Car air conditioning not cooling? Here's a rule of thumb to help you know whether servicing it is going to be a big deal or a little deal. Car air compressors are filled with refrigerant which is a gas that comes in a tank like propane you use four hour gas grill. The car's air conditioning system is made up of hoses, clamps, pipes etc... that use the refrigerant to create cold air and push it thru the vents of your vehicle. Overtime any of those mechanical parts may wear, leak or break down completely. So how do you know weather your lack of cold air is a big deal or not? THE AGE OF YOUR CAR. If your car is 7 years old or younger it is likely (rule of thumb) that the lack of cool air is caused by a leak in the air conditioning system. Some of the refrigerant has escaped through valves or hoses and it's a little deal and simply needs to be topped off. A good mechanic shop like Cutshaw Automotive will connect the vehicle to a machine and recharge the system to proper levels; at the same time, placing die in the system so that if there is a large leak it can be identified quickly. If your car is more than 7 years old it's possible that your air compressor is faulty. A big deal.You can check this by opening the hood of the car turning the air conditioning on and listening to see whether you hear the air compressor turn off and on over the course of a couple of minutes. If the air compressor itself is not functioning it may require replacement, an expensive undertaking.