'I Don't Have Any Air Coming Out:' Mechanic Works on Chevrolet. He Can't Believe What He Discovers When He Turns on the Car
"I can't make this ... up."
A mechanic was shocked by how easy it was to correct one Chevrolet driver’s gripes with the car’s air conditioning system. The TikTok account @laandgauto documented just how easy it was to address this problem. As simple as the process was, the car tech was gobsmacked by the driver’s inability to address the issue themselves.
Their video on the AC quandary begins with a recording of the car’s interior. “Customer states, ‘I don’t have any air. Don’t have any air coming out,’” he says as he reaches for the fan speed knob inside the Chevy. He twists it to the right, toggling on its max air distribution. “So, you know, initially, it’s a Chevy, I think OK.” Next, he begins hovering his hand over the vents and the bottom floor of the passenger’s seat. “There’s the actuator, I mean, under here.” After he places his hand above the car’s dash to see if any air is being emitted from these ventilation points, he confirms a lack of airflow throughout the ride.
Check the Knobs
“I got nothing coming out. It’s all being forced to the front,” he says, indicating that only the defroster is dispensing air.
Then, he realizes what is wrong with the car, and thankfully, it’s a simple fix. But calling it a fix seems like hyperbole. Because, as it turns out, the Chevy owner had all of their vents turned off. The small knobs beneath the vents themselves had been turned to the off position, preventing air from coming out. After switching them to the open position, the flowing air can be heard distributing evenly throughout the car’s cabin. “So, I started looking around and then I noticed every single one of these is closed,” the TikToker says.
Stunned, he concludes that he cannot make up the kinds of ridiculous problems he sees.
Car Owners: Clueless About Their Rides
Numerous studies have pointed to an alarming automotive trend of user ignorance. In 2018, Fox News reported that more than half of American car owners are confounded by basic auto care. A Seattle, Washington, repair shop that cited the same study indicates that a majority of U.S. drivers “seem to be intimidated by a car mechanic.”
Thankfully, there are tons of resources online that can inform drivers about basic, routine maintenance they can perform on their rides. Even if commuters aren’t performing the work themselves, having a better understanding of a car’s needs can help drivers ensure their rides are getting the TLC they require.
Motor1 has compiled a checklist of what to keep an eye on when you purchase a new car. Online services like DriverSide also provide a detailed list of recommended service intervals and procedures after a driver enters their car’s details.
This information can curb unnecessary service procedures on one’s vehicle. And coupled with a local mechanic with a good reputation and ratings, this proactive approach to car care can ensure one’s vehicle is running well long after its manufacturer’s warranty expires. Of course, buying cars that are known for reliability and affordable maintenance costs helps too.
AC Vents
The issue in @laandgauto’s video is a prime example of a problem with a very simple solution. However, there are similar AC woes that may also be easily fixed when your system isn’t blowing out cool air. Before swapping it out entirely or attempting to fill it with more freon, auto repair shop Hogan & Sons recommends checking your car’s fuse box. Consult your car’s owner’s manual to locate the box and the corresponding fuse responsible for cabin ventilation. You might need a pair of needle-nosed pliers to remove the fuse. If it’s charred or blackened at any part, this means it’s more than likely blown out.
Usually, fuses are standardized parts that many different manufacturers share. Thus, purchasing the ones you need at an auto specialty shop or big box retailer is a fairly straightforward and inexpensive process. Hogan & Sons recommends that drivers lamenting their lack of air conditioning may want to try a fuse swap first.
Moreover, swapping out one's cabin air filter is another easy process that could improve air flow and quality in one’s ride. Oftentimes located inside the glovebox, cabin air filters usually cost less than $20 for most vehicles and take minutes to replace. Hogan & Sons also recommends that car owners “inspect the wiring that leads to the AC compressor.”
If the wiring doesn’t appear to be damaged or torn, see if the AC compressor is littered with debris—same for the cabin filter vents. Try removing the debris and testing your air conditioning once it’s been removed. Next, and this might seem obvious, but ensure that your car’s air conditioning is set to “on” and isn’t just fanning air coming from outside into the vehicle. Moreover, if you don’t want any air coming from outside to enter the vehicle on let’s say, a hot day, hit the air recirculation button to ensure cold air is kept inside your ride.
Motor1 has reached out to @laandgauto via TikTok comment for further information.
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