My car’s AC has been acting weird. It’s been a long time since it received any service. I don’t want to make a trip to the mechanic. What’s the best way to check my car’s AC gas myself?
Reviewed by Shannon Martin, Licensed Insurance Agent.
If you’re not interested in bringing your car in to see a mechanic, it’s possible to check your car’s AC gas from home with the help of a recharge kit. You can buy these at your local auto shop. A recharge kit will help you check your refrigerant levels and recharge your AC.
Follow the kit’s directions for installation and make sure that the gauge is visible.
Turn on your car and the AC. Put your AC on the strongest and coldest setting and activate the recirculation setting if you have one. If you aren’t sure, it will have an icon of a car and a rotating arrow.
With your recharge kit attached, you should be able to look at the gauge and see how much refrigerant is in your system. If the gauge is in the red zone, there is too much refrigerant. At this point, you’ll need the help of a professional. If your gauge indicates low or no refrigerant levels, you can recharge it yourself using your kit.
Now that you have successfully checked your car’s AC gas, you can move on to your next step, whether it’s recharging it yourself or taking it in to see a technician. Whatever you decide to do, take a moment and check out the
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