Car AC PDI Checklist: How to Spot Weak Airflow and Bad Odours During Inspection

None of us likes to get inside a burning hot car on a summer afternoon without switching on the AC. Apart from being hot, the car’s interior seems suffocating and stale. Air conditioning has become a necessity now, and car users use it for comfort without worrying about fuel efficiency. We barely think about AC’s health until it fails to cool your car’s cabin. Here, we explore the checklist for inspecting your car’s AC, as overlooking it could mean expensive repairs.

Why Car AC Inspection Matters in India

India’s climate is known to cross 45 degrees Celsius during summer in most parts of the country, it is also humid during the monsoon season, and too cold during the winters. Driving with open windows during mild weather leads to dusty interiors that need frequent cleaning. Thus, air conditioning is needed almost throughout all the seasons. Hence, it becomes a vital part of your driving experience.

Therefore, a thorough AC check during a pre-delivery inspection can help you catch weak airflow, unpleasant odours, or potential AC system damage. All these essential checkpoints guard your health too, as stale or mouldy air can trigger allergies, headaches, or constant irritation during longer drives.

Step-By-Step Car AC System Inspection Checklist

Below are the most essential steps that are required for a thorough car AC inspection during PDI.

1. Start with a Sniff Test

Get inside the car and keep the AC off for a moment. Take a deep breath and notice if any damp or musty smell lingers inside the cabin. Now, turn on the AC in fresh air mode and then switch to recirculation. A foul odour at this time usually points to mould in the evaporator, a clogged cabin filter. A chemical smell means leaking refrigerant, while a burning smell could suggest an electrical fault.

2. Check the Cooling Efficiency

In the next step, you have to set the AC temperature to the lowest setting and keep the blower to maximum. If your car’s AC is in proper working order, then you should feel cool air from every vent within a minute. Now, you check if there is any difference in airflow on the driver and passenger sides to spot uneven cooling.

3. Check Airflow Consistency

In this step, you need to check the airflow at every blower speed setting. Do this by setting a blower speed and using your palms to check airflow from every vent. A weak or irregular flow on certain vents usually indicates clogged ducts.

4. Inspect the Cabin Filter

In most cars, the cabin air filter is located beneath the glovebox. You might need to use tools to open the dashboard to get access to the cabin filter. A clean cabin filter is white in colour, while a heavily used one appears blackened with dust and debris. With all the dust and debris accumulated over time, the airflow is reduced through the filter, thereby reducing the airflow and cooling efficiency.

5. Watch for Water Drainage

A healthy AC system drains condensed water under your car. So, this step is to check if this aspect your car’s AC is working well or not. Start the engine and run the AC for a few minutes. Once your cabin is cooled, check beneath the engine bay for dripping water. If water is dripping, then your AC’s drainage is fine otherwise the drain pipe is blocked which can lead to water drainage inside the cabin.

Common AC Issues in Indian Driving Conditions

During the rainy season, the moisture builds up in the evaporator core. This moisture is the perfect breeding ground for mould that causes musty smell inside the cabin. Mould growth happens inside car which are used for longer times.

In addition to mould issues, dusty Indian roads also cause faster clogging of cabin air filter. Therefore, you might require to change the cabin air filter within a year and should be cleaned in about 6  months interval.

Harsh summer causes continuous running of AC which directly strain the compressor. Over time, the compressor can develop faults. Hence, it is advised to get the compressor checked on a regular basis and avoid expensive replacements.

In some cases, rodents can get inside your car’s AC system while it is parked. Rodents chew through insulation and leave behind unpleasant odours that linger even after a clean-up.

DIY Checks Versus Professional Inspection

Some checks can be performed ar home such as sniff tests, airflow comparisons, cabin filter inspection, and spotting water dripping under the car. These are basic steps which needs to be performed regularly to assess your car’s AC health.

However, these basic steps are not sufficient to get the complete health report your car’s AC. There could be multiple reasons for reduced cooling performance which can be identified by thorough inspection. A professional pre-delivery inspection service utilises modern tools like leak detectors and pressure gauges to reveal hidden issues.

If you want a complete car inspection done by experts, you can book a Pre Delivery Inspection service that covers not just the AC but every critical system in your vehicle.

Signs of Issues to Look for During a PDI

1. Check if the AC takes more than a minute to deliver chilled air as it points to a potential compressor or refrigerant leak issue.
2. You have replaced the cabin air filter but the musty smell persists, then the issue could be mould deep inside the evaporator.
3. Blocked ducts or vents can cause uneven airflow inside the cabin.
4. If you spot damped carpets while AC is running, if is usually caused by blocked drain pipes.
5. Refrigerant leak reduced cooling efficiency and thus it takes very long time to cool the cabin.
6. Reduced radiator coolant can also reduce AC’s cooling performance.

Note: These signs are important o look out for as any major fault later can lead to expensive repairs or parts replacements.

Conclusion

A car’s AC system is often overlooked during inspections, yet it’s one of the most essential features for Indian roads. Spending ten minutes checking airflow strength, sniffing for hidden smells, and observing water drainage can spare you a season of sweaty drives or costly visits to the service centre. Approach it as an investment in comfort, safety, and peace of mind, because no one wants surprises once the paperwork is signed.