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Mysterious AC leak

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Old May 3, 2016 | 11:57 PM
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Default Mysterious AC leak

Alright guys, need some brain power here. Just had some major work done. Rattling phasers, crossed steering volume buttons, bad alternator, AC wasn't working. The dealer did the work, fixed everything.
They found a leak out of the compressor itself, did a rebuild kit, good to go. Except after a week or so, the AC stopped working. Took it back to them, AC was empty (was filled after rebuild) they checked everything couldn't find a leak, thought maybe there was a bad gasket on the rebuild, re-rebuilt and filled.
Well, here we are another week later, AC has stopped again. I suspect it's because the system is empty again. But after the last time I took it to them, they said they couldn't find any sort of leak, even had a "sniffer" around the cab, didn't detect anything. I really don't want to take it back there and have them tear apart the dash and not find anything. ($$$)
Anyone have any ideas as to where it might be leaking from or what to look for?
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Old May 4, 2016 | 12:30 AM
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99% of the time its the compressor seal.
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Old May 4, 2016 | 01:18 AM
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Originally Posted by PerryB
99% of the time its the compressor seal.
After being replaced twice? Wouldn't there be visible leakage if it were? Anyway to confirm its still leaking?

Last edited by snowborderus; May 4, 2016 at 01:21 AM.
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Old May 4, 2016 | 02:31 AM
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If the compressor shaft is grooved/worn from years of seal contact it can be difficult or impossible to get it to seal but the leakage is easy to detect with a sniffer.
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Old May 4, 2016 | 05:04 AM
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If you take it to another shop, will you still have a warranty on the previous work? I'd give the dealer another chance to fix it. Perhaps this time, have them replace the A/C compressor instead of rebuilding it, if the compressor is the source of the leak.
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Old May 4, 2016 | 06:15 AM
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Have they introduced dye into the system ?
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Old May 4, 2016 | 08:39 AM
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X2 on the AC dye. I'm surprised they actually changed the shaft seal... Most now will just change a compressor out and not think twice about it.

Like mentioned earlier though, if the shaft is grooved, you could put 100 seals in it and it would still leak. I suspect your leak is somewhere else though.
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Old May 4, 2016 | 08:48 AM
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And with Dye in the system... you can see if the seal is leaking or anything else for that fact..
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Old May 4, 2016 | 10:04 AM
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Originally Posted by Bucko
If you take it to another shop, will you still have a warranty on the previous work? I'd give the dealer another chance to fix it. Perhaps this time, have them replace the A/C compressor instead of rebuilding it, if the compressor is the source of the leak.
That sounds like what I'll have to do.

Originally Posted by techrep
Have they introduced dye into the system ?
Supposedly they did and still can't find anything.
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Old May 4, 2016 | 10:47 AM
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Originally Posted by snowborderus


Supposedly they did and still can't find anything.
They would be able to see it if your compressor was still leaking. If they can't find anything under the hood, it sounds like it may be the evaporator.
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