A/C Not Working - How do I find the leak? 2004 A4

[ExtremeSi]

So my wife's 2004 A4 1.8T has an air conditioning leak somewhere. I know it must be a leak because I added some refrigerant using a kit I bought from Princess Auto and the A/C worked for about a week and then it stopped working again.

I've seen these kits you can add that have a UV dye in them so you can locate the leak, but I haven't been able to find any of the pressurized kits locally, only online on American websites. Anyone know where I can pick one up?

Or it might just be easier for me to take it somewhere to get it fixed, does anyone recommend a shop that specializes in this?

[G-ZUS]

Originally posted by ExtremeSi
So my wife's 2004 A4 1.8T has an air conditioning leak somewhere. I know it must be a leak because I added some refrigerant using a kit I bought from Princess Auto and the A/C worked for about a week and then it stopped working again.

I've seen these kits you can add that have a UV dye in them so you can locate the leak, but I haven't been able to find any of the pressurized kits locally, only online on American websites. Anyone know where I can pick one up?

Or it might just be easier for me to take it somewhere to get it fixed, does anyone recommend a shop that specializes in this?

Most a/c shops won't touch it if you used one of those DIY refrigerants in it, something about it contaminating their systems.

[ExtremeSi]

Originally posted by G-ZUS


Most a/c shops won't touch it if you used one of those DIY refrigerants in it, something about it contaminating their systems.

Damn. Well not sure what to do about it now.

[raceman6135]

Originally posted by ExtremeSi
I haven't been able to find any of the pressurized kits locally, only online on American websites. Anyone know where I can pick one up?

Canadian Tire sells Red Tek dye:

http://www.canadiantire.ca/en/pdp/re...-0146122p.html

I think Acklands-Grainger might as well.

In my admittedly limited experience, if you can't find an obvious reason for a leak i.e. loose fitting, hole abraded in a hose, etc., it's usually the seals in the compressor.

Sometimes you'll get lucky and see dirt sticking to the area of the leak. The oil in the system is carried by the refrigerant, so when the refrigerant leaks out, it inevitably takes some oil with it.

[ExtremeSi]

Originally posted by raceman6135


Canadian Tire sells Red Tek dye:

http://www.canadiantire.ca/en/pdp/re...-0146122p.html

I think Acklands-Grainger might as well.

In my admittedly limited experience, if you can't find an obvious reason for a leak i.e. loose fitting, hole abraded in a hose, etc., it's usually the seals in the compressor.

Sometimes you'll get lucky and see dirt sticking to the area of the leak. The oil in the system is carried by the refrigerant, so when the refrigerant leaks out, it inevitably takes some oil with it.

Oh shit thanks. I missed that at Canadian Tire somehow. I'll give it a shot.