perhaps because the engine running heats coolant that cycles through the heater core and has air blowing across the aluminum to exchange the heat into the air that is forced through the vents
The blend door actuator may not be working.
Either the a/c system is low on freon or the evaporator has an internal restriction....
One side has a faulty temp blend door actuator.
Your average A/C unit blows heat through all vents.
Make sure refrigerant is fully charged. Does it have dual climate control? Perhaps passenger side sensor is not working properly
Is the vehicle equipped with dual climate control? If so just adjust the driver side to provide the temperature of air that you want. If it is not equipped with dual climate, it is probably an insulation issue (Exhaust close to air ducts etc.)
Perhaps a stuck door in the HVAC system or a blockage in the ducts.
Most likely your AC just needs service, All it needs is some freon, Seems like when it starts running low it blows hot air from right to left as it gets low.
the dual climate control valve is bad This has happened to me in the past when the Freon was getting low. Shorty after this I found out I was completely out of Freon. IGNORE THE SECOND ANSWER. THE DUAL CLIMATE CONTROL VALVE IS BAD OR YOU SIMPLY HAVE THE DRIVERS SIDE ON HEAT.
Answering "Why would the AC blow cold air on the drivers side while hot air blows on the passengers side even when all controls are set on cold 1997 Oldsmobile Aurora ?
heater control valve is bad on the drivers side.
Fuel level, heat or air conditioning up, both high and low, high only, floor only. Center vents are for air conditioning output only, no heat. Heat is designed to blow out side and floor vents only. NOT center. Center is only for air conditioning or summer vents.