AC/134 Question
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 5,808
Likes: 1
From: Sierra Foothills California
AC/134 Question
I've never had the A/C serviced in my 2000. Last summer I didn't use it all that much but I felt it wasn't as cold as when the car was new. I've seen cans of refrigerant at Walmart etc. How can you tell if the system needs any refrigerant without gauges? I want to deal with it before summer rolls around.
Thanks
Thanks
Drifting
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 1,966
Likes: 200
From: Lyons Il
2023 C5 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
a/c
Duct temperature. Place a temp probe in the a/c duct and record the temperature. Fan on a medium setting. But you can now buy a simple can of freon with a gauge on it for less than 30 bucks. The gauge on these things is relatively spartan. But it works good enough for a one time use, the directions are fool proof and they offer a simple way to plug into the a/c so you do not introduce air in the system. Keep in mind that if the system is too low, the computer will not allow the comprerssor to turn on to keep it from frying. If it is that low you can actually start a charge with the car off. You can't plug into the wrong side, the fittings are not the same. You could also disconnect the battery making the car have to relearn itself and giving you time to charge before it discovers that it is low and shuts it down. This methood might have to be repeated a few times depending on how quick your car discovers the low charge and how low the charge is to begin with. Hope this helps.
Tech Contributor
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 19,245
Likes: 1,092
From: Dyer, IN
