A/C Low on Refrigerant

[The Sequel]

My A/C quit blowing cold about a month ago. I know, most of you are wondering how I would know that this time of year but I live in the desert! Anyway, it was cool but not close to the temp it should have been. Dealer checked it and found that there were no leaks or problems other than being . 1 lb low on refrigerant. When I asked why it was low if there were no leaks, he told me they see a lot of them come from the factory low. My question is this, why did this low condition only effect the cold output now after 36,000 miles and 2 AZ summers? BTW, after adding the refrigerant, it is blowing cold again.

 

[B.G. Smith]

Low on refrigerant

The dealer either didn't know or couldn't think of a good reason to give you so he came up with the "it came from the factory low" thing. If it had come from the factory like that the operation would have been as you have experienced when it was low. The most probable place for a leak is the compressor seal. It is not unusual for a system to lose some refrigerant over time especially in the winter when the compressor is seldom used. Of course it could be a leak that just developed and they just didn't find it. Hope not, but only time will tell. bg

 

[Shovelhead]

Gee, maybe that's why DC designed the AC system to cycle in the heat and defrost positions.



Especially with the new R-134 refrigerant it's important to cycle the system occasionaly to keep the seals from drying out.

An added plus is that DRY warm air hitting the windshield evaporates the condensation quicker than moist warm air.

 

[The Sequel]

They said they put the dye in and checked for leaks. They also added the sticker that said the dye is in the system and to check for leaks using a black light. Maybe I should check it myself.