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Anyone ever had a refrigerant leak in their A/C due to a small hole in the evaporator? I have had a small leak in my system for a couple of years. This year, I put 2-12oz cans of 134 in it with dye. I'm seeing no dye anywhere. However, I purchased a low cost sniffer at Harbor Freight, and the only place I'm getting any sniffer beeps is out of the center two vents on the dash. Nothing by the compressor, condenser, hoses, hose junction points, nothing except the vents themselves, then only a slightly faster beep, like 2 light segments lit out of 4 or 5. It also detects something whether the car is running, or not. Which kinda makes sense if the Hi and Low side equalize when not running. When it is running, the Evaporator is on the low side, which means it would see more pressure when the sides equalize, correct? Thx in advance......
Last edited by grinder11; Nov 22, 2020 at 11:55 AM.
Reason: Spelling
The evaporator and accumulator will see higher pressure when the a/c is off and the pressure has equalized.
Thats what I thought. I've got the sniffer going off whether running or not, and only at the interior vents. I would assume this means an Evap leak, because I can't get the sniffer to detect anything under the hood, or at the hose ends/compressor........
If it is the evaporator that has the leak, it is not going to be fun to replace. The lines that go through the firewall are behind the engine and those would be the easy part of the replacement.
The complete dash has to come out of the car along with the center stack to get access to the heater/AC core.
Here are a couple of pictures to give you an idea of what I described.
Gary
Firewall view from drivers side view from passenger side
If it is the evaporator that has the leak, it is not going to be fun to replace. The lines that go through the firewall are behind the engine and those would be the easy part of the replacement.
The complete dash has to come out of the car along with the center stack to get access to the heater/AC core.
Here are a couple of pictures to give you an idea of what I described.
Gary
Firewall view from drivers side view from passenger side
Thx Gary. I thought it would be a HUGE PITA. This is probably one of the hardest jobs on a C5, isn't it?
Yes, it is probably one of the most difficult jobs to do because of how much needs to be taken apart. But it is not impossible.
Gary
It seems like the Evap would be an unlikely place for a leak, seeing as it is in a protected area. But I don't know why else I would have any refrigerant leaks detected from the vents. Maybe a hose connection, or? I know I need new actuators, so seeing as how everything in the HVAC system is almost 21 years old, I'm thinking actuators, Evap, and dryer, at minimum. Oh well, I probably be below ground if the new stuff lasts another 20 years, lol😆
R134a leak in Evap?.......
