AC Leak? (1 Viewer)

[fooldall1]

UPDATE:

Past the two week mark and still blowing cold. Not sure if the Red Angel stop leak worked or for how long it will keep working.

It's really good stuff. Only product I ever used that really does what it promises.

 

[bucfl]

Well i spoke to soon...

Yesterday i noticed the AC not blowing as cold. Same thing today. I called a AC specialist shop and told them everything i did. They state as old as the vehicle is, its most likely the front evap. This makes it the second time a shop specializing in AC repair has told me this. I guess its time to bite the bullet and get this replaced.

 

[bucfl]

Looked at it again today and the AC tech can see slime and some of the Red Angel [pink goo] coming from the front evap drain. He said it also smelled bad in the car. Has anyone replaced the front evap without taking the dash apart. The part isn't too expensive but the labor is high due to amount of work.

 

[Placemotorsports]

Yes you can do that but you have to cut a slit in the plastic under the glove box and bend it out of the way to get it out. Otherwise, you have to pull the dash. If you do a diagonal cut and firm it back up with a metal brace when finished, the glove box covers it up.

 

[SgtZen]

I bet its the lower pressure line near the passenger wheel that has a leak along it. dirt and rocks accumulate under the cover and corrode the line causing microscopic pin hole leaks.

 

[fooldall1]

@gatormark91 , wasn't there an easier way to get to the Evap core?

 

[gatormark91]

@gatormark91 , wasn't there an easier way to get to the Evap core?

Cut the piece under the glove box, as mentioned above.

 

[bucfl]

I bet its the lower pressure line near the passenger wheel that has a leak along it. dirt and rocks accumulate under the cover and corrode the line causing microscopic pin hole leaks.

I’m going to check this one more time. I checked it already but I didn’t do a very good job of cleaning and removing the cover. I’ll wait a few weeks for refrigerant to empty, refill with dye and look again.

I’ll refill until I save enough to replace evap.

 

[bucfl]

I have checked everything twice, three times now and used dye. Still no sign of leak anywhere. Rented a leak detector again today. I’m taking it to a mechanic. Will report back.

 

[Ohiolc100]

Did you check the line where it runs behind the front passenger wheel? Mine was completely rusted through but the previous owner already did a rear ac delete. My problem ended up being a leaky schrader valve and bad evap. Easiy to replace the evap yourself but you have to rent a gauge set and vacuum pump from auto parts store to vacuum the system and refill.

 

[flintknapper]

Front Evap lower left corner.

 

[flintknapper]

Edit: Delete double post.

 

[bucfl]

I did check both those items.

 

[flintknapper]

I did check both those items.

You didn't remove it...which is the only way you will find it.

 

[bucfl]

I removed the cover of the evap and looked inside with the light but didn’t see anything. I assumed I would see dye splattered on the shroud. You saying the whole thing need to come out then I’ll see a leak?

You didn't remove it...which is the only way you will find it.

 

[Ohiolc100]

One thing to also consider about the evap, is it is literally being rinsed off when you turn the AC on. I used dye ran it till it all leaked out, when I just looked in the box like you did I didn't see anything, when I pulled it out I seen faint reaidue. Condensation is constantly forming and dripping down and off the evap so it's rinsing off the dye as it runs and the leaks are usually at the bottom, where you'll see most of the water run off. You took the cove off, you are 2 clips in the engine bay coming out of the expansion valve and one cut in the plastic under the glove box away from just pulling it out and seeing for yourself. Pull it and see with your own eyes to completely rule it out.

 

[flintknapper]

I removed the cover of the evap and looked inside with the light but didn’t see anything. I assumed I would see dye splattered on the shroud. You saying the whole thing need to come out then I’ll see a leak?

Evaps are notorious 'hidden' leak components. The leak will invariably be in the very bottom of the evaporator...usually confined to one corner...but can be anywhere on the bottom. You can't see it without removing it. They corrode from the bottom up.

It is worth checking out....since you've been unable to locate a leak elsewhere.

 

[bucfl]

I found this thread, although not of my model it seems like a similar procedure. It looks like i can cut the plastic and bend the metal bracket holding the plastic in front of the evap on the left. Anything else i need to remove to pull the evap? I dont think i need to pull the housing but just the evap itself?

A/C system - how to remove the cooling unit, evaporator, expansion valve

 

[Ohiolc100]

Correct, it's pretty obvious when you get to it, 2 plastic clips in the engine bay coming out of the expansion valve on the firewall. Use a pick to make them easy to undo, make sure there's no pressure in your system also. It slides right out.

 

[Ohiolc100]

And there's a thermostat clipped to the left side of it, when you get it halfway out you can unclip it I don't thing you can pull it all the way out without unclipping that.