Summers in Southeast Texas are long, hot and humid, so a car with weak air conditioning is no small problem. Testing used car air conditioning in Conroe TX should be a standard part of any test drive. It takes about ten minutes and tells you a lot about how the car has been cared for.

Motory Group Conroe is at 121 Rhodes St and serves Conroe, The Woodlands, Willis and Montgomery. These five tests work on any used car, and you can run them yourself.

Start with a hot car to test used car air conditioning in Conroe TX

If you can, test the car after it has been parked in the sun. A car that has been sitting in the heat shows you how hard the system has to work. Start the engine, turn the air conditioning to its coldest setting and the fan to high, and give it a few minutes.

The air from the vents should get noticeably cooler, and it should keep getting cooler. If it stays warm or cools slowly, ask about it.

Check airflow at every setting

Move the fan through every speed and try each vent setting: face, feet, windshield and a mix. The airflow should feel strong and steady, and it should switch smoothly from one setting to the next.

Weak airflow can come from something simple, like a dirty cabin filter, or from a bigger problem. Either way, it is worth asking what the seller knows.

Listen and smell

With the air on, listen for rattles, squeals or a loud grinding sound from under the hood. Notice how the engine sounds when the compressor cycles on and off. A noise that appears only with the air conditioning on can point to a problem.

A musty smell from the vents can mean moisture in the system. A sweet smell is not normal either. Smell and noise are two quick clues you can pick up while you test used car air conditioning in Conroe TX.

Test used car air conditioning in Conroe TX on the road

Take the car on a longer drive that includes city streets and a highway stretch. The air should stay cold at idle and at speed. Watch the temperature gauge too, because the air conditioning adds load to the engine on a hot day.

Keep in mind that the government notes that running the air conditioning can reduce fuel economy, especially in hot weather. You can read more in the fuel economy in hot weather guide, and it is worth factoring into your monthly budget.

Ask about service and repairs

Ask whether the air conditioning has been serviced or repaired and whether there are records. A car that has had recent work may be a good sign, or it may mean the system had trouble. A mechanic you trust can check the system pressure and look for leaks.

The Federal Trade Commission recommends having an independent mechanic inspect a used car before you buy.

Plan for the whole picture

Air conditioning is only one piece of a used car. Check the tires, brakes, fluids and warning lights, too. Add insurance, fuel and routine maintenance to your monthly plan. Every car is different, and the right one is the one that fits your budget and your daily routine.

If a car you like fails an air conditioning test, you can ask whether it can be repaired before you buy, or you can move on to the next one. There are plenty of choices.

Browse and test

You can browse our Conroe inventory to see which cars are on the lot, and then run these tests on the ones you like. Inventory changes often, so check what is available now.

Bring a bottle of water and take your time. A few extra minutes in the car can save you a long, hot summer.

Questions about a vehicle?

Visit our Conroe store page for hours and directions, or call 936-441-5040 to confirm what is on the lot. We are at 121 Rhodes St, Conroe, TX, and we are glad to help.