# No more trips there: a drastic decision (a wise one?) **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [June 22, 2016, 3:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-more-trips-there-a-drastic-decision-a-wise-one/758013 "2016-06-22T03:23:29Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 18\ **Page:** 7
**Author:** ![dougie\_monty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/439d5e/32.png) [@dougie\_monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dougie_monty)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2016, 5:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-more-trips-there-a-drastic-decision-a-wise-one/758013/121 "2016-06-29T17:37:46Z")
Oh, Kayaker! One day around Natalie and you’ll drop her like a hot potato! I **guarantee** it! :eek: ---
**Author:** ![Drunky\_Smurf](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/drunky_smurf/32/449_2.png) [@Drunky\_Smurf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Drunky_Smurf)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2016, 7:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-more-trips-there-a-drastic-decision-a-wise-one/758013/122 "2016-07-19T19:24:52Z")
So it’s been a couple of weeks. Have you gotten the air conditioner to work yet? ---
**Author:** ![dougie\_monty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/439d5e/32.png) [@dougie\_monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dougie_monty)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2016, 8:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-more-trips-there-a-drastic-decision-a-wise-one/758013/123 "2016-07-19T20:29:36Z")
> [@Drunky\_Smurf](#): > > So it’s been a couple of weeks. Have you gotten the air conditioner to work yet? Now that you mention it…this last weekend I finally got a copy of the right owner’s manual. I followed the instructions and adjusted the thermostat on the dash. It’ll take a while, obviously, but I finally have something to work with. (I also got a Presentation Guide for the C-280 in the same mailing, which is also a help.) 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2016, 8:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-more-trips-there-a-drastic-decision-a-wise-one/758013/124 "2016-07-19T20:33:30Z")
What’s going to take a while? You found the thermostat, you adjusted it. Do you expect it to take days to respond? ---
**Author:** ![TroutMan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/troutman/32/6721_2.png) [@TroutMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TroutMan)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2016, 8:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-more-trips-there-a-drastic-decision-a-wise-one/758013/125 "2016-07-19T20:47:41Z")
> [@dougie\_monty](#): > > It’ll take a while, **obviously** … That word. I do not think it means what you think it means. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2016, 9:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-more-trips-there-a-drastic-decision-a-wise-one/758013/126 "2016-07-19T21:00:31Z")
> [@Boyo\_Jim](#): > > What’s going to take a while? You found the thermostat, you adjusted it. Do you expect it to take days to respond? Tweaking the temp a degree a day. ---
**Author:** ![dougie\_monty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/439d5e/32.png) [@dougie\_monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dougie_monty)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2016, 1:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-more-trips-there-a-drastic-decision-a-wise-one/758013/127 "2016-07-20T01:36:47Z")
Well, it’s been very hot around here, still, and the system has not responded promptly. The owner’s manual doesn’t seem to give instructions on how to inspect the system to see if it’s full; it may not be. I have not yet had time to check out the data in the presentation guide. ---
**Author:** ![Sunny\_Daze](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunny_daze/32/438_2.png) [@Sunny\_Daze](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunny_Daze)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2016, 1:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-more-trips-there-a-drastic-decision-a-wise-one/758013/128 "2016-07-20T01:41:04Z")
Have you tried adjusting the thermostat to the lowest setting just to see if you can get any cold air at all? You don’t need to leave it at 57 degrees indefinitely, but just test it to see if any cold air comes out. If you’re not getting any cold air at that point, and you’ve followed the manual instructions carefully, then I would suggest you get the A/C serviced. ---
**Author:** ![dougie\_monty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/439d5e/32.png) [@dougie\_monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dougie_monty)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2016, 1:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-more-trips-there-a-drastic-decision-a-wise-one/758013/129 "2016-07-20T01:48:14Z")
Good point. Thanks. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![hajario](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hajario/32/171_2.png) [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2016, 2:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-more-trips-there-a-drastic-decision-a-wise-one/758013/130 "2016-07-20T02:38:37Z")
