AC Issue

[fdmarshal]

I searched before posting, hence this post.

06 LC I looked everywhere for an obvious leak. I removed each clamp along rear ac line looking for obvious leak and nothing, although I could not see above the muffler.

Does anyone have a common failure point besides the line set where it attaches with the rubber grommet? For a 20 year old car in NY I was SHOCKED that the 10mm nuts came off each stud on those mounts. I anti seized them before reinstalling.

Prior owner obviously had a leak as the low pressure port had dye on it, but I don't see it anywhere.

Added 2 cans of freon and it cooled down, not cold, didnt want to waste anymore if I could find the leak, but its still not obvious.

As always a big thank you to everyone who responds. This place is the ultimate resource.

 

[2001LC]

Some leaks can be spotted without adding dye to AC system or using a sniffer. Since the AC oil in the system weeps out, with R134a gas.
Mud and salt get trapped between shield, liquid and gas pipes. Often the liquid line develops a corrosion hole at point, where these pipes clamp together behind gravel shielding.

Behind RH front fender well shielding.

But leaks can be anywhere. i.e. cores, fittings condensor, compressor, etc..

 

[fdmarshal]

Yeah my lines were spotless! Nothing that obvious.

Sniffer coming today.

 

[2001LC]

Holes, tend to be fast leaks. Almost always system will not hold a vacuum, which is first step before charging.

The one very slow leak, I've seen a few times. Is at compressor. It can be very hard to detect, without very good detector. They'll tend to hold vacuum, making us think no leak and good to go ahead and charge/fill. I was looking for picture of AC compressor leak, dye specks. They were so minor, it wasn't clearly identifiable as dye from leak. But I can't find one.

Here's same leak pictured above after dry added. It unmistakable.

Also look at AC condensation drains. If dye added, in system with fast leaks. Dye often washes out weep drain hose, this one wash clean (no dye).

There's another drain hose at read AC (RH rear, back fender well). Near where the pipes attach.

 

[fdmarshal]

So I found it. Of course it’s above the gas tank. My issue is how do I know if it’s the liquid or suction line!! Need to get eyes on it. But least I found it

 

[2001LC]

Pictures of leak you found?

I can't think of any A/C lines above gas tank. 100 series have A/C pipes in engine bay. Then pipes run from engine bay to rear A/C. Those run along RH side frame rail, to rear 1/4. Gas tank is rear mid on LH side

 

[delz05]

If you have dye on the inlet port itself, perhaps it is the Schrader valve itself that is leaking

 

[Patassa]

If you have dye on the inlet port itself, perhaps it is the Schrader valve itself that is leaking

Def worth just changing those out, after 24 years or so, they will leak.

A can a dye, a dark garage, and a UV light pen can usually make quick work of finding all leaks unless they are behind interior panels, but those aren't the usual places.

 

[fdmarshal]

Pictures of leak you found?

I can't think of any A/C lines above gas tank. 100 series have A/C pipes in engine bay. Then pipes run from engine bay to rear A/C. Those run along RH side frame rail, to rear 1/4. Gas tank is rear mid on LH side

Correct I meant the muffler.

 

[fdmarshal]

Completed my liquid line repair doing evacuation and refill today. Luckily I was able to lube the body shock mount and push the line through along the rear cross member. Otherwise it would have been a real bitch! Only had one line set clamp fail to reassemble which i was lucky enough to have a suitable replacement. Took about 2.5 hours because of a broken bolt holding the lines to the rear Evap, got very lucky there!