Inspecting Your Air Conditioning

*EASY*

Inspection of your air conditioning system should be limited to a visual observation of the refrigerant in your system. During periods of heavy use, particularly hot weather, you should inspect the refrigerant every month according to the following procedure:

  1. Park the vehicle on level ground in a well-ventilated, outdoor area with the engine ON (at idle), the parking brake engaged, and the transmission in PARK (for automatic) or REVERSE (for manual). Set the climate controls to maximum cold and highest blower speed. Raise the hood.
  2. Refer to your owner's manual to determine if your air conditioning system is equipped with a sight glass. The sight glass could be located on the receiver-drier or some alternative location.
  3. Wipe the sight glass clean and observe whether or not bubbles are present. Interpret this information using your owner's manual to determine the level and condition of refrigerant. Typical interpretations are as follows:
    • Clear -- can indicate full of refrigerant or empty. Go to feel test (next step).
    • Bubbles -- air in system; low on refrigerant.
    • Oil streaks -- low on refrigerant; compressor oil apparent.
    • Cloudy -- drying agent from receiver-drier in system.
  4. If the system is not equipped with a sight glass, approximate the level of refrigerant by feeling the temperature of the two lines leading to the compressor. Caution: Be careful not to get your fingers caught in any moving part. Grasp the lines simultaneously with your bare hands. If the short line connecting the compressor to the condenser in front of the engine is noticeably hotter than the long line leading to the evaporator in the back of the engine compartment, there is sufficient refrigerant in the system. If the temperature difference is negligible, the refrigerant is low.
  5. IF THE SYSTEM IS LOW ON REFRIGERANT OR HAS SOME OTHER TYPE OF LEAK, NEVER ATTEMPT TO RECHARGE THE SYSTEM WITH DO-IT-YOURSELF KITS. ALWAYS HAVE THE AIR CONDITIONING SYSTEM SERVICED BY A PROFESSIONAL AUTOMOTIVE TECHNICIAN.

The air conditioning system should be checked every 12 months for refrigerant leaks and recharged and repaired as necessary. Usually, a system check is done in the spring prior to warm weather.

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