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A/C wont hold charge

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Old Sep 10, 2008 | 07:48 AM
  #1  
mark28269
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Default A/C wont hold charge

I charged the a/c and it blows cold air for a while then warm. I put in some red dye to see if there were any leaks, can't find any. What do you guys think the problem is. Or what can I do to diagnose the problem. I know it's going to be cold soon and I will not need it then but I need it for the defrost.
 
Old Sep 10, 2008 | 08:04 AM
  #2  
nafango2's Avatar
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Default RE: A/C wont hold charge

maybe you overcharged it?
 
Old Sep 10, 2008 | 08:14 AM
  #3  
falkore24's Avatar
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Default RE: A/C wont hold charge

Did you look for the dye with a UV light?
 
Old Sep 10, 2008 | 12:12 PM
  #4  
TexasHonda's Avatar
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From: Katy, TX
Default RE: A/C wont hold charge

First, tell us what year/trim Accord. This will make some difference.

I think the red dye is not UV sensitive.

I've never had much luck w/ dye, but the UV-dye is supposed to be good. If the leak-down occurs rapidly, you can find underhood leakw/ a solution of soap/water (~ 50/50) sprayed on suspicious locations. Compressor shaft seal is difficult to access, so look for a ring of dirt/oil around the rotation plane of the compressor pulley. This indicates oil is being slung out of the compressor by leaking shaft seal.

If you fiind nothing and examine all potential leak locations (all connections primarily and don't forget receiver/drier sometimes under battery), you have confirmed the leak is inside the passenger cabin in the evaporator box. I have found confirming evidence of evap leakage by sniffing (refrigerant leak detector) at the evaporator drain tube. Dye evidence should show up here also.

Repair of evaporator is easy in Hondas, but does require removal of evap box from vehicle. You need a shop manual to guide this job.

good luck
 
Old Sep 10, 2008 | 02:27 PM
  #5  
falkore24's Avatar
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From: Wayne, NJ
Default RE: A/C wont hold charge

When I was an HVAC apprentice, we used UV dye that was red.
 
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