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A/C Leak?

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Old 08-19-2008, 09:05 AM
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Default A/C Leak?

Maybe I'll have better luck posting in this section.

2 weeks ago I charged my A/C because it wasn't blowing cold anymore. Today when I decided to use it, it wasn't blowing super cold; my drive home from work is ~5 minutes and I had it going at full blast and it didn't seem to cool as much as I hoped. When I have the A/C I notice quick a bit of water dripping from the metal heat guard above the passenger cat and didn't know what to make of it. Any ideas? I don't see any leaks from any hoses or the compressor. However, when I turn the car off with the A/C running I can hear, what sounds like, pressure being released and it stops after 5 seconds. Another thing, directly after I recharged the A/C the accumulator was pretty chilly to touch; now it barley gets cold.

Any ideas?

I bought leak detection dye last night so I'll try that. Is it possible that the system just needs to be vacuum pumped and freshly recharged?
Old 08-19-2008, 12:38 PM
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Everything you're describing is perfectly normal (water dripping from evaporator, hissing noise), but you probably have a slow refrigerant leak. Recharge the system and add a UV leak detecting dye.....only way to find out where the leak is.
Old 08-19-2008, 03:56 PM
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Just a question. What did you use to recharge the system?
Old 08-19-2008, 06:46 PM
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unless you are using high/low side guages and know exactly what you need to add I would take it somewhere to have it done. you will cause more damage just adding a can or 2 without knowing whats going on pressure wise.
Old 08-19-2008, 06:50 PM
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^^^ I agree. You need to inject the die and find the leak first. Then you can try and replace the parts yourself, but after that is done take it somewhere to have it vacuumed and recharged.
Old 08-20-2008, 06:50 AM
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Thanks for the help fellas.




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