How to Determine Insufficient Refrigerant in Car Air Conditioning?
2 Answers
Insufficient refrigerant in car air conditioning manifests as ineffective cooling or inadequate refrigerant pressure, with no fixed cycle. If excessive refrigerant leakage occurs within the air conditioning system, leading to insufficient internal pressure, the air conditioning unit will be protected and thus will not start or rotate. The following are the signs of insufficient refrigerant in car air conditioning: 1. During normal continuous operation of the air conditioning, there are no bubbles in the sight glass. When the air conditioning stops, brief bubbles appear, indicating that the amount of Freon is normal. 2. During normal continuous operation of the air conditioning, there are continuous bubbles in the sight glass, indicating that the amount of Freon is insufficient and needs to be replenished. 3. During normal continuous operation of the air conditioning, there are no bubbles in the sight glass, and when the air conditioning stops, no brief bubbles appear, indicating that the amount of Freon is excessive and needs to be discharged.
I remember when I first started driving, I never thought low refrigerant could be an issue. That was until last summer when I went on a road trip and the AC wasn't performing well—the air from the vents felt lukewarm, completely different from when the AC was first turned on. I tried measuring the cabin temperature with a simple phone app, and it was 3-4 degrees higher than normal. The compressor also sounded odd, stopping and restarting every few seconds. Later, a friend suggested it might be low refrigerant, and a check at the repair shop confirmed a leak. Leaks often occur at condenser pipe joints or small cracks near the high-pressure port. Keeping an eye on the AC panel for abnormal low-pressure warning lights is a good habit, especially for older cars, to avoid breakdowns mid-trip. After that incident, I learned that low refrigerant not only reduces cooling efficiency but also accelerates the aging of the entire AC system, leading to higher repair costs. Now, before every summer, I use a simple thermometer to check vent temperatures as a preventive measure.
