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Nobody can find this leak. HELP!!!

Luismond on Tue August 02, 2011 1:10 PM User is offline

Year: 2001
Make: Chevy
Model: Metro
Engine Size: 1.3
Refrigerant Type: R134
Ambient Temp: 1000
Pressure Low: 38
Pressure High: 190

I need help! I would appreciate so much if some of you guys can give ideas, tips, clues.
I got 2001 Chevy Metro 4 cyl. 1.3l with an AC that works really good when it has Freon; but Freon only last anywhere between 3 to 20 days (let’s say 100 to 500 miles)
It’s been in 2 different shops already and none of them could find a leak.
The first one could not find a leak and wanted to change the hoses, I really thought the hoses look perfect and don’t show any die so I went to a different shop for a second opinion, this guy agreed with me, hoses are fine.
He already took the evaporator and condenser apart, changed dryer, changed all O’rings and CAN NOT FIND ONE DROP OF DIE ANYWHERE but Freon goes away we don’t know how.
He has charged it and inspected over and over and the leak cannot be seen.
Thank you all very much in advance.
Luis


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Luismond

MightyMax on Tue August 02, 2011 2:34 PM User is offline

GM Tech on Tue August 02, 2011 2:34 PM User is offline

A "good" shop will find it...have to find someone who feels your pain....

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The number one A/C diagnostic tool there is- is to know how much refrigerant is in the system- this can only be done by recovering and weighing the refrigerant!!
Just a thought.... 65% of A/C failures in my 3200 car diagnostic database (GM vehicles) are due to loss of refrigerant due to a leak......

MightyMax on Tue August 02, 2011 2:36 PM User is offline

Instead of refilling it for now, just put a vacuum on it.....

See how that holds up.

Dougflas on Tue August 02, 2011 7:06 PM User is offline

I had a 2000 Metro...same problem. Fought with dealer as they would not listen. They dyed it up; nada. I said compressor shaft seal. They said no. Finally after the 3rd time, they changed the seal. Lasted one month. I demanded a new drier as this took them 2 days to do. It was during the rain season to boot. I had to call Gm customer service and they still fought me on the drier. I explained that the system was open for 2 days during a rain storm. It takes 15 minutes to absorb moisture under these conditions. They finally replaced the drier. After the fourth time, they put on a brand new compressor. Problem solved. Replace your compressor and drier.

Here is a service trick. charge the system, pull the belt off and place a shower cap (not your other half's) over the front of the compressor. Let it sit over night. Place a sniffer into the shower cap. Your leak will be found.

Sometimes you will not see the dye. Depends upon the leak.

mk378 on Tue August 02, 2011 8:12 PM User is offline

Quote
Originally posted by: MightyMax
Instead of refilling it for now, just put a vacuum on it.....

He already knows that it leaks out... the question is where.

If it's possible to reach the clutch with the compressor on the car, another seal check is to take the plate off and blot up some of the stuff you'll find there and check it for dye.

Luismond on Wed August 03, 2011 1:15 AM User is offline

Well... when I go back to the shop with no A/C there is only little pressure in the system, so that tells that Freon has gone somewhere but leaves no trace and it has die inside

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Luismond

Luismond on Wed August 03, 2011 1:27 AM User is offline

Vacuum test was done too, it holds the vacuum for I believe two hours. Gauge needle did not move at all.

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Luismond

Luismond on Wed August 03, 2011 1:35 AM User is offline

Quote
Originally posted by: Dougflas
I had a 2000 Metro...same problem. Fought with dealer as they would not listen. They dyed it up; nada. I said compressor shaft seal. They said no. Finally after the 3rd time, they changed the seal. Lasted one month. I demanded a new drier as this took them 2 days to do. It was during the rain season to boot. I had to call Gm customer service and they still fought me on the drier. I explained that the system was open for 2 days during a rain storm. It takes 15 minutes to absorb moisture under these conditions. They finally replaced the drier. After the fourth time, they put on a brand new compressor. Problem solved. Replace your compressor and drier.

Here is a service trick. charge the system, pull the belt off and place a shower cap (not your other half's) over the front of the compressor. Let it sit over night. Place a sniffer into the shower cap. Your leak will be found.
Sometimes you will not see the dye. Depends upon the leak.

It makes a lot of sense to me.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
I will talk about this to my A/C guy.

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Luismond

Luismond on Sat August 20, 2011 1:18 AM User is offline

Well... I replaced the compressor myself, then took the car to the shop for oil vacuum and charge, and so far so good after a week the a/c is running strong and of course colder than before because of the rebuilt compressor. I hope this was the final fix, I'll let you guys know in a couple of weeks.

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Luismond

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