> [@ddsun](#): > > Have you tried adjusting the thermostat to the lowest setting just to see if you can get any cold air at all? You don’t need to leave it at 57 degrees indefinitely, but just test it to see if any cold air comes out. If you’re not getting any cold air at that point, and you’ve followed the manual instructions carefully, then I would suggest you get the A/C serviced. > [@dougie\_monty](#): > > Good point. Thanks. 🙂 Wait. You didn’t already try this? What did you actually do to test it. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2016, 3:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-more-trips-there-a-drastic-decision-a-wise-one/758013/131 "2016-07-20T03:16:58Z")
Bet I was right. > [@kayaker](#): > > Tweaking the temp a degree a day. ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2016, 3:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-more-trips-there-a-drastic-decision-a-wise-one/758013/132 "2016-07-20T03:39:52Z")
> [@dougie\_monty](#): > > Well, it’s been very hot around here, still, and the system has not responded promptly. The owner’s manual doesn’t seem to give instructions on how to inspect the system to see if it’s full; it may not be. I would be astonished if the owner’s manual of ANY car gave instructions on checking the level of refrigerant in the AC system. It’s not generally intended to be user-servicable, considering that handling Freon-based refrigerants requires a license. ---
**Author:** ![dougie\_monty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/439d5e/32.png) [@dougie\_monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dougie_monty)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2016, 5:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-more-trips-there-a-drastic-decision-a-wise-one/758013/133 "2016-07-20T05:48:14Z")
> [@hajario](#): > > Wait. You didn’t already try this? What did you actually do to test it. I pushed all the buttons as some of you have suggested. I got a display on the little digital screen and used the buttons to move it to seventy degrees. There the matter stands. But I WILL try “tweaking” it to the lowest possible temperature and see what happens. Who knows, this could have made all the difference in my drive back from Riverside. ---
**Author:** ![elfkin477](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a9a28c/32.png) [@elfkin477](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elfkin477)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2016, 10:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-more-trips-there-a-drastic-decision-a-wise-one/758013/134 "2016-07-20T10:46:53Z")
> [@digs](#): > > Which is a pretty obvious reason not to use it. Most of the people who would’ve recognized the cliché are dead now. I’m in my 60s and I never heard it, and if I did, I would’ve asked “What does that have to do with _anything_ we’re talking about?” > > Handy advice for Dougie (but really anyone): Pause and ask yourself “Will what I’m saying make sense to this audience, and does it apply to this topic?” The paperhanger\* line fails on both counts, so is there a downside to pausing, thinking it over, and saying what you’re trying to another way? > \*I had to google “paperhanger”… are there really people who only paste wallpaper? Maybe not, which would explain why it’s an obscure word. Wow, really? I’m about half your age but I’ve heard the expression “busier than a one-armed paperhanger” dozens of times. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2016, 11:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-more-trips-there-a-drastic-decision-a-wise-one/758013/135 "2016-07-20T11:09:28Z")
> [@dougie\_monty](#): > > Who knows, this could have made all the difference in my drive back from Riverside. Future generations will marvel at the epic nature of the drive back from Riverside. Mark my words. ---
**Author:** ![dougie\_monty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/439d5e/32.png) [@dougie\_monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dougie_monty)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2016, 2:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-more-trips-there-a-drastic-decision-a-wise-one/758013/136 "2016-07-20T14:35:49Z")
> [@kayaker](#): > > Future generations will marvel at the epic nature of the drive back from Riverside. > > Mark my words. That’s possible. The heat was such that even my EYES felt it! ---
**Author:** ![Doctor\_Jackson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/doctor_jackson/32/32_2.png) [@Doctor\_Jackson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Doctor_Jackson)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2016, 2:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-more-trips-there-a-drastic-decision-a-wise-one/758013/137 "2016-07-20T14:55:52Z")
> [@kaylasdad99](#): > > I would be astonished if the owner’s manual of ANY car gave instructions on checking the level of refrigerant in the AC system. It’s not generally intended to be user-servicable, considering that handling Freon-based refrigerants requires a license. The vast majority of cars in the US now run R-134a refrigerant in car A/C systems. It is intended to be user serviced and is sold in easy to use kits in almost all auto parts and big box retail stores. Even those vehicles manufactured when R-12 was used can be easily converted to R-134a. ---
**Author:** ![Drunky\_Smurf](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/drunky_smurf/32/449_2.png) [@Drunky\_Smurf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Drunky_Smurf)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2016, 3:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-more-trips-there-a-drastic-decision-a-wise-one/758013/138 "2016-07-20T15:21:05Z")
I’m going to agree with some other posters and that if you haven’t used the A/C system in some time it might need some kajiggering to get back to full functionality. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-more-trips-there-a-drastic-decision-a-wise-one/758013.md?page=6)