Car Overheats When AC Is On? (Check)
Under normal operating conditions, your car should never overheat. If you are suffering from intermittent overheating problems, your car may be experiencing one of the issues on this list.
When your car overheats, it is usually an indication that there is a mechanical problem with the cooling system. Here are some reasons why your air conditioner can cause your car to overheat:
1) Low coolant level (faulty coolant overflow tank)
If your car overheats, the first thing you should check is if the coolant level is full. Low coolant levels create air pockets in the cooling system. Air does not cool as efficiently as liquid, which causes the engine to run hotter.
Wait until the engine has completely cooled before removing the radiator cap. If you need to add coolant, be sure to bleed air from the cooling system to avoid leaving air pockets.
2) Overloading the cooling system (towing a caravan)
If you’re driving up a steep hill on a very hot day, your cooling system may not be able to dissipate the heat fast enough. This is especially true if you’re towing or transporting heavy loads.
Air conditioning moves heat from one place to another. This heat must be removed through the condenser in your air conditioning system. Your car may have enough cooling capacity to cool the engine itself, but not when the air conditioning is running.
In some cases, you can upgrade your radiator and/or condenser to increase your vehicle’s cooling capacity. This is a common modification seen on sports cars and towing vehicles that are often used on the track.
3) Airflow Restriction (A Symptom of a Bad Radiator)
However, if your radiator has a lot of bent fins, it may cause problems under heavier loads. Although it is quite a hassle, you can also bend the slats back to their original shape to improve ventilation. Be careful if you do this yourself. You don’t want to drill holes in your radiator.
4) Radiator Fan Failure (Radiator Fan Failure)
When the radiator fan fails, there is not enough air flowing to the radiator and condenser when idling or driving at low speeds. As the piston moves upward, it compresses the mixture. At the precise moment of the piston’s movement, a spark plug fires to ignite the fuel. This ignition pushes the piston back, which turns the crankshaft.
