Very true, and confusing!

 

Usually a leak will have an oil residue at the spot of the leak. Check over the hoses real good. Look at the disconnects to the condenser. One day mine stopped working and found out the evaporator sprung a leak. Seen oil coming from the drain.

 

So I grabbed a can of the 134a with the UV leak sealant and dye. Followed the instructions, shake the can and hook it up, turn upside down and press. Not 30 seconds the compressor kicks right one. GREAT. I continue to fill the system.

Run the truck for 30 mins, can said 15 mins, to cycle the system and compressor continued to cycle on off as any system would.

I them took the pencil style black light to trace for a leak..... And wouldn't you know it....




BAAAAAMMMMMMM not a damn thing. all connection points everywhere showed nothing not a drop. The only thing that showed anything was the actual spot on the low side where I filled it as some access sprayed on the fender and line. Obviously i cleaned it up and rechecked. Nothing.


the condenser I checked in every little rib just to make certain a pin hole from a rock didnt cause a leak...... SO IM LOST where there is a leak....?

 

Evaporator core. IN the truck.... cleverly concealed in the heater box, which you need to remove the dash, to get out. If you drop the fan out, you can see the evap core, and possibly leak check it......

 

NIce, just whe I thought I was out ....you pull me back in lolol./ Ill check!

 

They pay me extra for that ya know.

 

check inside the truck evap core you will have to remove the dash in order to get to it tho, It sucks I know. had replaced every O-ring in my system and still leaked down after a while, pulled the dash and cover to heater core and there was all my dye that I couldn't find. while you are in there might as well replace the heater core also, I did evap one week and 2 months later I was replacing that dang heater core. It is time consuming but you can loosen the dash drop the steering column slide the seats back and just prop the dash on the pass side seat. it will give you enough room to get in there and fix the problem.

 

So yesterday I hook up the gauges and it seemed like the 134a i put in was still there and the was preasue on both the High and low side. I dont know what it should read but both gauges where moving up and down as the compressor would cycle. They didnt lose any preasure though.... SO i WENT AND GOT one more bottle and filled more and bam.....ICE FREAKING COLD! I mean COLD!

But I will see about taking apart the dash. I still would like to resolve the leak. Also I need to find a dash as mine has a crack and a cluster bezel......

 

It seems like a slow leak so you should be good until late summer or next.