Thanks!

3 Replies

KASEKENNY

MECHANIC
18,907 POSTS

Sounds like you have a leak or are just low on Freon. I would suggest starting by checking the system with one of the cans you can buy at a parts store.

Here are a couple of guides that will help with this:

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

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/air-conditioner-how-to-add-freon

Also, I just want to confirm that the air does blow out of the front, but it is just not cold? Or does it not blow at all out of the front vents, no air at all?

However, if it is just not blowing cold then hook one of those cans up and turn the engine on and see what the gauge reads. If it is low, add Freon to the system until it shows in the "good" range.

Lastly it may be a good idea to just completely evacuate and vacuum the system to ensure there are no leaks. Here is a guide that will help with this:

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/re-charge-an-air-conditioner-system

If the system is full, then we are going to have to get an actual gauge set and check the pressure on the low and high side. That will tell us what is happening with this system.

Please see the chart below that will give more detail on possible causes.

Image (Click to make bigger)

SPONSORED LINKS

Was this

answer

helpful?

Yes

No

Thursday, May 12th, 2022 AT 6:56 PM

SMUCKY

MEMBER
2 POSTS

Sorry, it doesn't blow at all, would checking the gauges and adding Freon (if needed) still potentially work for that?

Was this

answer

helpful?

Yes

No

-1

Thursday, May 12th, 2022 AT 8:42 PM

KASEKENNY

MECHANIC
18,907 POSTS

Okay. I am sorry then that may still be an issue because you said it does not cool that well but if it is not blowing then that is a fan issue or directional door issue.

If it blows out of the defrost vents, then the blower is working. So that means we need to look at what is called the mode door.

Here is a guide that talks about this:

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/air-vents-stay-in-the-defrost-position

Below you will find the process from the manual that will help with replacing this actuator, which is what I suspect we are going to have to do.

Also, you are going to have to recalibrate it so that process is there for the auto and manual systems.

Let me know if you have questions on this.

Images (Click to make bigger)