Is it simple as getting a re-charge bottle from like AAP or AZ, and hooking it up and re-charging it? also, where would the recharge point be?

I run the air conditioner, but when I sit still its only a little cool, when I'm moving its colder. My guess is it's low on fluid.

 

Is it on recirculate?

 

no. outside air. shouldn't it be?

edit: just switched it over, somewhat cooler, but still notg like icicles like some members have reported.

 

Northerners.... You slay me.

I saw a canuck post about a terrible heat wave.

It's been 100 or more here for 27 days with 17 in a row. We are going for 18 today.

YES RUN ON RECIRCULATE! What's easier, cooling outside air or inside air that's already cool?

 

You could also be low on freon. Some of those self recharge cans have a built in pressure guage. That is really the only way to know if your low. But you also don't want to overcharge the system. I rarely run mine on recir, even when it's 110*+ here. I might on initial use on a very hot day, but once the system is running, it should cool fine in either setting.

 

OK, here's the deal Kev. Even though the fan runs as soon as you engage the A/C, there are times when it just can't move enough air through the condenser. Since you're "loosing your cool" when stopped in traffic, switch to recirculate, once you get moving again you'll get enough air rammed through the grill and lower inlet, that will allow the A/C to catch back up.

I wouldn't go throwing more refrigerant in the system because overcharging it will cause problems leading to a visit to the mechanic.

 

Recharging the AC system is simple, if you know what you are doing. You will need gauges, to know how low the system is, as well as when it is charged to capacity. You do not want to overcharge it. Also you need to know how much oil may have been lost, and when you need to add oil, or the compressor could seize from lack of lubricant, which is mixed with the freon. As far as running on recirc, I'm with solman, I rarely use recirculate, only initially if the car is very hot from being parked in the sun, but as soon as it cools some, it should cool in either position, if its working well.

 

Brad, you crack me up. My ex g/f is from Lufkin.

Everyone else, thank you! Brad too.

Now, what I want to know is, why can't I have it default on recirc?

 

You'd have to ask the engineers at GM about that Kev, it would be nice to have "Recirc" as the default sometimes, especially on a nice 105 degree Carolina day with 95% humidity.

 

GM deemed that the manual air conditioners would start out on outside air and that the customer should roll their windows down on start up. This will help remove the hot inside air faster. Malibus and cobalts are the same way.

Overcharging will cause more pain than you want to experience so don't add freon if you don't have guages and don't know the freon capacity. Just by you asking where to charge the system tells me you should not attempt this.