Well normally you could just see if the darn thing blows cold but seeing as how it is butt cold outside to start with that will not work. I would have to say that your next best indicator will be compressor engagement. Make sure that with the A/C on high fan speed and blowing full cold that the compressor engages and stays engages. If it does not engage then you need go no further, if it engages and then cycles on and off it is more than likely working ok but has a leak that is evident by the lower than normal level of refrigerant in the system that is allowing the compressor to cycle. Aside from that I cannot think of anything off the top of my head that you can do short off taking it to a shop and having them evaluate it.


Mark