[gryphon]

I have a very slow AC refrigerant leak in my 98 Yukon and would rather avoid what is most likely a compressor and/or hose replacement. Does anyone have information on they numerous AC sealers on the market at auto parts stores? Is this stuff harmful?

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[flash]

lol - i wouldn't put it in my martini



seriously, i would call gmc and see what they say - i have to take mine in for its 6k service - i'll ask my guy then

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[968rz]

I know I don’t hold much weight on this forum as a newbie. But as a former auto tech, the rule was ANY instant fix sealer is bad. Especially when valves and moving parts are involved (tend to gum up the works). Better to fix it right (or wait till you can afford to).

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[flash]

first welcome to the board



second - i hate that idea - we miss a lot of good information because of the ill-conception that just because somebody is new to a chat board, that they don't know anything, which causes new people to feel that the need to be less forthcoming



screw that - jump right in - personally i automatically assume that somebody who speaks up knows exactly what they are talking about



i too am not a big fan of "wonder goos" and have rarely had that impression changed, but, i'm always open to new stuff

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[968rz]

Thanks for the welcome Flash, coming from you it means alot (been reading your posts for awhile, very useful)



As for Your A/C problem Gryphon, if it is low on freon you could try a recharge for a temp fix. Napa sells a kit that could keep you cool with out hurting your system.



http://www.napaonline.com/MasterPages/NOLM...26+Retrofit+Kit

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[flash]

no worries - glad to see a new source if information - it only helps us all



lol - i can be a pain, and sometimes insist that somebody support something they say, when it contradicts something that i've learned over the years, but, doesn't everyody do that?



i've never used those kits, and always gone to apurge and fill process - how well do they realy work? a local guy has a failed system (compressor engages, but no cold air) - seems like an economical way to get him up to snuff, as long as he doesn't have a leak

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[968rz]

The purge, vac, and fill is the right way. If the system is low, it has a leak- find it, fix it, fill it. But, gryphon knows it has a leak and is just trying to get by for awhile. As for how it works, I my self haven't used it yet (my dodge has a leak so I will try it sooner or later) but looking at the package it's just like we used back in the day. (A couple 1lb cans of Freon and the varied connectors) this should work as long as the system still has partial vacuum in it, (as a temp fix! still should-find it, fix it, fill it)



PS. That was a nice chat Flash, hope to talk again.

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[flash]

i enjoyed it too



as for the top off of refrigerant, let me now make the politically correct environmentally sound tree hugging comment:



if you have a leak, get it fixed - the hole in the ozone is big enough

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[Darryl]

[quote name='flash' date='Jun 25 2006, 06:18 PM']a local guy has a failed system (compressor engages, but no cold air)

[right][post="23266"]<{POST_SNAPBACK}>[/post][/right][/quote]



flash,



I had the same thing a few weeks ago on my Sport Trac...compressor kicked in but no cold air. My Ford guy diagnosed it immediately after I told him the compressor was coming on and he asked 'how frequently?' I could hear the compressor pretty much continuously...turned out to be the condensor and not a leak in the system.



- Darryl

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[968rz]

Agreed

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[flash]

i should get a chance to see the car myself in the next few days - i'll check it out and see if it fits those symptoms



what was wrong with the condensor? how would that fail and have no leak?



by the way - found this while i was poking around:



http://aircondition.com/knowledge_base/LeakSealers.html



i'm not endorsing anything here, just found the site

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[Darryl]

[quote name='flash' date='Jun 25 2006, 10:20 PM']i should get a chance to see the car myself in the next few days - i'll check it out and see if it fits those symptoms



what was wrong with the condensor?  how would that fail and have no leak?

[right][post="23275"]<{POST_SNAPBACK}>[/post][/right][/quote]



hah! I guess I didn't word my post correctly, but it must have been the condensor itself or the seals around it...I was referring to "the leak" as being in the hoses or connections somewhere. Now that I think about it, I'm laughing. The air that was blowing did feel slightly cooler than ambient temp so I guess that was the compressor at least trying hard.



- Darryl

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[flash]

lol - gotcha - that one had me stumped - no worries - i am constantly finding myself having to go back and reread and edit things, as i seem to be often typing as if to myself, and sometimes skip over things that i consider as "givens" where others have no idea what the heck i'm talking about



anyway - this guy doesn't use the AC, but is wanting it now - his compressor was loose (broken bolt) - now fixed - but, no cold air - i haven't checked the temp yet to see if it is working at all - i only know he has said he can hear the compressor engage, and can feel the drag



i'm hoping there are no leaks

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[968rz]

Typically when the Freon gets low the compressor clutch will cycle rapidly and not at all when empty. Could be something like the H-valve stuck not letting the Freon into the cab,

I also gave a quick look at the site link Flash posted and they seem to want the system to be working normal before inputting the sealer “must replace drier”, “must vacuum to -25 to install” and such. More like a just in case than an already broke kind of product.

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[flash]

lol - yeah - i barely read it - was just poking around, and came across it



still not a fan of "wonder goo"

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[gryphon]

Bob,



That's a very interesting link. Thanks for searching.



I don't really know if I really have a leak or not. The Yukon is usually driven by me future-ex-wife, so I don't have much seat time in it. She had it charged at a local repair shop, then went back for a black light test and was "shown" that it had a compressor leak and a hose leak, and was quoted$1400+ for the job. Since then it seems to blow fairly cold air and cools the truck adequately for a Phoenix summer climate. I have some doubts about the honestly of the shop that did the work. For all know they could rub a bit of die on the components, then show the customer the "leak" with their black light.



I do think the AC sealer stuff is interesting and, from Flash's link, somewhat more credible that I expected.



Thanks for the input.



Tom

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[josephsc]

FWIW, I had a shop check my AC system three years ago and was diagnosed with a hose leak. I was quoted $1000 to repair, but I just went home refilled it anyways. Three years later, I have had to give it another 12oz charge. So there is indeed a leak, but I can live with this situation. YMMV, of course.

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[patkeefe]

Welcone!

You will plug up your expansion valve (metering device) if you put any weird stuff in there. Long term will cost a boatload to undo a quick fix.

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