‘The Old 99 is the secret.’
Air conditioning can seem like an afterthought when it comes to car maintenance, but anyone who has faced a broken AC in the summer knows its importance. Luckily, Sweet Project Cars, a popular TikTok account (@sweet.project.car), has a three-part video series showing a simple method to get “ice cold” air conditioning in just 10 minutes.
In their first video, which has over 1.6 million views, the mechanic promises the fastest, easiest way to get your AC to blow cold air in any vehicle. He starts by checking the temperature and then moves to a close-up shot of the space between the grill and the engine.
The initial step involves removing the grill.
How to get ice cold A/C in 10 minutes
“It can be kind of a pain,” warns Sweet Project Cars, “you’re going to need panel tools to get the job done.”
Next, he shares his secret weapon: W99 Degreaser.
Spray the filter with the degreaser and let it sit for about an hour. Don’t worry; it won’t harm your paint or clear coat.
In the second video, the mechanic uses an AC cleaner spray on the grill and lets it set for another “20 minutes”.
“The Old 99 is the secret,” he reiterates.
“So we let this set for about 20 minutes and then we hose it off,” he explains.
In the final installment, Sweet Project Cars records the temperature from the unit again. It drops from the mid-70s to the mid-30s.
“Apart from the wait times, this takes about 10 minutes of actual work, excluding getting the grill out. If you can’t remove the grill, be creative and do it through the grill instead.”
Many viewers had questions about Sweet Project Cars’ method for achieving “ice cold” air conditioning.
“Not very fast if you have to pull the front of the car off. Not the easiest,” one user points out.
“See you in my shop later,” another quips.
“The old 99 can’t sit for more than 10 minutes. You can use Dawn dish soap instead, so you don’t worry about it eating away the condenser,” a third advises.
“The radiator has nothing to do with the A/C. It keeps the engine cool. If the A/C isn’t cold, it’s because the freon is low,” another user adds.
A car’s AC system “works by turning a refrigerant liquid into a gas,” according to Synchrony, a finance website. As the refrigerant becomes gaseous, it absorbs heat and humidity, pumping cool, dry air into the car. Main components include the compressor, condenser, dryer, expansion valve, evaporator, and various hoses. AC repairs can cost anywhere from $200 to over $2,000.
Royalty Auto Service, a mechanic shop with a large TikTok following, also warns against DIY AC repair, noting that “certain things aren’t DIY friendly.” They emphasize that saving some money might not be worth it in the long run.
