Chevy Silverado Climate Control Problems [6 Common Issues & Fixes]
So you’ve been hearing strange noises from your Chevy Silverado climate control system, but you aren’t sure whether you should worry about it?
In this post, you’ll discover the common signs that indicate a problem in your climate control system and how you can fix the issue. I’ll also tell you how to prevent climate control issues in your Chevy Silverado in the future.
Chevy Silverado Climate Control Problems
Here are some issues you may experience if your Chevy Silverado climate control system has gone bad:
1. AC only works on the passenger’s side
A common way to detect Chevy Silverado climate control problems is to check if the AC is blowing air on both sides of the car. If you are only getting cold air on the passenger side, the climate control system is faulty.
When the AC only works on the passenger side of the vehicle, it’s often because of a bad driver-side blend door actuator.
The driver’s side blend door actuator is supposed to direct cold or hot airflow towards the driver’s seating area. So, when this actuator stops working, you may not get any air on the driver’s side.
You can fix this issue by changing your driver’s side blend door actuator. The driver’s side blend door actuator is located below the dashboard on the driver’s side.
2. AC blows hot air occasionally
If the AC in your Chevy Silverado blows hot air sometimes, there might be an issue with the climate control system. Usually, this issue occurs because the refrigerant level in your AC is low.
Your AC produces cool air by removing the heat from your vehicle’s indoor air with the refrigerant.
When the refrigerant level is low, your AC won’t be able to release enough heat from your indoor air. As such, the device may produce warm air instead of cool air.
You can quickly fix this issue by recharging your air conditioner. Doing this will increase refrigerant levels in the AC.
If your AC starts blowing hot air after you’ve recharged your AC, you might need to change your blend door actuators. Since most of the blend door actuators are located far inside the dashboard, it’s best to ask your dealer to replace them.
3. AC doesn’t blow Cold Air when set to low
Another sign that can help you detect a faulty climate control system is when your AC doesn’t blow cold air on low frequency. In this case, the air coming out of your air might not be hot, but it won’t be cool either. You may also hear a hissing sound when you turn on the AC.
One common culprit for this issue is a condenser leak. So, if you change your condenser, you may stop facing this issue.
The condenser in your Chevy Silverado truck takes a lot of work to remove and change. So, you’re better off leaving the replacement to a car technician.
4. AC only blowing through defrost vent
You can tell that your Chevy Silverado climate control is faulty if the AC only blows air through the defrost vent. This problem often occurs because the mode door actuator has stopped working.
Consider changing your mode door actuator if your climate control system only blows air through the defrost vent. You can find your mode door actuator at the top left area of your climate control case.
5. Climate control not responding to temperature changes
If your climate control system keeps producing cool air after you’ve switched to heat, the system might be faulty.
Usually, the climate control system fails to respond to temperature changes because of a bad compressor relay. So, changing your compressor relay may fix the issue.
Before you replace your compressor relay, you might want to confirm that the relay is faulty. To do this, study the sound your engine makes when you switch from AC to heat.
If you hear the compressor kicking in, the compressor relay is still working. In that case, you’ll need to ask a dealer to diagnose the problem.
However, if you don’t hear the compressor engaging when you switch your temperature mode, the compressor relay might have gone bad.
Search for your compressor relay in the under-hood fuse box when you are ready to change it.
6. Air on driver’s side keeps switching from cold to hot
Your Chevy Silverado climate control system is faulty if the air on the driver’s side keeps switching from cold to hot. In most cases, the driver’s side actuator is responsible for the problem.
You can confirm this by switching off the fan and listening for the actuator as you turn the ignition key on. If you don’t hear your driver’s side actuator move, then you need to change it.
The driver’s side actuator is located below your vehicle’s vent system.
Chevy Silverado Models with the Most Climate Control Problems
The Chevy Silverado models with the highest number of climate control problems are:
- 2004 Chevy Silverado
- 2005 Chevy Silverado
- 2006 Chevy Silverado
According to carcomplaints.com, users of the 2005 Chevy Silverado model report 62 climate control issues, which is the highest amongst all Chevy Silverado models.
35 reports about AC/heater issues make the 2006 model the second most notorious model for climate control issues. The 2004 Chevy Silverado model follows closely behind the 2006 model with 31 complaints.
Chevy Silverado Models with the Least Climate Control Problems
Below are the Chevy Silverado models with the least climate control problems:
- 2021 Chevy Silverado
- 2012 Chevy Silverado
- 1998 Chevy Silverado
- 1997 Chevy Silverado
- 1996 Chevy Silverado
- 1995 Chevy Silverado
- 1989 Chevy Silverado
- 1983 Chevy Silverado
Carcomplaints.com states that none of the Chevy Silverado models above garnered any complaints about climate control issues from their users.
How Much Does It Cost to Fix Chevy Silverado Climate Control Problems?
According to yourmechanic.com, the average cost of fixing a Chevy Silverado climate control problem is $245.
Tips to Prevent Chevy Silverado Climate Control Problems
- Wash the interiors of your car daily.
- Don’t park your vehicle in the open, especially during extreme temperatures.
- Recharge your AC twice a year.
- Always use the R-134a PAG oil to recharge your AC.
- Turn your AC off when you aren’t driving.
Related Posts:
Wrapping Up
If you notice any of the signs above in your climate control system, fix it immediately. But if the problem persists after you’ve applied the solution here, ask a dealer to inspect the system.