1990 R134A conversion A/C leak
Thread Starter
Heel & Toe
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 16
Likes: 0
From: Vail Colorado
1990 R134A conversion A/C leak
Two years ago I replaced the compressor, accumulator/drier, Low side hoses and orafice. Pulled vacuum and recharged. Worked well but over time worked less well. Bringing it out from Winter storage, I started looking for oil leaks - obvious signs. I had put out drier sheets as rodent control. One was right under the connection of hose to acc/drier. Yellow color fluid. Something is leaking.
Question - what is the fluid? And why would two new parts with a new "O" ring leak? Bad luck?
My plan is to buy a new drier and "O" ring (less than $20). Debating on buying or borrowing the pump and guages.
Sound like a plan? Am I missing anything?
Question - what is the fluid? And why would two new parts with a new "O" ring leak? Bad luck?
My plan is to buy a new drier and "O" ring (less than $20). Debating on buying or borrowing the pump and guages.
Sound like a plan? Am I missing anything?
Race Director
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 14,165
Likes: 9
It's likely a function of the car being 22 years old and you'll never get it sealed perfectly. The fluid that you are seeing is likely compressor oil rather than the gas itself.
Years ago I converted my '92 and replaced all the external lines, drier, compressor, etc with all new o rings, etc. I had a shop pull vacuum on it, seemed great. It worked just fine for a while but it does have a slow leak. I have to put a can of R-134 in it about every other year.
Since you can see a leak, you may want to attack it and maybe you'll get lucky. In my case I can't see the leak so I could spend a ton of time and money and never find it so I just live with it. Even my friend at the Chevy dealership says to just deal with it. If it's that slow of a leak, I'd pull my hair out actually trying to find it.
Years ago I converted my '92 and replaced all the external lines, drier, compressor, etc with all new o rings, etc. I had a shop pull vacuum on it, seemed great. It worked just fine for a while but it does have a slow leak. I have to put a can of R-134 in it about every other year.
Since you can see a leak, you may want to attack it and maybe you'll get lucky. In my case I can't see the leak so I could spend a ton of time and money and never find it so I just live with it. Even my friend at the Chevy dealership says to just deal with it. If it's that slow of a leak, I'd pull my hair out actually trying to find it.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 7,839
Likes: 22
From: San Diego, Ca
Rodents love flexible hoses so take a CLOSE look at the Main Hose where it exits the Accumulator.
I'd get it leaked check. If a furry friend didn't gnaw up something, my guess would be a leaky Schrader on the Accumulator, and an electronic leak detector should pinpoint it. And with all the new stuff it's got - assuming you used the right stuff, it shouldn't take much to fix it.
I'd get it leaked check. If a furry friend didn't gnaw up something, my guess would be a leaky Schrader on the Accumulator, and an electronic leak detector should pinpoint it. And with all the new stuff it's got - assuming you used the right stuff, it shouldn't take much to fix it.
