nomoexes

Well I noticed last week driving home from work at a stop light a small wisp of smoke coming from the right side passenger front wheel well. Thought it was a truck in front of me. Shortly thereafter my AC stops blowing cold. This is Tampa and its hot as h---. So I got home and pooped the hood. I took off the cover to where the AC upper and lower tubes can be seen. I had some refrigerant laying around so I figured I'd give it a blast to see what happens. I connected up to the fatter tube and gave it a shot. Had the car running for a few minutes first then added the refrigerant. It took it about about 10 seconds later and I noticed a wisp of refrigerant coming from behind the right front tire. I thought my ac lines might be damaged but the wheel well cover appears totally intact. Any ideas? Thanks.

Pac996

Bad leak. Could be any type leak fitting, hose or whatevers. You could find and autoparts store that sells a leak detector kit that has floresent dies then figure out if its a fitting thats loose. But, probably you are going to need get any moisture it sucked up out of there anyway so an a/c shop is going to need to fix the line then vacume the system for a half hour or so before installing refrigerant and oil. Soooo probably best to have a trusted a/c place fix it. I'd never use a gas station since they'd see the end of the depression days seeing a 911 pull in.

I'm tempted to have our dealer who I trust check out my a/c since I want freezer temps instead of run of the mill. You know it needs fixing or you need a new attitude in life. Imagine you are crusiing through a high desert in 150 F with the gunner poking out the sun roof and the good old taliban boys all around. Make sure you keep the windows up and only have the gunner sunroof open

Freeze some bottles of water for your crusing till things are fixed. Its unreal how a frozen bottle between the legs can make frying so comfortable. Get some of the little crystal light lemonaide packs for the frozen watter too. Water just drinks so fast you turn around and want another too quick. Best thing to do is never drink all the water so that it transfers coolness to your legs till the end. Get the bottles of water that are sturdy so you can smash the ice in there so shaking it melts it more and makes it cooler. No sharp corners for banging.

Glad you made it to the real weather of summer

nick49

remove the wheel and wheel well cover and you will most likely find a damaged hose.

Macster

Could be a hose or fitting. More likely an A/C condensor has a hole. They sit in front of the radiators and are at risk from a rock. Another risk is a hole from corrosion that will occur if the debris is not cleaned from the radiator ducts every once in a while. This stuff gets damp and salts will combine with the moisture and corrode the condensors.

Whatever it is likely the front bumper cover will have to come off and the leak found. There should be some oil stain where teh hole is, or you can recharge the system and perhaps find the leak that way.

After the leak fixed the system should be evacuated and checked for any other leaks then refilled with the proper amount of refrigerant and fresh compressor oil.

Sincerely,

Macster.

ivangene

there are also o'rings in the connection and i had one fail... cost $1 fo rfix and no more time than cleaning the radiators out (same basic steps)


if the pressure is gone it will be tough to diagnos, you might just take it in and have them fix and charge is all at once
(unless you have the tools and "know how")
good luck