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How to Check Freon Levels in Your Car: Guide to Maintain Your Car’s AC

  • Car Care Tips
  • Sara Sam
  • 3 minutes

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Are you feeling the heat and wondering why your car’s air conditioning system is not performing as it should? Well, before you start blaming the universe for conspiring against you, it’s time to check your car’s freon levels. Yes, you heard it right: freon keeps your car cool and comfortable. Here is a step-by-step guide on how to check freon levels in your car.  

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What is freon, and how important is it in a car? 

Freon is a crucial component of the AC system that helps cool the air circulating inside the cabin. It is chlorofluorocarbon and, therefore, harmful to the environment. Without Freon, the functioning of the AC system will be tampered with, and the cabin’s temperature will start rising rapidly. Therefore, maintaining the correct freon level in your car’s AC system is crucial to ensure optimal performance. 

What are the signs that your car may be low on freon? 

  • AC is not very cold.  
  • It feels like air coming out of the air conditioner. 
  • Clicking noise while turning on the AC is no longer there. 
  • Greasy leaks around the compressor or the car’s interior. 
  • Frozen water around the compressor.  

Click here to know for how long freon lasts in your car.

What are the safety precautions that need to be taken before checking the freon levels? 

Before checking the Freon levels in your car’s AC system, it’s important to take certain safety precautions to avoid mishaps or accidents.  

  • Turn off the engine. 
  • Wear protective gear. 
  • Locate the high-pressure service port 
  • Keep the area well-ventilated 
  • Use a freon gauge compatible with your car’s air conditioning system. 
  • Use safety gloves and glasses.  

How to check the freon level in your car 

  • Turn off the engine and let it cool down completely. 
  • Check for loose clamps or damaged pieces in the air conditioning system. 
  • Locate the high-pressure service port located near the AC compressor. 
  • Securely connect the freon gauge to the high-pressure service port. 
  • Start the car and set the air conditioning to the coldest temperature.  
  • Run the car for a few minutes and recirculate if necessary. 
  • Use the thermometer to measure the temperature.  
  • Check the gauge readings. For instance, the low port should read 25psi to 45psi, while the high port should read 250psi to 400psi. If both are low, you are most certainly running out of freon. 
  • Turn off the engine and disconnect the gauge from the high-pressure service port. 
  • Refill the freon if the gauge readings indicate a low freon level. 

Common mistakes to avoid while checking the freon level 

  • Freon is a refrigerant that can cause skin irritation, dizziness, or even asphyxiation if inhaled in large quantities. Therefore, wearing protective gloves, safety goggles, and a mask is important to avoid any potential harm. 
  • Using the wrong gauge can lead to inaccurate readings and certainly cause damage to the AC system. 
  • Do not check the freon levels when the engine is hot.
  • Adding too much or too little Freon can harm the AC system.
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