AC Evaporator and expansion valve

Hello All,

Having trouble with my AC. When charged with 134a it runs well but won’t hold a charge very long. New drier and rebuilt compressor. I will be looking for leaks again soon. I say again as I have been looking for leaks on and off for about a week now. I did find that when I rebuilt the compressor I assembled the spring loaded seal crank seal wrong and had a leak there. Fixed that and there is no more evidence of leakage there.

My questions to the forum are:

  1. Is there any way to open the box just a little bit inside the dash to get a peek at the evaporator? Maybe just enough to shine a flash light in there to look for leak evidence? Maybe get my little mirror on a stick and look around? I have collected the condensation from the box drain and don’t see anything in the water that makes me think the evaporator is leaking.

  2. Can the expansion valve be taken apart to inspect and or clean? There is a hex head that looks to be an assembly detail. Not sure I want to take it apart due to the fact that when it is charged it does well.

Thanks in advance.

Gary

You need a halide sniffer Gary!

Get the refrigerant with the neon colored dye in it. It specifically used for tracking down leaks such as what you’re looking for.

LOL $300 around here. I think West Michigan Spline is in need of one. Ya, thats it!

One word: Ebay.

I have a Snap-on ACT5500 I got from a friend, cheap. Will work on most refrigerants from what I am reading. http://content.amprobe.com/manualsA/AC5500_Halogen-Leak-Detector_Manual.pdf You can get one with case for around $10 plus shipping on ebay.