Engine/Transmission (1998.5 - 2002) Losing A/c every year...need new O-rings?

[EricBu12]

The last 2 years I have lost the charge on my A/C... Truck is 5 yrs old this month, I have used seal charges, and it seems to hold during the summer, sorta... Is that [4-5 years] about the life of the seals? I need to do something with them before it gets much warmer... .

 

[I-6DZL]

Eric you yourself cannot properly diagnose an a/c system. Unless you have an evacuator (to pull a vacuum on the system) and dye and a black light.

Put dye in the system with a full recharge, and drive for 2 weeks or so. The dye should be showing up.



sounds like either o-rings (90% unlikely if installed properly from factory) or your evaporator, check the condensor also, all it takes is a little rock and it's done!



Good Luck

Curtis

 

[EricBu12]

A parts man told me it might be a shaft seal on the compressor... said it is a dynamic seal and one prone to failure... . I asked if the leak could be detected when doing a vac. test and he said no as it is making the seal tighter and it is done static, not on... . any thoughts on this?..... again truck is 5 yrs old and 62000 miles..... sits alot of the time.

 

[RCrawford]

A/C Leaks.

My 98. 5 would have to be recharged every couple of mounths. I replaced the evap. coil. Didn't change a thing. After two years we found that the Schrader valve on the low side was leaking when the A/C was turned off. Had to replace the complete hose assembly, just over $300. There was a scratch in the seat. R. C.

 

[jerrethomas]

if you can get ahold of a sniffer, you could prolly find it yourself. Dodges are prone to evap failure, i've did 2 already, not in my truck but other peoples. There is a right up in the recent TDR magazine. If the front of the compressor looks to be wet or usually they look greasy, then chances are the seal is leaking. If you can get the sniffer, turn the a/c on max cool and put the sniffer in one of the vents on the passenger side. The evap will leak and blow the refrigerant gas out the vent and the sniffer will pick it up. just some ideas for ya.

 

[duaneparks]

The last 2 years I have lost the charge on my A/C... Truck is 5 yrs old this month, I have used seal charges, and it seems to hold during the summer, sorta... Is that [4-5 years] about the life of the seals? I need to do something with them before it gets much warmer... .

I currently own my third Dodge truck (had a '97 and a '99 prior, both gassers) and all three have had A/C failures at or around years 3-4. The '97 had a leak in the low pressure side schrader valve. The '99 had an evaporator leak. My '01 developed a hole in a hose. Never had an o-ring failure though...



I'd just take it in to a trusted shop and let them diagnose the problem. But, that advice comes from someone who has NO experience troubleshooting or repairing an A/C.



Duane

 

[EricBu12]

I found the leak. The hard line from the dryer, to the flex line has a crimp connector... Right where the insulation cover is... Now the leak was not coming from the opening by the flex line, it was leaking by the hardline connecting to the crimp connector... . A little JB Weld, 24 hours, charge it up, Ta-da!! All better! At least we will see from here.....



I have the cab fresh filter from Genos so there is no junk in the evaporator area... .