AC help!!!

[prin]

So, I have a leak somewhere. Whe the AC is on, you can see "smoke" coming though the vents. It blows cold, but it only last a day or so. I installed some stop leak as well as some leak detection. But, I dont see it leaking anywhere under the hood. So, could it be leaking inside the cab? What is in the black box under the dash???

[Andy4639]

If you are seeing vapor out of the vents, it's inside the box on the fire wall on the outside of the cab in the evaperator box. Black box on passenger side.

[prin]

Does someone have a pic of this? Is it easy to take a part??

[stomper]

I believe 'smoke' out the vents indicates a leaking heater core and that leaking freon is not visible. You could have 2 problems there. Also, if the heater core is in fact leaking when the AC is on that would mean your heater valve is not closing off the heater core. The hot water thru the core could be increasing the temp of the AC air thru the vents and feeling like it's not working as well as it did when the coolant was not hot.

[prin]

The heater core was my first thought, but I loosing freon quick! So, would that still be a heater core issue?

[screaminchevypickup]

Leaky freon from inside the cab is visible!!!
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[prin]

I have put in plenty of leak detection and I see no leaks!!

[leddzepp]

It sounds like your evaporator core is leaking. It is located where Andy4639 stated. A new one runs about $250.

[Andy4639]

Black box on fire wall. You will need to unbolt from outside and inside unless it's already been modified. U can check the heater core as well once taken apart.

[ole dollor]

prin: does the smoke you are seeing smells like antifreeze, freon really does not have a smell until it is burned, like going through the carb and out the tail pipe, then you will know because your eyes will be burning and you wont be able to breathe , and while you are running away you will know that you have a freon leak, i have leak detectors that will pin point the leak, one uses propane and a flame that will turn green when freon is present, and one is a electronic freon detector. it clicks until it finds freon then goes into a siren mode. maybe someone in your area also has a freon detector that could hook you up....

[ole dollor]

prin: one more thing, the water drain on the bottom of the case that outside the cab under the a/c and heater box should show signs of your leak detector and be oily dripping out of the drain hole. you should be able to reach if from the top, but could go under and see it also, should have a rubber tube hanging down, and molded to be closed, some times the tube will be missing...

[Andy4639]

The AC system running and leaking inside the evaperator box will turn to a vapor and come out the vents. Due to temperature change.

I suggest having a vacume pulled on it and seeing where the problem is.

[prin]

Thanks for all of the responses! I will began my journey now!

[prin]

So, I tood the evaporator out and it looks fine. There was no oil in the the botttom of the box. I will be taking the evap to a shop to see if they can test it.

[MrSchaeferPants]

Refrigerant can leak enough to be visible, which it most certainly IS visible if it's gushing out. It also does have a smell. I'm not sure if the refrigerant itself, or the oil has the smell, but you have both in your system, so either way you definitely smell it.

Was replacing a 3.0L in my wife's 4runner in my buddies carport we closed off with plastic sheets (it was February) and he decided to remove the lines to the compressor, instead of unbolting it and moving it to the side. It choked us out, and we left the plastic open till it cleared out since we couldn't see in there. Makes your lungs feel gross too.

Just in case others read this and are confused on A/C leaks/smells. Heater cores can definitely blow white smoke out of your vents too.

[ole dollor]

prin: if the case was dry your leak was not in the black box, i have seen through the years that if you cant find the leak anywhere....then the a/c compressor is suspect, you advised that you put in leak dye in the system. if so it should have come out somewhere because you were loosing freon , before you took it apart, did you use a leak finder?

not to sure about 134a, but freon 12 would freeze a bug, to solid ice, and when the bug would thaw out it would walk away, it had no smell while doing this,have not seen this done with 134a , i do know the while being burned it could kill you are make you very sick, i suspect the oil and freon mix is the smell that others are smelling.
with the price of freon these days , most people dont wast it on bugs.....

[Andy4639]

If the evaperator checks good then as other stated. Look at compressor. The o-rings will go bad and it will leak out around the clutch. Should see black film around clutch area and hoses. If it's the stock a-6 compressor they are real bad about this after sitting all winter then when you first use the AC it will be dry and leak out.

[srea76]

Not trying to hijack your thread, but can we actually buy a new outside heater box for ac trucks? Everywhere I look I see non ac only!