a/c Can anyone give me a clue or solution to my a/c problem? When I start the car, the a/c blows cold air. This lasts for anywhere between 3minutes to 30 minutes.

160

Asked by ja54 Apr 22, 2011 at 04:50 PM about the 2005 Kia Optima

Question type: Maintenance & Repair

Then it blows neutral air ( not hot, not cold).  If I turn the car off for about 5 minutes, then it works again.  My mechanic has replaced a valve, put coolant in it, and checked the pressure.  He thinks there is a glitch in the computer.  Anyone else with this problem?   Judy

26 Answers

2,855

Sounds like you have a air flow problem. At a stop your fan should kick on, If it doesnt get it replaced. But before you do that when you start your car does it seem the ac keeps on kicking on and off? If thats the case then your low a freon.

11 people found this helpful.
160

Thanks. The freon is full - had it checked first and filled. I will check out the fan, but mechanic says its ok. A/C just stops working - for no reason I can associate with it. Just while I am driving - blows great cold air for a bit, then just "neutral" air. Computer problem? It's Texas and it's hot outside!

16 people found this helpful.
320

if you fix it, can you tell me what it was, I have the same problem. thank you

32 people found this helpful.
130

my moms car had the same problem (though not a kia) i fixed it by pulling of the ac temp knob an tightening up the nut behind it. it has worked great since then

13 people found this helpful.
180

I am having the same issue. Paid a dealer to do work. They said they fixed it. 30 minutes later the car was back blowing hot air. I called them back and they said "oh that means it's the temp sensor.: I took it to a mechanic this week. This mechanic is very trusted and does awesome work. Unfortunately, he gives me a call and says that it will have to go to the dealer because he's check all sensors, the compressor, and some other things he listed and it all seems to be good. Tomorrow I will be going back to the dealer. My only fear is paying them to do work, and still not having the issue fixed! From what I'm reading this seems to be a problem on the Optima.

18 people found this helpful.
220

My 2013 Kia Sorrento has been blowing neutral air on the drivers side and cold air on the passengers side. Any suggestions on what is wrong?

22 people found this helpful.
20

CMack88 did the dealer ever tell you what was wrong with your A/C mine is doing he same. I’m having a mechanic look at it tomorrow.

2 people found this helpful.
120

Anyone find a solution? My optima does the same.

12 people found this helpful.
50

Hey please help me my kia cadenza 2012 when you push the air to working work but i can control the air becuse is full how can i control this is thanks

5 people found this helpful.
80

I have a 2011 Kia Optima and when we turn the car on the Waite works great blows the temp it’s supposed to the air pressure is good. The only issue we have is that while we are driving it just stops blowing any air at all.

8 people found this helpful.
110

My 2013 Optima does the same thing. I turn the AC off for a few minutes and then back on to restart the cold air. A permanent fix would be great though!

11 people found this helpful.
30

I had the exact same issue with my 2012 Optima. Kept taking it in and it was fine. It use to make a weird noise. Well picked it up from the shop it was fine pulled out of the parking lot it started up and no cold air. I took it back ket them hear and feel it a d they put in a whole new motor and it was free of charge under warranty.

3 people found this helpful.
160

@CMack88 I have KIA OPTIMA 2015 Model 4 years was good, now lowing neutral Air, i changed CONDENSER and 2nd hand Compressor, expansion value but still its same issues (randomly working and stopping) , 2. After that took to another Garage and they changed some hose pipe and they confused even 3. Took directly KIA dealer Service center and they inspected and said compressor and expansion value, Drier Filter need to be replaced and this is also they are not sure and they will tell after change if anything required further to change. due to high expenses of their charge i just paid only for inspection and took back my car. 4. Again i took to my know Garage and i brought myself new compressor,new expansion valve, new drier filter and all they fixed, flushed, refrigerant injected and finally they said working well. 5. i went to took after 5 hrs of their confirmation and took to ride upto 30KM but still its same condition, really i am so tired, Please could any one help on it. arafath.anwar@gmail.com

16 people found this helpful.
190

Valve in the dash is failing or vacuum leak and valve is closing

9 people found this helpful.
190

Try resetting auto defrost. See owner manual.

