Common ac system leak point ?

Condenser?

 

Does OP have an eBay bumper






Those cause ac leaks

 

if you suspect a small leak on the system and think you know where try covering it with a plastic baggie..tape and or seal it WELL..to the pipe...continue to check it at regular intervals..if it starts to be puffy..pierce the bag with your leak detector....

 

Sounds like an accumulator/drier. On Tacos this seems to be an integral part of the condenser coil itself IIRC. Have NOT replaced it so am not sure.

 

So, I'm new here... Kinda. I owned a 2002 PreRunner (2x4) a few years back, then a 95' 4Runner 4x4 w/ an OME 2.5' Lift and some 33' Toyo M/Ts.

Long story short I'm a Toyota guy through and through and have always used TW.com and never created an account.

Now I own a 2006 Silver Streak Mica DC.

Down to the point: I have a leak somewhere in the A/C system. Didn't have time to screw with it so took it to an unknown "repair shop" in the town I recently moved to. Normally don't deal with those people, but I did this time.

Dude claims the compressor is leaking the freon and that to replace the compressor it would be $1197 for the part PLUS labor. I'm not the smartest guy around, but I can use the internet...

I really just feel bad for the countless people who've been molested by these thieves...

I have 0 experience working on A/C so I don't really want to screw around with trying to detect the leak on my own.

I guess what I'm ACTUALLY ASKING IS: Does this guy's claim of "the leak coming from the compressor" even sound like a thing or is it known?

OR is is it actually leaking from a common location and this guy just spit out the most expensive part, and at an outrageous price so he can pocket the difference..? (I'm seeing them all day long for under $200 on the interwebs...)

Thanks in advance for any replies. Glad to be an official member.

 

Get a UV light and some yellow glasses and start looking for traces of dye around the compressor and ac lines. It will look like green. Almost like predator blood.

 

I'd get a mom and pop shop to hook up gauges and show you. If there is some pressure in the system it may just have a very small leak. Recharge it and see how long it lasts. @Bebop did the 06 have dye already added?

 

Being an 06 I assumed it would have had dye shot into it at some point. The freon we use comes pre mixed with the dye in it. Little more expensive but that shit is tits. Just charge it and let it go. No using dye shot cans or dye syringes. Hard to know the history.

 

Thanks guys,

Ill take it to the least sheisty, but still pretty sheisty, mechanic I know in town and have them put the gauges on it while I'm there to witness it.

Also, if it is indeed the compressor, how difficult is it to replace? Again, I'm fairly mechanically inclined just have never messed with A/C systems... I know on my 1st gen. the compressor was relatively accessible from the underneath. Is it similar on the 2nd gens?

Again, I appreciate the responses. Ill let ya know what I end up coming up with.

 

Which engine do you have?

 

@CurtB

It’s the 4.0

 

Mine is the 2.7L so I'm not much help. There are plenty of folks on here with the 4.0 so maybe they will step up with some advice. Good luck.

 

So I have the same issue - dye test shows the compressor area (more of the ac hose rubber and metal ) — it’s freaking everywhere !! I’m guessing the leak happens and it gets on the belt and flings it but ..... it’s only on the ac hoses and not on ANYTHING else. Strange ...

This is strange because I just did my first top off 1.5 months ago and now today I started to investigate as it was warm again (only on passenger side). For as much dye as I find - I would assume I would have to be filling Freon on the weekly ... has anyone changed the rubber and metal hose that goes from the Compressor to the first valve near the headlight / radiator? Parts show to be about $25.

 

Looks like high pressure got your hose. Make sure the condenser and radiator are clean, and the fan clutch is working properly.

 

Thanks curt ! It all seems to be in good working condition. I cleaned as much of the hose as I could to check the next few days and see if I can tell where it is coming from. I may just replace the whole hose

 

Get some dye remover, then watch the hose.

 

For what its worth, the dealer had trouble finding my leak as well. Took it to my mechanic and they found the leak right away. Apparently the discharge hose is a common failure point.

 

I found my leak on the hose going from condenser to compressor. About where the rubber hose meets metal clamp(3 crimps) 70 bucks at the store. Part is about 3.5/4 ft long and has many bends.

 

This is an old post. But in regard to putting dye in the system. After you find the leak and fix, do you simply just charge the system with freon or do you flush the system to remove the dye?

 

Dye stays in the system, it mixes with the refrigerant oil and moves with the oil throughout the system.
Most vehicles since around 2012 have factory added dye.