I now have 14,000 miles on my 2014 Kia Sorento. While driving to visit relatives on Saturday (a two hour trip) the air conditioner was set on 69 degrees. About an hour an 15 minutes into the trip the air flow from the vents began to get weaker and weaker. I turned temperature down and blower speed to high and eventually the air flow completely stopped. You could hear the blower on high speed running but no air was coming from vents. I have video evidence of this if anyone would like for me to post video. Has anyone else had this problem? I have noticed the flow getting weaker on several occasions barely able to keep up with keeping cabin cool but had never had the airflow completely stop until Saturday.
2014 Kia Sorento EX Air Conditioner Problem
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Sknowski
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That's because your evaporator is freezing up. It's no different than manually using recirc or "max a/c" on an older car. In a humid climate, it will freeze the evaporator into a block of ice which prevents the air from the fan from passing through it.
The problem with the Kia's is the auto system is keeping it in recirc for too long. I've had the TSB done on my car for this problem, and mine still does it (I don't live in a humid climate, so mine doesn't freeze up, but I can see the recirc light staying on for way too long).
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If the convector fan motors run and the squirrel cage fans spin but not enough air is coming out of your Air Conditioner unit, turn off power and take a closer look at the fan blades themselves - you may need a flashlight and a mirror to make this check without disassembling the unit. Dirt on the squirrel cage blower fan blades can significantly reduce airflow through the unit. Because even a small amount of dirt in the cupped fan blade edges reduces airflow significantly, but it's not visually obvious. You have to look carefully at the fan assembly. Also check the cooling or heating coil fins for blockage by dust and debris.
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I am having the same type of problem with my 2014 Sorteno. I have a manual system and turn the air on ( not on Max) and after 1-2 hours the level of air delivered from the blower greatly reduces. Even on max blower speed air volume is blowing out ( you can hear the blower running on max but no air output) in greatly reduced. This has happened several time. The dealer has not found the problem. I have noticed once I turn the SUV off for a short period time and restart the car the high volume of water draining from under the car. Can I be low on freon?
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You are not low on freon. Your evaporator inside the car is freezing up, which blocks the flow of air. When you park, it melts and dumps out on the ground creating the high volume of water you are seeing. It's not common for that to happen if you aren't running it in recirc mode manually, or max a/c mode (max a/c is nothing more than recirc mode).
The next time it starts acting that way, make sure you are NOT set to max and that your air flow is set to fresh. If it is set that way and still freezing up, you might have a problem with your air flow doors inside the unit.
Even in the most humid climate, an a/c should not freeze if the air is set to fresh mode.
Also, if you don't know the difference between fresh and recirc on a car's HVAC system, you probably shouldn't be driving at all....no offense.
The next time it starts acting that way, make sure you are NOT set to max and that your air flow is set to fresh. If it is set that way and still freezing up, you might have a problem with your air flow doors inside the unit.
Even in the most humid climate, an a/c should not freeze if the air is set to fresh mode.
Also, if you don't know the difference between fresh and recirc on a car's HVAC system, you probably shouldn't be driving at all....no offense.
I must say that I have consistently had my previous cars - two Honda Accords, a Jeep Grand Cherokee, a Pontiac Sunfire, and a Ford Explorer - on recirc mode 100% of the time (unless defrosting) and have never had issues with the evaporator freezing up. In fact, we ran my wife's Sorento through last summer and didn't notice the issues. We frequently drive "back home" to see our families (about an hour drive) and have never noticed the issue until recently. This started happening less than 30 minutes into our drive today... lowered air flow, cool (but not cold) air, etc. I don't recall this happening at any point in any car that we've had since the early 90s, in fact.
I think that somewhere in ventilation system maybe be clogged by something. you hear blow motor still runs. no problem on it. plus, AC gas seems OK. I suggest that you go to dealership, and take a part entire ventilation system on dashboard to see what's going on.
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I agree, it sounds like you have something else going on with your system.
'98 Silverado (farm truck), '11 Sorento LX-AWD (was mine now SWMBO's), '15 Sorento EX-V6
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Almost sounds like a problem in the control system is closing the diverter doors to all of the outlets. If they are vacuum powered it could be a vacuum leak - our old Accord had a problem with that. Never did get it properly fixed and finally gave up on it at 300,000km.
I have a copy of a TSB dated October 2013 which states that there is a software upgrade required for Sorentos produced from January 24, 2013 to September 22, 2013. This is for the exact condition that you are describing.
You can find your manufacture date on the label inside the drivers door.
This is in the Climate Group Number 22 and the subject is HVAC Control Unit Logic Improvement. If your vehicle falls within the dates shown above take this information to your dealer and enlighten him.
