First let me describe my system as it is far from stock. It is an accumulator system with an evaporator and accumulator from an 80 Vette. The compressor is a Sanden 508. The condenser is a cross flow from A/C Kits. Hoses are custom from a local shop. Refrigerant is 134.
The car was setup before with the stock condenser and performance was marginal. My leak detector indicated that the evaporator was leaking. So I got these parts new: condenser, evaporator, orifice tube and accumulator from A/C Kits. I also fabricated new hard lines for the condenser.
The compressor was drained and 4 ounces of Ether oil placed in both the evaporator and the compressor.
I evacuated the system twice and it had no problem holding the vacuum. So I added about 18 oz of 134. It took a long time to get that in but when I reached that point I had a wonderful 39 degrees and 200 on the high side, forgot to note the low side. Finally the system seemed to be doing what I wanted. I did run the compressor with a jumper the whole time by passing the low pressure switch.
Now today when I started it up there was no cold air and the compressor did not engage. High pressure was down to 150. Did not note the low again but it had dropped. Leak detector barked at two fittings which I tightened. Then got no more response from those areas. But if I opened a small rubber seal on the evaporator case I got response from the leak tester. Only with the tester on its high setting never on its low setting. Also got some response in front of the vents in the car. That stopped happening after I tightened the connections. But did get a few more barks at the evaporator seal. As the evaporator is new and the other one was not that old, both from AC Kits I am having a hard time believing both of them leaked.
So what do I do here:
1. Evacuate and recharge or just add more freon?
2. Should I use a freon with leak dye to help pinpoint any leak?
3. Or what else should I do?