Leaking Ford Aerostar

VegasGMC on Wed June 29, 2011 10:58 AM

Year: 1995
Make: Ford
Model: Aerostar
Engine Size: 3.0
Refrigerant Type: R134
Ambient Temp: 100
Country of Origin: United States

We just bought this van, has 144k miles with front a/c. A/C didn't work and system had 50lbs static pressure. I vacuumed down the system for 30mins then let it set for thirty more and it held vacuum. I repeated this. I recharged the system and it ran perfectly, compressor was so quiet I couldn't tell it was running at first. It was putting out 42*F at center vent. After about a week it stopped blowing cold and compressor cycled every few seconds. I recharged and added a dye. The only place the dye is showing is at the low side port. When I take the caps off the low and high ports there is a faint hiss but no dye at the high port. The low port looks like the whole thing unscrews from the accumulator, or can I just replace the valve stem? Thanks

TRB on Wed June 29, 2011 4:32 PM

If you reclaim the refrigerant the low side service port valve core can be replaced. Leaking out in a week is a major leak.

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Edited: Wed June 29, 2011 at 4:33 PM by TRB

Dougflas on Wed June 29, 2011 5:35 PM

Make sure you check the evap drain tube also

VegasGMC on Sat July 02, 2011 8:10 AM

I couldn't find the evap. drain tube. I'll look again. I got replacement valve cores. Going to put them in this weekend. I was hoping with a big leak, there would be a lot of dye someplace. Thanks

Dougflas on Sat July 02, 2011 6:25 PM

Pull out the blower motor resistor. Squirt some water in there and see where it drains out under the vehicle if you have to. Also, these vehicles were known to catch on fire due to leaves building up in the evap box and the hot resistor. Time to clean out the evap box.

VegasGMC on Sat June 16, 2012 7:21 PM

VegasGMC on Sat June 16, 2012 7:24 PM

Finally found the leak. There is a large wire harness that runs in front of the condenser and it rubbed a hole in it.