How to Fix Your Car's Air Conditioner

Co-authored by Tom Eisenberg

Last Updated: December 5, 2023 Fact Checked

A faulty automotive air conditioner can be one of the more difficult issues to diagnose and repair. If your car’s air conditioner isn’t blowing cold air, the first thing you should look for are signs of leaking or an A/C compressor that does not engage. If the A/C system requires substantial repairs, you may not have the equipment necessary to conduct those repairs at home. If it is low on refrigerant, however, you can recharge it using a recharge kit you can purchase at a local auto parts store.

Method 1

Method 1 of 3:

Identifying the Issue

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1
Start the vehicle and turn on the air conditioner. Use the key to start the car and turn the air conditioner on high. Feel the air coming out of the air conditioner and assess how warm, cool, or cold it is. If the air is warm to cool, but not cold as it should be, there may be an issue with air flow.^{[1]
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- Check to see if the cooling fans on your radiator are running. If they are not, there may be an electrical issue.
- You may need to replace the cabin air filter in your vehicle to increase air flow. Replacing the cabin filter may help get rid of any unpleasant smells in the car, as well.^{[2]
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  Chad Zani
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  Expert Interview. 2 October 2019.}
2
Look to see if the A/C compressor is running. You will need to ensure the air conditioner compressor is working to determine the correct course of action to make repairs if necessary. Locate the air conditioner in the engine bay and look to see if the center of the pulley is turning along with the pulley itself.^{[3]
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- There is a clutch that engages when the air conditioner is working. With the clutch engaged, the middle of the pulley will rotate along with the pulley itself.
- If the clutch does not engage, the A/C compressor may be broken and require replacement, or it may just need to be filled with refrigerant.
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3
Check the wiring leading to the A/C compressor. Most compressors have a wire leading to the electric clutch. Find the connector in the middle of that wire and unplug it. Take a length of wire and run it from the compressor's wire to the positive (+) terminal of your battery. If you hear a loud CLACK, the electric clutch is functioning properly. If not, it will need to be replaced.^{[4]
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- Replacing your A/C compressor may require specialized tools.
- Bring your vehicle in for repairs if the compressor or clutch needs to be replaced.
4
Look for leaks in the air conditioning system. You can purchase leak detection kits to help you identify any leaks in your air conditioning system. These kits provide a dye that will run through the lines and seep out of any leaks or cracks, making them visible to the naked eye.^{[5]
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- Connect the leak detection can to the low side service port and spray it into the air conditioning system.
- If you spot any leaks, you will need to take the vehicle to a repair shop to be fixed by a professional.
- If you do not spot any leaks, the problem may simply be low refrigerant.

Method 2

Method 2 of 3:

Preparing to Add Refrigerant

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1
Purchase the correct type of refrigerant for your vehicle. The easiest way to determine the correct type of refrigerant for your vehicle is to check the year it was made. All vehicles built after 1995 use R134a. If your vehicle is older than that, it likely used R12.
- You cannot refill R12 refrigerant on your own.
- If your vehicle uses R12, you should schedule an appointment with an auto repair specialist to convert it.
2
Check a thermometer for the ambient temperature. In order to read the gauge on the refrigerant, you need to know the current temperature in your environment. Refrigerant occupies a different amount of space within the can and air conditioning system at different temperatures, causing the gauge to read differently at different times.
- Knowing the ambient temperature will allow you to effectively read the gauge on the refrigerant can.
- When refrigerant expands to take up more space, it increases the pressure in the can.
3
Locate the low-side service port for the air conditioning. Your air conditioning system will have two service ports: a low side and a high side port. When recharging your air conditioner, you will need to locate and identify the low side service port.
- You can find the low side service port by following the lines from the A/C compressor until you find a nozzle near the bottom of the car.
- Refer to your vehicle’s service manual to help you locate the port if you are unable to.
4
Use a rag to clean the area around the service port. Make sure you don’t clog the service port with any grime or debris by wiping off the port, cap, and area around it with a rag. Wipe the cap and the line first, then remove the cap and wipe off the port itself.
- You can spray brake cleaner onto the line to help you clean it if need be.
5
Attach the charging hose to the low side service port. Take the hose that comes with the refrigerant refill kit and connect it to the low side service port you identified earlier. Make sure the opposite end of the hose is connected to the nozzle on the can.
- If your can came with a gauge, the hose should be connected to the nozzle on the gauge and then to the can.
- The hose should be long enough to allow you to connect it to the port without placing the can all the way into the engine bay.
6
Use the ambient air pressure chart on the gauge to determine pressure. Read the gauge display while taking the ambient temperature into account to determine what level the refrigerant is currently at. Once you begin spraying, you will need to keep an eye on the gauge to determine when the system is full.
- Keep an eye on the gauge throughout recharging the system to know when to stop.
- Read the instructions on the can if you are unsure of how to read the gauge.

Method 3

Method 3 of 3:

Refilling the Refrigerant

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1
Turn the valve until you puncture the seal on the can. Turn the valve on the top of the refrigerant can clockwise until it pierces the top and begins releasing refrigerant through the hose and into the vehicle’s air conditioning system.
- Some cans may require a different method to break their seal. Refer to the instructions on the can for guidance if need be.
2
Hold the can upright. As you allow the refrigerant to pass through into the vehicle’s engine, keep the can upright and shake it occasionally. If you turn the can to the side, the pressure will drop and the can will fail to refill the system.
- Shaking the can occasionally will help maintain pressure as it continues to force refrigerant into the system.
- Do not turn the can or hold it upside down unless directed by the instructions on the can.
3
Look for refrigerant leaks. Keep your eye out for signs of leaking in the air conditioning system as you refill it. If you spot a leak, it will need to be repaired by a professional mechanic. Make a note of where the leak was to make it easier to find and address.
- Leaks should be fairly easy to spot as you refill the system.
4
Remove the charging hose and store the can somewhere cool. Once the gauge reads as full, remove the hose from the service port and return the cap. If there is refrigerant left in the can, you can keep it to recharge another vehicle or to service the same vehicle again in the future.
- If the can is empty, you can throw it away.
- Be sure the can is not leaking if you opt to store it.
5
Bring the vehicle in for repairs if necessary. If you spotted a leak or the air conditioning compressor fails to engage, you will need to bring the vehicle in for repairs. Replacing an A/C compressor may require specialized tools in your application, so it is often beyond the scope of most hobby mechanics.
- Be careful dealing with refrigerant leaks as the temperatures can be cold enough to injure you.

Expert Q&A

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Question

How can I get a bad smell out of a car?

Chad Zani
Auto Detailing Expert
Chad Zani is an Auto Detailing Expert based in Los Angeles, California. He is the Director of Franchising at Detail Garage, an automotive detailing company with locations around the U.S. and Sweden. He and his team are auto detailing experts that offer detailing and car care services.

Chad Zani

Auto Detailing Expert

Expert Answer

Clean the vehicle and spray an antibacterial air freshener—just spraying something that smells nice is not going to solve the problem. Also, clean the cabin filter, because whatever is making the car smell bad is likely to be trapped in there, as well. Spray the filter with your antibacterial spray, then replace it and run the AC on cold to flush out the air conditioner.

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Tips

If your car's A/C smells bad, your A/C cabin filter may be dirty and need to be replaced.^{[6]
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Expert Source

Tom Eisenberg
Auto Technician

Expert Interview. 26 July 2019.}