Climate and comfort
Air conditioning, heating, cabin air and interior niggles. ← Browse sections
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Heater warm on one side only: blend door or airlock
Hot air from one vent and cold from another means a flap is stuck or the matrix is not getting full flow. Two causes, two very different repairs.
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Hissing from the vents: blend door, refrigerant or a blocked drain
Some hissing from the dashboard is normal air conditioning behaviour. Some is a leak. The timing and the accompanying smell separate them.
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Air conditioning: how to use it so it cools better and lasts longer
A few habits give more cooling and longer life at no cost. Recirculation, modes, and running it in winter.
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Wind noise in the cabin: seals, mirrors, and what to do about it
Noise that appears at speed usually has a mechanical cause you can find in minutes. The sources and how to trace them.
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The cabin filter: the cheapest part, replaced least often
A blocked cabin filter is not only about smell. It cuts airflow, hurts the air conditioning, and mists the windows. Types and intervals.
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Pets in the car: safety, heat, and what changes on a journey
An unrestrained animal is dangerous to itself and to people. Restraint options, the heat risk, and preparing for a long journey.
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The new refrigerant R1234yf: why air conditioning service doubled in price
Cars built after roughly 2017 use a different refrigerant, and it costs several times more. Why it cannot be mixed with the old type, how to identify yours, and what it means for your wallet.
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Variable displacement AC compressor: why "new refrigerant" doesn't help, and how OBD sees a sick pump
Fixed vs variable displacement AC compressor, how to diagnose the control valve, code B1247, symptoms, and why "clutch not engaging" isn't always an electric fault.
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AC not cooling: OBD-II diagnostics, refrigerant pressure, compressor and sensors
What OBD-II shows about the AC system: codes B1234, B10DA, high/low-side pressure, evaporator temperature, why "just add refrigerant" isn't always the answer, and how to diagnose the compressor clutch.
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HVAC deep-dive: climate control via OBD, blend-door actuators, servo motors — when the cabin heats "from one side"
Dual-zone climate control via OBD: codes B12xx, blend-door actuator state, mode-door, vent output temperature. How to diagnose "warm on the right — cold on the left".