Automotive Air Conditioning Information Forum (Archives)

webbch on Fri April 19, 2013 11:16 PM

Year: 2000
Make: Nissan
Model: Xterra
Engine Size: 3.3
Refrigerant Type: R134A

I'm helping a friend fix the A/C on his Xterra. About a year ago, we replaced the low side line that was leaking and put in a new drier as well. Charged it up, and it leaked out in a couple months (end of summer, so he didn't bother fixing for awhile).

Fast forward to now. He took it to a shop to identify the source of the leak. They said high side line to the compressor, so he came over to my place with the high side line, but no drier. We put in the new line and vac'd the system for over an hour, but couldn't get it below 6000 micron, and within seconds of shutting off the pump it went up past 25,000 micron, so major leak must be remaining.

To try and find the leak, put in 1.5 oz of R134, then pressurized with nitrogen to about 125 psi. Went around with a sniffer, focusing on the new line we put in and couldn't find anything. I didn't think to look at the compressor shaft seal or belly though. Also sprayed some Big Blu Leak detector fluid on all the exposed lines we could, and still couldn't find anything.

Is it possible for a drier to be sufficiently moisture-laden to look like such a strong leak? Do these symptoms point to something more obvious? Thanks.

Chad

TRB on Sat April 20, 2013 3:19 PM

NO.

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