A/C service question
Thread Starter
Race Director
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 17,336
Likes: 8
From: Maker of Sharp Objects, AL - Roll Tide
St. Jude Donor '10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15-'16-'17
St. Jude Knife Maker
A/C service question
I know this question is not about a corvette specific application, but I wanted to ask here because I know I will actually get a response and helpful advice vs just getting frustrated with other forums.
Aren't most vehicle A/C systems pretty similar anyway?
My wife has a '06 Nissan Altima, and I have a '95 Z-71 pickup. Both are having A/C issues. I did a little research on this, and I want to learn to service A/C on my own. Up to now, this and automatic transmissions are about the only things that I am not familiar with when it comes to cars, and I have a strong DIY gene. I don't like paying people to do things to my cars.
In any event, I bought some of the tools needed. I got an Electric Vacuum pump and a set of manifold gauges.
Before I Bought these tools to start doing diagnostic work, I know that my truck and the car both had leaks. I had always added refrigerant with the store bought gauge that attaches to the top of the refrigerant can. The truck is very bad, because one of those tall cans of refrigerant lasted about a day the last time I charged it, a few summers ago. My wife's car started running warm this year, so I added one of the small cans to hers. it lasted about a month. In short, the truck has a BAD leak and the car has a small leak.
So now, where to start. I have read many people add UV die to the system, and then use a UV light to look for the leak. That was my plan of action until a friend mentioned that UV dye can be bad for the system.
I want to work on my wife's car first (The Altima) to try and get it back going. Is UV dye a good plan of action, or should I be looking into other forms of leak detection?
Aren't most vehicle A/C systems pretty similar anyway?
My wife has a '06 Nissan Altima, and I have a '95 Z-71 pickup. Both are having A/C issues. I did a little research on this, and I want to learn to service A/C on my own. Up to now, this and automatic transmissions are about the only things that I am not familiar with when it comes to cars, and I have a strong DIY gene. I don't like paying people to do things to my cars.
In any event, I bought some of the tools needed. I got an Electric Vacuum pump and a set of manifold gauges.
Before I Bought these tools to start doing diagnostic work, I know that my truck and the car both had leaks. I had always added refrigerant with the store bought gauge that attaches to the top of the refrigerant can. The truck is very bad, because one of those tall cans of refrigerant lasted about a day the last time I charged it, a few summers ago. My wife's car started running warm this year, so I added one of the small cans to hers. it lasted about a month. In short, the truck has a BAD leak and the car has a small leak.
So now, where to start. I have read many people add UV die to the system, and then use a UV light to look for the leak. That was my plan of action until a friend mentioned that UV dye can be bad for the system.
I want to work on my wife's car first (The Altima) to try and get it back going. Is UV dye a good plan of action, or should I be looking into other forms of leak detection?
Melting Slicks
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 3,020
Likes: 791
From: Tollesboro Kentucky
Your truck should be easy to diagnose.Look for any wet spots or dirt buildup on any of the connections on the lines and also around the compressor.If it is leaking that bad it should be obvious.The dye works good but you will need a blacklight to see it,especially if the leak is relatively small like you are describing on your wife's car.Don't know how much help this is,but it's a start.
Thread Starter
Race Director
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 17,336
Likes: 8
From: Maker of Sharp Objects, AL - Roll Tide
St. Jude Donor '10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15-'16-'17
St. Jude Knife Maker
Your truck should be easy to diagnose.Look for any wet spots or dirt buildup on any of the connections on the lines and also around the compressor.If it is leaking that bad it should be obvious.The dye works good but you will need a blacklight to see it,especially if the leak is relatively small like you are describing on your wife's car.Don't know how much help this is,but it's a start.
