So the Prizm I bought had leaky AC system, I dyed it and put a can of 134a in it just so it would halfass work and dye the leak. I checked around with a CFL blacklight bulb at night and couldn't find anything but a bad low side service port(more dye than I remember form dyeing it and hard to screw off).
New accumulator(includes low port), orifice tube, pull vacuum for an hour, full charge(2 1/3 cans) and it would pull the cabin into the 50s on the highway. For a couple days.
Fast forward a week, now its low enough the compressor wont kick on. Figuring it still probably had some dye in it, I looked around with the black light again, nothing. I checked the condensate hose and it isn't lighting up, so I dont suspect the evaporator.
More dye? Beg/borrow/steal a sniffer? Before anybody asks, yes I used the good parts, Delco orifice tube, Delphi accumulator.
It has to be going somewhere. Any fittings that will let it drip straight in the ground? Any dye on the ground? I'llbe watching this closely because I really need to learn to fix AC.
mazdeuce wrote:
It has to be going somewhere. Any fittings that will let it drip straight in the ground? Any dye on the ground? I'llbe watching this closely because I really need to learn to fix AC.
+1 -- I may have a diy a/c job in the near future myself.
Evaporator. Did you check the drain tube for dye?
But what if the drain tube is plugged which caused water to back up which caused the corrosion that killed the evaporator? Maybe? I throw some more dye in there and check again. If it's still nothing then it's probably time to peek at the evaporator.
In reply to Kenny_McCormic:
When you say you pulled a vacuum for an hour, did you have the pump running for an hour? IOW, did you let it sit with the pump off and see if it held vacuum? If so, how long did you do that?
If so, then check the area of the compressor output shaft closely. Some leaks only show up under positive pressure, and it's common for certain compressor seals to do that.
As far as the dye goes, you are using a black light or equivalent when looking for it, correct? Just checking. I've been most successful in finding leaks by using dye, but it sometimes isn't as obvious as you might think. Sometimes you really have to look for it.
I actually ran it for 20 minutes, let it sit half an hour to see if it held vac, then ran the pump for another hour. The old robinair 3CFM pump salvaged off a R12 AC service machine was pulling 29 inches or so.
I'm using a CFL blacklight in a droplight cord, at night. I dont have the yellow glasses I see in all the kits, should I?
In reply to Kenny_McCormic:
With the LED UV light I use, the glasses help but aren't absolutely necessary.
I'm having similar issues with my Exploder. It leaked down once, but has held since I put the dye in and I can't find a leak anywhere. I'm stumped.
Popped the gauges on, it had 5 PSI in it, threw about 1.5 cans in with another shot of dye. Will check again once its leaked out.
BERK YOU DELPHI HARRISON
The dye shows better in person, the body orings are shot.
This particular V5 type compressor is only used o 98-02 Prizms, yay!!! Attempt rebuild? Junkyard? $200 new one?
In reply to Kenny_McCormic:
I can't tell what or where the leak is, but if it is the compressor I would vote for a new one. Swap in real fast and you don't have to buy another drier. Also, the oil is sometimes a dessicant too so the less exposure to air the better.
You could try to rebuild and see how that goes. You'll only be out time and drier hopefully. You could also rebuild the old one on the side and sell it used.
