I have a 1991 CRX DX Auto and the freon is escaping but we cannot figure out how.

We have had the car at 2 shops, no one can find a leak with a sniffer / UV test.

We have also sniffed the evaporater and the vents after driving it.

The shops tell us they can find no leak, and just put freon back in it, then within 2 days it is gone again.

We rented a pump and pumped the system down to 30 pounds of vacuum, and after an hour and a half the gauges still read 29.X pounds. The manual said if you lost more than 1 pound in 5 minutes then you have an issue.

Both cooling fans on the car are running and cycling properly.

The AC compressor is disengaging when I turn the AC on and off.


It is 104 degrees outside in Texas, so the only thought I had were that the cooling fans were insufficient for this heat and the system is blowing it off. But I wanted some sort of verification before going this route and trying to pack more cooling under the hood.

Any other ideas how the freon could be escaping if no one can find a leak on the car?

Thanks in Advance

 

Your likely leaking from condenser or the compressor front seal. My crx when I had ac installed with a unit from the wrecker all was good and dandy until it was charged and then over a course of a day it would all leak out but we couldn't find out where and the shop could find where.

After using a soapy solution on the condenser it was a pin hole leak that was found caused a a sharp edged pebble that put a hole into one of the spines of the coil.

My buddy had a similar problem and his compressor seal leaked when it ran. So no leak detection meter caught it because of air being blown around ithe engine bay.

 

yeah there's a leak for sure...might be worth changing all the o-rings and trying again.

 

what is your assumption that you're leaking refrigerant? Because your air isnt blowing cold? Are you sure that there is the EXACT amout of lbs in your system?

 

When charged 1.8-2 lbs

Over the course of a day loses a pound or so.

 

Thanks I will see if we can do something similar with the condenser.

 

are you getting that measurement from a actual recovery machine though? Thats my question

 

My leak ended up being at the valve core (where you add the freon). Very cheap to fix and easy to get to and it is like changing one on a wheel . Just a suggestion

 

Did you try checking with the UV dye?
Did you try checking with soapy water?
If you have to add Freon, you have a leak.
Sometimes, leaks are tough to find.

I've had my EF wagon for a couple of years, when I got it, I replaced the compressor and flushed everything. Air worked great for a while then leaked down. I could not find the leak. A couple of weeks ago, I changed the valve cores on both service ports, then pulled a vacuum for an hour. When I refilled, I used the Interdynamics leak sealer and red dye. I got it at Advanced Auto Parts but I'm sure all the chains carry it.

I don't know if the leak sealer or valve cores solved the problem, but it's been over two weeks and the air still gets cold.