Car a/c takes long time to start cooling but suddenly very cold

For a random period of time, there is no a/c (random, 15-30 mins or more.) Then abruptly there is fully cold a/c, not getting gradually colder! Sometimes when cold air starts suddenly possibly a whiff of refrigerant. The system seems to be fully charged when using a home a/c gauge. Any ideas? Thanks so much. This system had pretty much everything new about a year ago. Hyundai Santa Fe 2015.

I’d guess the blend door actuator is failing or the door itself is sticking.

Do you hear a faint click-click-click before the rush of cold air?

The expansion valve may be sticking.

The expansion valve regulates the amount of refrigerant that enters the evaporator, and this is what creates the cooling effect.

A set of manifold gauges connected to the system will show if this is the problem.

Tester

Another theory, the A/C compressor isn’t running when it should. A/C diagnosis and repair isn’t a very friendly diy’er job. Suggest to take your car to a well-recommended local A/C specialist. If they show you what exactly is broken, and no special A/C equipment needed, then you could decide to effect the repair yourself if you wanted.