You can find your manufacture date on the label inside the drivers door.
This is in the Climate Group Number 22 and the subject is HVAC Control Unit Logic Improvement. If your vehicle falls within the dates shown above take this information to your dealer and enlighten him.
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FYI, I had that TSB done on my car, and it made no difference. Mine never freezes up, but I can see that in auto, it will keep it in recirc for way more than the recommended 20 minutes.
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The recommended 20 minutes is based on manual systems. If you look in any owner's manual, it will tell you not to leave the a/c in recirc or max for more than 20 minutes due to the risk of freezing the evaporator in humid climates.
I don't live in a humid climate, so mine never froze. But it's still annoying to see it stay in recirc on its own for so long. The whole point of an "automatic climate control" is to allow you to set the temp you want, and have the system take care of everything else.
I don't live in a humid climate, so mine never froze. But it's still annoying to see it stay in recirc on its own for so long. The whole point of an "automatic climate control" is to allow you to set the temp you want, and have the system take care of everything else.
I have had 10 vehicles with manual A/C since 1974. I always read the owner's manual front to back. Do not recall ever seeing a "freeze up" warning. I also never had a freeze up running max A/C in humid conditions. Still have a pdf of the 2010 Ford Escape manual. No mention of a time limit for running max A/C with either system. There are warnings about the air becoming "too dry", stale or fogging windows in max position for too long. 2014 Sorento manual mentions the same situation in manual system. Nothing I can see about "freeze up" in the manual. My vehicle was built after the A/C software update was issued so it probably has the newer software. In hot weather mine stays in recirculate mode when set to "Auto" and I have never had a freeze up. And I do live in a very often hot and humid climate. Also, wonder if the temperature setting of the system makes a difference in the recirculate operation. Mine is usually set to 75 or 76. Point being, the compressor will not be cycling as often and the evaporator will not be getting as cold. If the evaporator does not get below freezing, ice cannot be formed. Final thing, where does the humidity for a freeze up in recirculate come from? Probable answer, people breathing. Maybe the number of passengers is a factor in the freeze up situation. If this is a common problem, Kia should be thinking about an ice detector for the evaporator. It would probably be more useful than the windshield fog detector we have been writing about in another thread.
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Did you happen to notice if it stayed in recirc for extended periods on it's own (using auto mode)?
It does but I've not experienced any issue. I've done multiple long-distance drives in the oppressive heat here in the South without issue. In fact, a few weeks ago, temps were close to 100 and humidity was awful, we were out in it all day for two weekend in a row (horse show) and I spent most of the day just in the car with the A/C on. No issues.
I'll pay more attention to it but it seems like every time I look at it, it's on recirc. It sure drops a lot of water underneath the car in a short period of time.
I'll pay more attention to it but it seems like every time I look at it, it's on recirc. It sure drops a lot of water underneath the car in a short period of time.
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It sounds like you may be low on refrigerant..You want to look around for any possible leak spots, they can show up as a wet dirty spot around fittings or if the Air Conditioning Unit lines have been in contact with sharp edges ... one of the most common problem areas has been with the installation of a new front after market bumper. Start looking there if you do have a new bumper. It is not a great plan to just go grab a can of 134a and add to the system, The correct amount of charge is important and over charging can possibly cause other more expensive problems. One other possible problem could be a dirt plugged condenser coil in front of the radiator but you would need to have been running in mud and water holes or driven thosands of miles on dirt roads. Always a good plan to wash the radiator area on a regular basis.
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Hi. New to Forum. Have a new to us 2014 sorento with same problem. Took to dealer yesterday. They performed software update but same thing happened on way home (30 minutes into trip). We have manual ac. When I turn off ac after the volume of air reduces, the volume comes back. When I turn the ac back on I hear a pinging sound, like plucking banjo strings for lack of a better description from the dash. So is there no cure for this problem? Dealer says bring back and they will try something else but seems like the problem has not been solved by anyone.
Thanks in advance.
Thanks in advance.
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Low air flow
I have a 2014 Sorrento, after driving for awhile the airflow from the vents drops to almost nothing. I turn off the AC for 5 miles and turn it back on and it's back to normal. I run the ac in fresh air mode. Tool it to the dealership and of course it is not doing it so they say there is nothing they can do.
I have a 2014 Sorrento, after driving for awhile the airflow from the vents drops to almost nothing. I turn off the AC for 5 miles and turn it back on and it's back to normal. I run the ac in fresh air mode. Tool it to the dealership and of course it is not doing it so they say there is nothing they can do.
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