Fix your car’s air conditioner and never over heat again. Here’s a short guide to how air conditioning (AC) works, why it might not work, and what you can do about it.
LEGAL WARNING! – Checking for refrigerant by poking something in the fitting and looking for venting is ILLEGAL as it releases refrigerant into the atmosphere. (Please don’t do this with R-12 especially!) Second, it’s also ILLEGAL to put more refrigerant into a system known to leak (because, again, you’re letting it vent to the atmosphere, albeit more slowly). [Note: The EPA web site disagrees with this statement.][It is NOT illegal to top off a leaking system unless there is a state or local law against it.]
This is why you may not find a repair facility that will simply top up the refrigerant, if they suspect that you need to repair a leak first. If you repair the leaks and failed components yourself, it is legal to recharge the system with 134 without a license, but not R-12. (However, getting a license to handle R-12 is easy online, and costs about $20.)
How to Fix Your Car’s Air Conditioner
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