AC Off Due To High Engine Temp Chevy Cruze (Causes & Fixes!)
If you see the AC off due to a high engine temperature warning on your Chevy Cruze’s dashboard, then you should turn off your car immediately and try to solve this problem.
As the name suggests, you will see the warning sign if your Chevy’s engine is getting overheated. AC off due to high engine temperature is quite an alarming fact. The main reasons for this usually consist of the following:
- Faulty parts or malfunction
- Insufficient fuel or coolant levels
- Internal ECU & other system malfunctions
- The Engine is Overheating
- Temperature Sensor Malfunction
- Driving in Extremely Hot Weather
Figuring out why the problem occurs on your Chevy Cruze isn’t that difficult; you just need to check some specific sections of your car.
7 Reason Why AC Off Due To High Engine Temp Chevy Cruze
Chevy Cruze hasa safety system that ensures that if a malfunction or trouble occurs, it will shut down the functionality of certain parts so that the car doesn’t suffer from any major damage.
AC turning off when the engine overheats fall under this category as well. If you encounter this issue, then one or several of the following factors can be the reason for this:
1. The Engine is Overheating
This is the most obvious reason, and almost 90 percent of the time, why you will see the AC off for high temperature sign on your vehicle. There can be many reasons why the engine is overheating.
Maybe there are some faulty parts that aren’t allowing the cooling system to work properly. Or maybe the engine is suffering from engine failure, but you are still forcing it to function.
Sometimes, dust and dirt accumulate on the engine part, and when the amount reaches a certain threshold, then it starts to overheat the engine.
There have also been cases where the engine is overheating due to some parts being bent or taking damage either directly or indirectly.
So, if you see AC off due to high engine temperature, then stop your car and open up the engine cover. If you see the signs of overheating, then try to find the issue and take action or take the vehicle to an expert mechanic and let him find out the issues and provide proper solutions.
2. Cooling System Issues
If there is an issue on the engine regarding overheating, then obviously, the cooling system isn’t performing the way it should.
The Chevy Cruze’s cooling system is made up of multiple components, and if one of them starts to fail, then the engine will suffer sooner or later.
Therefore, look into the radiator, the radiator fans, the water pump, and the piping. Any blockage, damage, or leak can be the reason why your engine is heating up.
Most of the time, the AC is turned off so that the pressure on the engine lessens a bit as the cooling system isn’t able to function properly.
So, ensure to check the sensors to the wires connecting the cooling system of your car when your AC suddenly turns off, and you see the engine overheating sign.
3. Not Enough Coolant
A vehicle’s engine won’t be able to dissipate heat effectively if there isn’t enough coolant in the system in the first place.
That is why it is necessary to check the coolant levels on your Chevy Cruze when you encounter the AC off due to a high engine temperaturewarning.
Sometimes, you may even face coolant leaks, and this can also lead to car overheating. So, make sure to look for any leaks or damages around the coolant area of your car.
4. Temperature Sensor Malfunction
While this isn’t that common, there have been cases where Chevy users witnessed AC off warning sign only to find out that there was nothing wrong with their car; it was just the sensors that were sending unreliable data.
Temperature sensors are the key component that detects whether or not your car is heating up. There are multiple temperature sensors placed on a car’s engine. The number varies depending on the manufacturer and the model.
These sensors perform real-time data collection and send the said to the system, where it compares if the temperature is normal or it is rising abnormally.
If the latter is true, then it takes certain actions to lower the amount of pressure on the engine.
And that is how you may be witnessing the AC turning off while seeing the engine overheating sign.
5. Faulty ECU
Similar to the temperature sensors, a faulty ECU can also lead you to a Chevy Cruze shutting off certain functions to prevent damage to the engine. And turning off the AC is one of those functions.
There are many possible reasons behind a bad ECU, from a faulty circuit to software malfunction. So, you will have to take your car to a professional, in this case, to find out whether there was something wrong with the parts or with the ECU.
6. Driving in Extremely Hot Weather
The environment where you are driving the Chevy Cruze may also play a role when you see the AC off forhigh engine temperature sign.
If you are driving in extremely hot weather, then you might be forcing the engine to cross its heat resistance threshold and make it overheat.
When this is the case, the car’s UI system will automatically turn off the AC so that there is less pressure on the engine.
7. Taking on Too Much Weight
If you are overloading the Chevy, then it is capable of moving; you are putting stress on the engine to pull that weight.
To move, your car will have to put out more power, which means your engine is overworking,which can generate a tremendous amount of heat.
So, make sure to take only the amount of weight your car can take. Taking too much weight on a car also violates safety & transport laws, so you shouldn’t be doing this in the first place.
How to Fix AC Off Due to High Engine Temperature?
Once you have found the possible reasons behind your Chevy Cruze overheating, you can take proper action to resolve this problem. The steps you should take are the following:
- Fix the Damaged Parts
If your Chevy Cruze engine was overheating due to faulty parts, then replacing or repairing them should do the trick.
Some parts can’t be repaired, so you will have to replace them if you want to see success.
That said, if internal parts are damaged, you might have to take the engine apart completely. If this is the case, then you will be better off taking your car to a professional.
Because unless you have the proper knowledge and the functionality of a car engine, you will only worsen the situation for your vehicle.
- Cover Leaks & Spills
Lack of fuel and coolant is also a possible reasonChevy Cruze overheats. Most of the time, you run out of these due to leakage.
Small leakages can have major impacts, so you will have to thoroughly look into your vehicle and see if there is any sort of leakage or not.
You can cover them up or replace the body parts from which the leakage is occurring. Look into the severity of the issue and then make your decision.
- Check Your Coolant Level
Coolant is the primary component of the cooling system of a car. So, if it goes down, you will suffer from overheating. Therefore, keep your coolant level near full if possible.
There are times when coolant leaks occur, so if that is happening to you, then you will have to stop the leak and then add new coolant unless you want to see more overheating signs on your car’s dashboard.
Also, don’t forget to check what type of coolant you are putting inside your Chevy Cruze and if it is compatible or not.
- Replace the ECU
When the system UI or the ECU is the reason you are seeing an overheating sign on your Chevy’s dashboard, then you have no other option but to change the ECU or UI.
These parts don’t get damaged easily, but if they do, there is no repair. We recommend seeking professional assistance in this matter unless you properly understand all the electrical circuits and conductors in a car.
Remember that these are the common fixes you can apply when you see AC off sign. If your issue is not resolved after taking these steps, you will have to take your car to a mechanic.
Frequently asked questions (FAQs)
1. Does engine temp affect AC?
Yes, it does.
2. Can I ignore the high engine temperature warning?
No, you should try to address it immediately.
3. How do I fix an overheating engine?
Safely pull over, turn off the engine, check coolant levels, inspect for leaks, and seek professional assistance if needed.
Final Thoughts
Contact the customer support services of Chevy, if the fixes suggested here didn’t work. You should notify customer support even if you have passed the warranty period.
The AC off due to high engine temperatureisn’t something you should take lightly. If you ignore this, then your vehicle will suffer irreversible damage.
