Well, what would you do?

[swathdiver]

While I was in the hospital the refrigerant in the cooling system bled down. Sniffer didn't locate a leak and neither did the dealership. When we pulled the front bumper cover to do other work, we found the leak, it was at the lower connection on the condenser with the line that goes to the accumulator. The system was discharged, the o-ring between them replaced, vacuum pump put and and then re-charged. Well, to make a long story short it's still leaking.

So, my question to y'all is, would you now replace the condenser and line and probably the accumulator or attempt to reseal the two with a new o-ring again? Mind you, the front bumper cover has to come off to do this. I hate shot-gunning parts but have to consider the amount of work involved to get at this.

I know, I know, I've said I'd take it to the dealer but just can't bring myself to let them work on my car!

 

[OR VietVet]

What about adding dye to pinpoint the problem. I have seen people put dye in and not see the leak because the rare part that was leaking was the evaporator.

 

[TollKeeper]

I agree, add a dye charge to it, and find the leak. Shot Gunning parts on a AC system can get expensive quick. Might be the front seal on the AC compressor, Evaporator, accumulator, rear AC components, theres just a lot of could bes..

Could be as cheap as a Schrader valve

 

[Tonyrodz]

What about adding dye to pinpoint the problem. I have seen people put dye in and not see the leak because the rare part that was leaking was the evaporator.

I agree, add a dye charge to it, and find the leak. Shot Gunning parts on a AC system can get expensive quick. Might be the front seal on the AC compressor, Evaporator, accumulator, rear AC components, theres just a lot of could bes..

Could be as cheap as a Schrader valve

Good advice right here. I'd do the same.

 

[OR VietVet]

I forgot to add: If you do add dye and then find and fix leak, flush the system out.

 

[swathdiver]

We did find the leak, don't need the dye. The leak is the same place that I "fixed", at the bottom connector at the condenser with the line that leads to the accumulator.

 

[CaptainAmerica1]

If you’re vacuuming the system down and it’s holding then I would assume you are overcharging the system when you’re adding refrigerant, causing a leak…

 

[Tonyrodz]

We did find the leak, don't need the dye. The leak is the same place that I "fixed", at the bottom connector at the condenser with the line that leads to the accumulator.

Maybe the O ring got pinched causing it to still leak?

 

[OR VietVet]

When you created the vacuum and got to the reading you wanted, how long did you turn off the pump and watch the vacuum needle?

 

[FrankU]

Swath...hope whatever you done in the hospital had a good outcome.

 

[wsteele]

It has been really hot here, with no end in sight.

I have zero doubt what I would do, I would replace it all with OE parts.

 

[swathdiver]

If you’re vacuuming the system down and it’s holding then I would assume you are overcharging the system when you’re adding refrigerant, causing a leak…

Well, the system calls for 3 pounds and we used four 12 ounce cans.

Maybe the O ring got pinched causing it to still leak?

I thought that, but they have metal in them and appear to be non-directional as well.

When you created the vacuum and got to the reading you wanted, how long did you turn off the pump and watch the vacuum needle?

About an hour give or take.

Swath...hope whatever you done in the hospital had a good outcome.

Yeah, I lived! LOL

It has been really hot here, with no end in sight.

I have zero doubt what I would do, I would replace it all with OE parts.

Well, they are going to be OE parts if necessary. I guess what it comes down to, should I take it apart twice or once? I don't know why I'm fretting over $300 in parts when my wife spends like a sailor on liberty!

 

[OR VietVet]

New condenser if the one in it is original. My opinion only.

 

[George B]

Maybe the line is cracked and it's not the O-ring.

 

[CaptainAmerica1]

They recommend holding a vacuum for 12hrs or overnight… especially if your having issues like your having.

 

[CaptainAmerica1]

Maybe too much pag oil?

 

[OR VietVet]

Off the subject just a little. Before I moved here 26 years ago, my shops did a lot of a/c work. This was during the time that they were changing over from R-12 to R134A and that was supposed to help protect the ozone layer. All good, I can accept that. But, in order to charge an a/c system, the tech that charged the system had to have a special license, at least in Mo. anyway. If the authorities found you charging a vehicle with R12 or R134A without a license, there was a big $ fine. I have not seen any special license for a/c systems since I left KC, Mo.

It was all about the charging of the system. Anyone could replace parts but the charging had to be by a special a/c license holder.

 

[CaptainAmerica1]

Yup I still have mine somewhere. Got it in 1996 while in tech school.

 

[swathdiver]

Maybe the line is cracked and it's not the O-ring.

They recommend holding a vacuum for 12hrs or overnight… especially if your having issues like your having.

It's leaking at the connection, both before and after replacing the gasket. I reckon one or the other has become mis-shapen so we'll replace them both. You can tell its here and nowhere else because of all the bright green refrigerant.

 

[petethepug]

It is possible to pull a vacuum and have it hold indefinitely until the system is under pressure again. At least you’ve located the source. So far the dealership would have charged you about $2k and you would have been back with an inoperable a/c at least once.

This is stuff to keep you preoccupied w/ other stuff if you’re the hospital again. Take care!