Prof

My AC has been acting weird...it was blowing only slightly cool, I put the AC pro to it, and the meter never seemed to get it in the green range, persistently indicating that it was low.

Ran it that way for a week or so, not it is intermittent...and yesterday, the AC just went of, shut itself off and would not restart...until five or so minutes later and then it started at 75 degrees, all by itself. WTH?

Any ideas?

Martian

You have a slow leak. The low pressure switch was open until it got hotter in the day and the remaining AC refrigerant expanded enough to close the switch.

Prof

Crap...ok, what do I need to do? Can I do my own work, or am I screwed?

Martian

Put a shot of UV dye in there, let it leak out for a few days (running it), put on the glasses and find it.

Prof

Where do I find this dye? And once leak is found, then what?

(Thanks for the help!)

Martian

This time of year, you can get the dye at any parts store. It comes inside a normal can of refrigerant shot like you'd use any other time you needed it. Charge your system back up with it until you're in the green again (you can get the proper amount from the personnel at the parts store), then you can use your gauges to verify your level has gone down again in a few days confirming you've got a leak. Once you've found the leak, go to an authorized AC service center to have the refrigerant evacuated. Then replace the part (O ring, leaky line, other part...) You can service pretty much every part of it yourself once the refrigerant is evacuated. Some of it is a pain though

Prof

Done! I will post back my findings...thanks!

BillSF9c

FWIW, Olde wisdom in some car mag decades back, said, even in the winter, run your AC 5 min a week to keep the seals working.

techrep

iTrader: (1)

FWIW... that thread is 6 years old.

ProjectSHO89

.... and, if the ambient temp is too low, generally below 40F, the compressor won't engage anyway.