What Happens When a Car's Air Conditioning Lacks Refrigerant?
3 Answers
When a car's air conditioning lacks refrigerant, it will experience insufficient power during operation, and the cooling effect will also decrease. Here are two scenarios regarding the refrigerant levels in a car's air conditioning: 1. Insufficient refrigerant in the car's air conditioning: If there are continuous bubbles in the sight glass during normal and continuous operation of the air conditioning, it indicates a lack of refrigerant, which needs to be replenished. (Open the car's hood and check if there are oil stains at the air conditioning system joints. If present, it likely means the refrigerant is low. Before adding refrigerant, a comprehensive inspection of the vehicle's air conditioning system is necessary to ensure there are no leaks before proceeding with the refrigerant addition). 2. Excessive refrigerant in the car's air conditioning: If there are no bubbles in the sight glass during normal and continuous operation of the air conditioning, and no temporary bubbles appear when the air conditioning is turned off, it indicates an excess of refrigerant, which needs to be released.
The most obvious sign of low refrigerant in the AC system is the complete loss of cooling effect. The air blowing from the vents isn't cold at all—it's just room temperature or even hotter. When this happens while driving, the car feels stuffy like a sauna, especially during summer road trips. You'll be sweating profusely, getting fatigued easily, and feeling irritable and distracted. Beyond discomfort, the AC system's internal pressure imbalance causes the compressor to run dry, producing a buzzing noise. Prolonged operation like this can damage components—like aging seals or pump failure—leading to costly repairs. A simple refrigerant top-up and check might cost 100-200 yuan, but compressor replacement could set you back thousands. If your AC stops cooling, do a quick test: measure vent temperature with a thermometer—it should be at least 10°C below ambient. If not, visit a professional shop immediately for refrigerant recharge and leak repair. Don't delay!
My family car is mainly used to pick up and drop off the kids at school, and it's such a headache when the air conditioning runs out of refrigerant. As soon as I start the car, it blows hot air, and the kids in the back seat complain about the heat, their faces flushed and uncomfortable. This not only affects comfort but can also distract the driver—hot weather can make driving more irritable, increasing safety risks. Lack of refrigerant can also cause abnormal system operation, and the compressor may bear excessive load, leading to premature damage. Recharging the refrigerant and checking for leaks aren't expensive, but ignoring it could escalate into major repairs. Every year before summer, I make sure to schedule maintenance in advance, asking the technician to perform an air conditioning pressure test to check if the refrigerant level is sufficient. Leaks often occur at joints or tubing, and fixing them saves a lot of hassle. In short, don’t wait for problems to arise before taking action—this kind of maintenance for a family car shouldn’t be neglected.
