aircon stopped working in car

If your car’s aircon has downed tools, it’s usually not personal—just physics and a dash of neglect.

First work out whether the fan blows but the air isn’t cold, or the whole lot’s dead; that narrows the suspects dramatically.

• Low refrigerant from a tiny leak (oily residue on lines) — cold fades, compressor short-cycles.
• Blown fuse or lazy relay — compressor clutch never clicks on.
• Tired compressor or clutch — belt squeal or no engagement at all.
• Dodgy pressure switch or expansion valve — icy for a minute, then warm.
• Clogged cabin filter or iced evaporator — weak airflow even at “hurricane”.
• Condenser fan failure or blocked fins — cool on highways, warm in traffic.
• Stuck blend-door actuator — temperature knob might as well be a mood ring.

DIY triage: check fuses, the cabin filter, and listen for the clutch clicking; leave refrigerant handling and compressor work to a licensed tech.

Re-gassing without fixing a leak is like topping up a leaky esky—briefly satisfying and definitely not the fix, and venting refrigerant is illegal.

If you need parts or a mobile auto sparky, Tradingpost or ServiceCentral can help you find the right humans with gauges and patience.