Automotive Air Conditioning Information Forum

I'm thinking that perhaps VW uses plastic caps to prevent damage to the aluminum threads.

No, it's that plastic caps are cheaper.



So if somebody overtightens the cap, the threads on the cap will strip first.

The caps have an internal rubber seal. Only an idiot would crank those super ...

I never take offense when someone adds on to anything I post as many are more knowledgeable than I. I'm NOT an AC professional, just somewhat experienced and live in the land of AC being used 95% of the time, Arizona.


Should I take the car to a dealership, a shop that specializes in VW cars, or ...

Do NOT add any leak seal chemicals or refrigerant containing leak sealer/stop leak !!!!


I'd replace the schraeder valve and use a new good-quality cap after having the system re-charged by weight. I'd also look for other leaks as well. Note that there are different types of service caps for ...

Cindy Zhang wrote: Fri Aug 21, 2026 12:22 am And I've heard certain manufacturers won't honor warranty claims if dye was used.

Some manufacturers add UV dye at the factory.

You might also want to check the lines running from front to back. They can become corroded, degraded, and can leak, especially if they run through a wheel well.

My co-worker had a Grand Caravan from that era. He had leakage of refrigerant on the lines going/coming from the rear unit, Dodge used ...

I'm dealing with the problem of expansion valve bolts that do not want to let go.
There must be a good bit of corrosion on the tips of the threads that were inside the evap housing.
They will turn about 4 turns then lock up solid.

I sprayed them with PB Blaster and right now I'm waiting 1/2 hour ...

Your voltage observation is a good one. If you are only getting 12.5 volts at speed, then either you have a bad/corroded connector someplace or your alternator is shot. At speed, a modern alternator should put out a regulated 14.2 volts or thereabouts. Voltage lower than that will create a very ...

Disclaimer: I'm NOT an AC professional. I'm in Arizona, do have some experience though.



I checked the freon level and it was low.

Actually, the R134a amount can only be checked with a special recovery machine that pulls out the refrigerant and WEIGHS it. Trying to guess refrigerant level by ...

I got a headache from rolling my eyes when I read "Jiffy Lube". I wouldn't let shops like that do anything to my vehicles - even an oil change !!!

NEVER ADD SEALER OR REFRIGERANT CONTAINING SEALANT, IT CAN RUIN YOUR SYSTEM.


Oh, is this useless? I thought this was a good self-repair method.

It's your vehicle, you can do whatever you want !!!! Yeah, the advertisements claim how "easy" it is to fix your AC system, but won't pay a penny ...