AirCon problem?

[yiph]

The aircon of my '98 Starlet is not working properly. On hot days, turn it on and just blow warm wind, just like turning on a fan.

How do I check if it is a refrigerant lack or the actual compressor is failing? What other things can be the cause?

I really don't want to sit baking myself in the peak traffic under 40C summer that is about to come.

Thanks,

[jezza323]

take it to an air con place and ask em to check the gas

if its not that then its the compressor obviously

[HardcoreEP]

In the bonnet there's that little canister with the glass hole in it. If you turn on the AC you should see Freon (white) rushing past it. The best test is to use the little service valve on the pipe nearby. It looks like a rim valve. Just unscrew the top and press the valve. Don't stand over it or you'll get a face full of freon.

[ivan]

Nice tip, thanks :)

[yiph]

In the bonnet there's that little canister with the glass hole in it. If you turn on the AC you should see Freon (white) rushing past it. The best test is to use the little service valve on the pipe nearby. It looks like a rim valve. Just unscrew the top and press the valve. Don't stand over it or you'll get a face full of freon.

Thanks
I've located the canister, but not sure what this test is supposed to do.
If you see white gas flowing through, is this a sign of of lack or full of the refrigerants? If I press the valve, what response am I going to get if there is a lack of refrigerants?