A cabin air filter whose pores are blocked can cause a strain on the AC system. Apart from resulting in increased energy consumption, the strain can lead to damage of the motor due to overloads. This would especially happen when you have to increase the airflow by increasing the speed of the AC system blower.

Will AC work without cabin filter?

Can Your AC Run without a Filter? Even though your air conditioning system will work without a filter, experts recommend against it because it can cause severe damage to your AC system and then you'll need to pay for expensive repairs.

Can a dirty air filter cause AC not to cool?

As a result of the buildup, a dirty filter will also cause poor cold airflow in your air conditioning system. That cold air will be trapped inside your air conditioner, causing ice to form on its coils. Once that happens, your air conditioner will freeze up and become inoperable.