10 people found this helpful.
130

This is an issue with my Kia Optima 2011 as well! My very trusty mechanic found that kia's in the southern region due to humidity have this issue mostly. He showed me the report he found online from Kia. Something about the sensor freezing over or something. He asked me to rotate the air between in ward circulation and air from out. It works eventually. I also started keeping my AC at 70 instead of low because comfortable is better than melting in Texas.

13 people found this helpful.
40

Try replacement of the filter behind the glove box

4 people found this helpful.
140

My kia Optima 2016 only cools when i press on the gas peddle and then when I stop at a light for a long period of time it gets hot again. And on hot Florida days it doesn't cool off enough. We have changed the compressor 3 times and nothing. Every time I leave it at the mechanics they take over a week to try and figure out what the problem is. Oh one other thing at this moment they ordered another compressor and it came defective. So every compressor they order is defective. Do I want to believe that no but I let my husband handle that.

14 people found this helpful.
220

I had this same issue and one Kia service garage could not find the issue. I took it to a 2nd garage and it was the a/c compressor (still under warranty, thank goodness). I cannot tell you why the first service center could not detect this.

3 people found this helpful.
50

This was happening on my semi truck, most ac work on a clutch system, it may have a week clutch not engaging or has rust, dirt,etc. Around cluch of compressor when it does it again tap it with hammer or somthing if it engages it needs wd40 only but try not to squirt belt

5 people found this helpful.
110

There is a flow control solenoid located in the compressor on these models, as well as some Hyundai’s and volkswagens. If the refrigerant charge is good, the compressor clutch is engaging, and the air only blows cold sometimes, there is most likely a fault in this sensor/solenoid. It’s job is to meter the amount of refrigerant flowing to the compressor, similar to an expansion valve. I have replaced several of these without even having to pull off the compressor. If you shop online the part is around $30 plus the labor to install. Most new and remanufactured ac compressors come with a new solenoid but it is sometimes not necessary to replace both. Hope this helps.

11 people found this helpful.
90

Can someone help me...... My ac will freeze you out when it is not hot outside. However, when it is hot outside it will blow hot air not get cold????

9 people found this helpful.

So I have a 2019 optima and mine does this but only if I use my phone to play music. Then it won't go away until I restart my car. Wtf anyone have a clue?

220

Hi, all. I posted last September about my 2015 Optima a/c blowing cool for a few minutes, then the driver's side (I have dual climate control) would start blowing "neutral" air. Living in South Florida in Aug/Sept/Oct etc, neutral air is intolerable. I FINALLY had it diagnosed as a sticking actuator. This did not happen all the time and turning off the car often reset the actuator. Therefore, when I would take it in for service, the tech couldn't find the issue because the car had been turned off when I arrived, restarted to take it to the hoist, and the a/c would work. It was only when I had a last ditch effort to take the car in, the a/c was blowing warm on the driver's side and I told everyone NOT to turn off the car. They all felt the issue and the tech diagnosed it in a few minutes! This was after going to 3 dealerships, 7 or 8 trips to these dealerships, and the car coming off warranty during the time Kia stood by the warranty since the issue started several months before it expired. I am very happy to report the a/c blows COLD on both sides of the car all of the time. Good luck to you all!

8 people found this helpful.

i have 2015 optima. My car suddenly started blowing hot air(Air compressor was not working). i showed it to on mechanic. he fixed and gave it back. i worked well for one day. then the next day again the same problem. this had happened 3 days in a row now. the mechanic says it needs a computer test. but he's not sure whats the issue. he said the power supply to the Compressor is stopping. so he's retarting the connection by removing the main connection from battery.

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