How to Check Freon in the Car | Step by Step Guide

It is essential to check your Freon levels not to damage your vehicle. The Freon levels come across in the air conditioning system of your car. You must check the Freon levels regularly not to damage your vehicle. Learning how to check the Freon level in your vehicle can save you money. There are many different ways to check your Freon levels. In this blog, we will observe five different ways that you can learn how to check freon in the car.

Where to Check Freon in the Car?

There are three places to check Freon levels in your car: the air conditioning, the rear window defroster, and the front windshield defroster. The method for checking each is the same. If your car has a front windshield defroster, then you can check the Freon level by using a dipstick (usually stored on the left front side of your engine compartment).

There will be a sign on the dipstick near the top. That mark is the highest level, and your Freon should be at it. 

You can tell if you are low by putting the dipstick in and then shaking the car back and forth. If you do this while you are parked, you can tell if you are low by the amount of shaking. In case, you are more than one mark low, you will notice a lot of shaking.

If you are only a little low, it will not move much. You can also check the Freon levels in your air conditioning and rear window defroster by looking at the vent. If there is ice on the vent, you are more than likely low on Freon.

How to Check Freon in the Car with Gauges?

Usually, we use gauges to check the Freon (refrigerant) in our AC (air conditioning) system. Meters help to get the exact amount of refrigerant in each cylinder. It will help prevent a failure in the AC by avoiding a low or high amount of refrigerant in the system. Using gauges to check the Freon is best compared to the condenser tube leakage.

How to Check Freon in the Car without Gauges?

To check the Freon level in a vehicle without gauges, you must find the low and high-side port valves. In any car, the high side port valves track down on the air conditioner’s right side, on the top part of the air conditioner’s housing. The low-side port valves usually turn up on the left side of the air conditioner, usually on the bottom of the housing. You will want to disconnect the low and high-side port hoses and connect your freon tester to the ports to check the freon level.

Tools Require To Check Freon in A Car

The tools you require to check freon in a car include a screwdriver, tire gauge, and a freon pressure tester. You need to know what the pressure of the atmosphere is in your tires at all times. The tire pressure gauge is one of the tools you need to check freon in a car. This gauge uses to measure the current pressure in the car’s tires. 

It is also helpful to have a screwdriver to remove the screws that hold the car’s tire gauge cover. A freon pressure tester is also required to check freon in a vehicle. It uses to measure the amount of freon in your car’s air conditioning system.

Check Freon in the Car with a Freon Pressure Tester:

To check if your car’s Freon is low, you can use a Freon pressure tester. It tells you whether or not Freon is in your vehicle and how much Freon is in your car. 

To use a Freon pressure tester:

• Remove the plastic covering at the end of the instrument.
• Point the end of the device at the place where the Freon would be.
• Select the reading labeled R-22 and presses the button on the side. The R-22 pressure should appear on the screen.
• If it does not appear, press the button again, and it will appear.
• Note the displayed pressure.
• Find the same force in the chart, and the corresponding number of pounds will appear on the screen.
• This number is the amount of R-22 in your car.

Kits Available To Check Freon in Your Car

People who live in colder climates may notice a drop in their car’s air conditioner performance during the fall and winter. It can be because Freon is leaking out of the system. The best way to check your Freon level is to get a Freon leak check kit.

After taking the car to a mechanic, they will insert a straw into the car’s air conditioning vents. The straw connects to a canister which you can attach to a hand pump. If there is a drain, the pump will have to work harder to capture the Freon. The pump will tell you the amount of Freon leaking out of the system.

Simple Steps Can Help You Check Freon Levels In Your Car

• Open your vehicle’s hood and find the air conditioning unit.
• Check the pressure gauge in the air conditioning system and note the current pressure.
• Withdraw the protective cap from the low-pressure port and use the gauge’s hose to check the pressure.
• If the pressure is normal, close the hood and continue driving.
•  Add or remove Freon accordingly if the pressure is low or high.

Frequently Asked Questions

What Warning Signs Do You Get When Your Car Is Low On Freon?

• The AC starts to blow warm air
• Your AC stops blowing cold air
• No warning signs

What’s The Best Way To Check If Your Car Has A Freon Leak?

• Your MPG has dropped
• When you hear strange hissing sounds
• When your car starts to overheat

How Can You Deal If Your Car Is Low On Freon?

• When you have to keep turning your air conditioner up higher to keep it cool.
• If you hear a rushing noise when you turn on your air conditioner. 

Is It Possible That Freon Can Get Low Without A Leak?

No, Freon is stored in a sealed system, and it will not go below the set point.

Final Thought

In conclusion, there are many processes to check the freon in your car. It is essential to have this done by a professional, but you can do it yourself feeling brave! The best strategy is to buy a kit online and follow the instructions carefully for the best results. The best way to check the freon in your car is with equipment that will come with explained instructions that are easy to follow.