Question bout testing AC in your car

**Doub1e_J** · 11-16-2008, 09:40 PM

This might sound odd and perhaps there is an easy solution to my question. I will be buying a used vehicle, and I want to ensure the AC is working properly. I am buying it from a small garage and they said the vehicle comes with a 30 day warranty. I turned on the AC and obviously it blows cold air because it is cold outside ( it is minus 2 degrees here ). I could not notice a difference between just cold air and when I had the AC unit running.

I also tried the same test on my current vehicle ( that has working AC ) and I again could not notice a difference. I tried to get the sales guy to give me a warranty on the AC till summer but he would not budge. Any ideas?

**Big** · 11-16-2008, 09:44 PM

That's going to be tough, many older cars start to suffer from slow freon leaks due to seals and such failing. Even if you tested it in a warm environment and it worked fine today, that doesn't mean it will work well when summer rolls around, they could have just charged it up to sell.

**stpete** · 11-16-2008, 09:51 PM

If it's 2 degrees where you are right now, my guess is that summer time really isn't that warm anyway. Just roll the windows down and enjoy the heat for a month or two.

**Doub1e_J** · 11-16-2008, 10:01 PM

Originally Posted by stpete

If it's 2 degrees where you are right now, my guess is that summer time really isn't that warm anyway. Just roll the windows down and enjoy the heat for a month or two.

I live in Canada, near Toronto. We get warm summers too. Since many of you are American and think we live in igloos and have polar bears roaming the streets our temperature would be the same as Michigan, and Buffalo. I say those two places because they are the closest to me ( Buffalo is one scary looking place ).

Point noted Big and very true. I just want to ensure it works today. If it goes south down the road then that is my issue. If it doesnt work today then it is there's

Any other ideas?

**Big** · 11-16-2008, 10:12 PM

the ideal temperature of the evaporator coil (the part that the air passes over to cool the air, or technically remove humidity from the air making it feel cooler) is just above freezing. therefore if the ambient temperature is below the temp of a functioning evaporator coil, you won't know if the a/c is doing it's job or not. the only way I can think of is to put the car into a heated garage or warehouse long enough for the temp in the car to get warm, and then check a/c operation.

**gst528i** · 11-17-2008, 02:54 AM

why not get it taken to a specialist to get it checked out. They charge 100 dollars over here in u.s . There's a company that only inspects used cars. They even has a machine that checks for repainted sections. Does chemical check of oil, fuel, coolant and pressure test a/c. They do a leak down test that shows pressure on each cylinder.
Find one of these places.

**T3/T4 GSR** · 11-18-2008, 10:15 PM

You'll be fine...I have had the AC removed out of almost every car I ever had. This summer will be my first summer ever with AC in 8 years of driving.

**gst528i** · 11-18-2008, 10:28 PM

^^^^ i use to be the same. But when u get older, having power steering and a/c beats having that extra hp/ weight ration....

**Dinosaur** · 11-19-2008, 02:41 AM

what i would do is make sure i get a good deal buying it so if in case the AC is not properly working i would have already benefited from dropping the price.
what's the make & model may b the yr 2 ?
otherwise that's why they call it a lemon buying someone else's headache.

**Tambit24** · 11-19-2008, 05:01 AM

You can bring it to a shop and have them check if there is freon in the system. They should be able to make sure the charge is to a certain level. It won't be ideal to make sure the a/c is running at 100%, but atleast you'll know if your on a good start.

**thegodfather** · 11-19-2008, 08:07 AM

Originally Posted by gst528i

^^^^ i use to be the same. But when u get older, having power steering and a/c beats having that extra hp/ weight ration....

It also beats not having your back and ass stuck to the seat, getting up with swamp ass when you arrive at the club, or sweating your balls off on the days that you wear a suit (if you wear a suit of course).