Comments on: How to test A/C in cold weather.

Question: How to test A/C in cold weather.

unreasonable — Sat, 31 Jan 2009 06:04:07 -0800

Buying a used car in the winter, how can i test to see if the A/C works?

I want to be sure the A/C works on a used car before I buy it, but it is only 15 outside right now. What can i do?

By: nitsuj

nitsuj — Sat, 31 Jan 2009 06:29:09 -0800

A mechanic is your best bet. They can hook your car up a machine to test and see if there's refrigerant in the system, among other things.

By: notreally

notreally — Sat, 31 Jan 2009 07:16:45 -0800

Take the car to a heated garage.

By: b1tr0t

b1tr0t — Sat, 31 Jan 2009 07:49:00 -0800

Definitely take the car for a mechanic inspection.

However, it is very easy to test A/C in the winter:

1. sit in the car with a friend or two for 5 minutes
2. note that the windows are all fogged up
3. Turn on the heat AND the A/C
4. If the fog goes away, the A/C works

By: eriko

eriko — Sat, 31 Jan 2009 08:52:18 -0800

b1tr0t nails it. Indeed, in modern cars, the A/C is part of the defroster (the idea being to blow *dry* air onto the windows to remove the fog, and A/C units dehumidify as well as cool air.)