Oh no - AC no longer blows cold and... coolant leak

[castlerox]

just went I think I am getting ahead of this Astro another thing comes up... I better get used to this?

So my Astro 2000 AWD has been solid lately. I recently drove it back from Flagstaff to PHX (140 miles). When we came down the hill and the temp started rising I went for the AC. The vents blow strong but... No longer blowing cold air. Just good old warm AZ air. It was working fine about 1 week ago.

Simultaneously, when I finally got home I noticed a small coolant leak just below the front fender on the driver side. Are these related perhaps?

If not - What steps should I take to have a look at this AC system?

In Short:

A/C worked fine before. Blew strong, nice N cold. Now it still blows strong but no longer cold... and a coolant leak appeared at about the same time.

Ohhhh nooooo. Thanks!

[chevymaher]

Not related at all.
Check the air conditioner charge.
It been warm here. It may be just the overflow bottle puked. Check the radiator coolant level when it is cold see if it full.
Check for leaks when it is hot after driving. And you just filled it when it was cool. Soon as it shut off. Give it a few minutes and pop the hood and look around and under it. If it is leaking that will be the time it is dripping. And you can follow the yellow brick road to the leak.

[castlerox]

^^ Newbie here... how does one check the charge?

[chevymaher]

Need gauges for refrigerant. They sell bottles of it with a gauge on them.

[cowboydan]

I picked up a bottle of a/c seal also. It's the same price and adds the same way. I just use my buddies gage.

[castlerox]

Okay, so I had some time to look through things a bit... here is what I found.

I went ahead and started the car. Turn on the AC and the compressor kicks on for about 3 full seconds, then stops for 6 seconds, kicks on for 3 seconds and stops for 6 seconds... and continues on this way

Is this an "oh sh*t" moment?

[xit]

Just sounds low on refrigerant, did you put gauges on it?

[castlerox]

I did. I just bought a can of charge, hooked it up. When the compressor kicks in it is definately low.

I hooked up the can and hit the trigger to charge but it doesn't seem to be filling up or the can didn't seem to be emptying. I then unscrewed the can from the gauge attachment and a bunch of canned fluid spewed out from the pressure... yikes.

Am I doing this wrong? lol

[castlerox]

NVM!

Consider the 1st can a bust... but it drank 3 more cans. Didn't realize it was only going to take refrigerant while the compressor was running... that's why the 1st can took so long.

Long story short, it was low. I guess that is a bad thing but for now, blowing cold air.

[xit]

Glad you got it fixed, don't over fill it though, that is why you need gauges.

[TaxiVan]

Actually, if a small rock somehow managed to make it into the grille area or got kicked up somehow, it could have hit with enough force to go through both if moving at a high enough rate of speed, however... You would have a coolant leak of epic proportions and the A/C would not even attempt to hold pressure... I'd say something has possibly rubbed a tiny hole in both the condensor coil and the radiator core... I hope not, but your problems may not be over...

[castlerox]

Update - It blows "cool" not "cold".

I put at least 36oz in. When I shut the van off I hear a slight HISSSSS coming from the passenger side in the engine compartment. I can't exactly pinpoint it, but it is definitely the sound of some sort of pressure releasing (air) - It lasts about 15 seconds decreasing in intensity and slowly whisps away. It could be mistaken from coming under the radiator cap but I would bet it isn't coming from that. I can't tell.

There is also alot of condensation/liquid that drops on the ground just about at the inside of the passenger tire.

After reading about this fluorescent detection stuff... I just got curious and grab my handy fluorescent flashlight i use for finding scorpions. I managed to find a bunch of old looking spray all up and down the driver side edge of the radiator and surrounding areas... there are also a few new drops on the steering box I just installed. that would be new stuff for sure.

Might these be clues? I don't know. Detectives! ready your glasses.

Any help?

[chevymaher]

The hiss when you shut it off is normal. That is the pressure in the system equalizing when the compressor shuts off.
Clean the condensor with a pressure washer at the carwash. Get the bugs and garbage out of it. If it is dirty that will help. Is it cold when your doing 40 MPH or better?

[castlerox]

I am going to drive her back up to Flag later today, I will give you the road report from High speed.

Thanks for tuning in and helping!

[castlerox]

Okay, it did seem alot cooler on at freeway speeds.

Does this mean something?

[chevymaher]

Okay, it did seem alot cooler on at freeway speeds.

Does this mean something?

Get a electric fan. Then it works better sitting still idling. Or LeAnn's suggestion replace the clutch fan with a heavy duty one.
I had the same problem electric fans work wonders. You can keep the clutch fan or not.

[castlerox]

Well... that lasted a good 4 days!

On my return trip back to PHX - as soon as the heat rose... I confidently reached for my AC dial and... NADA...

Looks like I have a big leak somewhere.

How should I tackle this beast? Do you use the Fluorescent stuff?

THX!

[chevymaher]

If it is leaking damage is done. I did the fluorescent dye. Nothing. If it is leaking from the front seal of the compressor it wont show. Because the clutch is over it.
If you have rear air that is a good culprit. The long lines rust and leak.
I dorked around for a week or 2 following the rules and doing the approved shop methods.
Follow me here. Moisture in the system only damages it when it is running. Got to draw a vacumm (supposed to) anyway before you charge it to rid the system of acids from running and moisture. They sell nitrogen to charge it to higher pressure just for looking for leaks. They sell refrigerant leak detectors which work well and are real pricey. Okay I have went through all the proper approved methods of doing it.
Now this hillbilly went and got mad and made a adapter so I could fill it with compressed air. I put 120 lbs in it. It was real easy to find the hissing. Mine was the compressor seal.
Different compressor filled it and it working like a charm every since.

You only get a warentee if you replace the orifice tube and filter dryer and TXV if you have rear air. Have it documented by a shop a vacuum was drawn. Warentee is a year. Just going through this because your getting into serious money by the time you basically replace the entire system and have a shop charge it. It isn't necessary. Read on and make up your own mind and decision.
Okay it is a piston driven mechanical pump.
Unless it has metal shavings in the system from a previous pump chewing up, pretty obvious it knocked and got real hot and locked up. Motor stalled when the air was turned on.
It isn't going to be hurt by a little moisture in the system. I didn't do squat I past the warentee period, almost through the year after thats summer. I am not having issues. Cold air all the time. I saved a grand. It only takes an hour to put in once you all warmed up and done it a few times. Even on our vans.
Even if it goes out every 6-10 years it easier and cheaper to do it yourself this way. Long run trouble and cost is minimal. That is my opinion.
My van made it and is still working strong years later. Neibor paid 1200 bucks to a shop. Made it a year and a half. Out of shop warentee. Then came to me, heard my ramblings. I did it my hillbilly way. It is still working fine. So just because a shop does it don't mean it will last any longer. Just cost alot more.

[castlerox]

So you rigged an adaptor and pushed 120lbs of regular air into the system?

after that how did you trace the leak by ear? Did you turn the engine off?

After you found the leak in the compressor seal, you just replaced it and filled it back up and you were good to go?

I might not live in the Hills, but I definitely have some Billy in me.

[chevymaher]

Yes I made a adapter out of the end off of a refrigerant bottle with gauge, and a air chuck.

Engine off traced sound it by ear. It was easy it was hissing. Sounded like a bike tire leaking.

Yep just put the new compressor on and charged it. I have no problems with it. And the air is really cold.