A/c leak ideas

I have a 08 taco and for the love of God I can't figure out where the ac leaks is at. I place dye in and saw some leak come out of the high side hose, compressor, and condensor. I replace all of it for around $560 with denso parts myself and replace the o rings with them. I pulled a vac for 1 hour and let it sit to see if there still a leak and there isno change in the gauge. Than I put the r134a in. Which Was awesome for 2 days than no more r134a =( in the car. So I place dye into the system again to hunt down the problem and found a possible leak in the evap core. Faint dye in the water coming out and a smell of oil in the cabin. I got someone to fix it and heck don't cheap out and got them to replace the expansion valve. $800 for the job with denso parts.3 hours after driving off the lot it zero out on r134a. Any ideas? I am at $1300 without a solution =(

 

Do you have a UV flashlight? That will make the dye glow.

O rings. Look at every connection. Pull the rubber back where the tubes stick out. There's one bolt that needs a torx socket holding the expansion valve in place behind that rubber seal..

But, if you're seeing dye in the condensate, that could be leftover from before not cleaned out. An inspection camera would let you see what's going on inside the air box.

Good luck.

 

Have you checked the Schrader valves?

 

as mentioned, check schrader valves/replace.
Pull evac again, hold for an hour, if u lost the charge only over 3 hours, you should see the evac show an issue.
Get a sniffer and start probing when recharged.
I'm guessing the leak is at the evaporator/line connections.
When I pulled mine apart, although all was tight, there was a lot of erosion built up on the seals.

 

Pour a tiny bit of water in the schrader valve cavity and look for bubbles. Or rubber band a rubber glove over it and let it sit overnight

 

I just added more uv dye tonight and checked all the fitting from the compressor the two tubes coming out has no dye. The compressor has no dye on it. The high side tube from the compressor going to the condenser no dye. The tube coming out of the condenser no dye. The condensor has no leaks. The whole low side tubing has no dye. The coupler has nodye coming out. The evap core and the expansion valve I did not check but I assume there no leak because I just paid the ac guy to gut the interior to do it. Only thing left is low side hose that didn't get replace and the valve. I am leaning towards the valve at this point. Do the old dish washer soap and water trick?

Anyone know how long after the starter dies the alternate (original alternator) gives out. I just swapped my first starter out and that was the original starter finally at 210k for a 08. Talk about durability. A buddy of mine has the 3rd gen and the starter gave out at 46k

 

Yep. If it's leaking empty in 3 days, should bubble a lot. Low side hoses rarely leak, but they can.

 

What about high side hose? Before all this swap I did notice when I open the high side cap I hear a hissing sound pressure sound like opening a new coke bottle top. Is that normal?

 

The valve is leaking, pour some soapy water in there

 

I had a 08 Highlander with the same problem. It leaked past the JRA valve and through the plastic cap. Long story short we had the line replaced and it started leaking there a couple of weeks later again. Checked my 03 Tacoma and verified same valve core and it did not leak. Looked for an adapter or brass caps and could not find anything.
Curios to see what you find. Good luck

 

No not normal. But I think you found your leak. Soapy water will confirm.

 

No brass caps for automotive R134A, only plastic. Install a new core if it's leaking.

 

Update- I dropped the vehicle off to get the car refrigerant filled and valve core swap he said it was the low side leaking. The guy did it for free because he swap the evaporator core and said he would get it done easy fix. Long story short I picked up the car today and one vent was blowing cold with a mist on the driver side window the rest blew hot air. So the guy checked it out. Around ~40 psi on the low and 400+ on the high side and all of a sudden the safety valve blew. He claim it was the condensor clogged? He added water over the condensor fins and the said see the high side drop your condensor is the issue. I told him that's a brand new condensor oe denso. I do not know What to say at this point. I don't believe that's the case. I think the guy over charge the system. Anyone want to chime in on my speculation is true? And what to do next? I don't trust this guy anymore. Or any damage? I just swapped the condensor, compressor, evap core, expansion valve, and high side hose. I am afraid the valve on the compressor is damage. Long story short I drove it for 30 mins I blew cool air in all the vents so far. At a quick diy gauge in my car. at start up I see ~30 psi on the low side around 80 degree now in south Florida. I'll break out the real gauge this weekend.

 

You wouldn't have negative 40 on the low side if it was overcharged.

If pouring water on the condenser brings down the high side pressure then you should look at air flow across the condenser. Is the fan clutch good? Is there a bunch of bugs and crap on the front of the condenser?

Or it might have a blockage at the expansion valve, something might be stuck

 

Definitely a restriction in the system.
Possibly a plugged filter drier. It should be changed out anytime there is a component replacement and the system is opened up.
It could even be saturated with oil/dye. There will be a temperature drop where the restriction is at causing it to act like an expansion valve.
Hope this helps

 

A few things
1. the guy should not be allowed anywhere near an AC. Ever.
2. the HS port is on the liquid line AFTER the condenser. for that port to see 400 the restriction is after the HS port.
3. next in the liquid line is the mesh filter. Most likely it is the restriction.
4. Pull the charge, pull the TXV, and check that mesh filter. Replace it if it's not shiny clean. Reassemble with new O rings. Vacuum. Recharge with 22oz of freon. Check pressures.
5. Do not turn AC on again for any length of time with it pumping 400 . Your new compressor will become junk quickly. The HS hose may start leaking later on. It doesn't like 400 either.

Good luck.

Edit: check the fan clutch while yer at it.

 

I swapped out the condensor which came with the drier built in from denso. The compressor, the evap core, expansion valve, the filter tube, and the high side hose all within a week of each other.

 

Yes, I read that. What ya gonna do now?

 

OP, was any refrig. oil added to the system?

 

So, I just checked my rear passenger side door lock and window. It will not open from the master driver control, or on the passenger rear door itself, and the alarm will not cycle that particular door. Is it a coincident that maybe the guy forgot to re-wire it back when he took the center console out to change the evap core or just a coincident?