Air Conditioning (A/C) System Performance Test
Testing the Refrigerant System
If you suspect a problem in the refrigerant system, check for
the following conditions:
1. |
Check the outer surfaces of
the radiator and the condenser cores to be sure that the airflow is
not blocked by dirt, leaves, or other foreign material. Check
between the condenser and the radiator, as well as all outer
surfaces. |
2. |
Check for restrictions or
kinks in the condenser core, the hoses, and the tubes. |
3. |
Check the operation of the
blower fan. |
4. |
Check all the air ducts for
leaks or restrictions. Low airflow rate may indicate a restricted
evaporator core. |
5. |
Check the drive belt
tension. |
Insufficient Cooling "Quick Check" Procedure
Perform the following "hand-feel" procedure to get a quick idea
of whether the A/C system has the proper charge of refrigerant. The
air temperature must be above 21°C (70°F) for most
models.
1. |
Warm up the engine. Run the
engine at idle. |
2. |
Open the hood and all the
doors. |
3. |
Turn the A/C switch ON.
|
4. |
Set the temperature control to
the full cold position. |
5. |
Set the blower speed switch on
the maximum speed setting. |
6. |
"Hand-feel" the temperature of
the evaporator outlet pipe. The pipe should be cold. |
7. |
Check for other
problems. |
8. |
Leak check the system. Refer
to
Leak Testing . If you find a leak, discharge the system and
repair the leak as required. After completing the repair, evacuate
the system and charge it. |
|