Anyone in/near Raleigh have an R134a sniffer they can lend for a few hours?

[anthrax323]

Trying to track down exactly what leaks I have in my system before planning a repair... Anyone have a sniffer they're willing to lend out/share for a few hours?

 

[anthrax323]

Just realized Harbor Freight has one for $80, but it has no reviews and very little feedback about it in general on the webs... Anyone think it's even worth a go?

 

[dave92cherokee]

Don't they sell some kind of UV additive that gets injected in the system to show where the leaks are coming from?

 

[sam24th]

Yea they sell a UV additive at pretty much any autostore. Its a lot cheaper than a sniffer. I think you need a blacklight though to see the UV additive. Not sure if they sell those at the autostores. I just know we used them at the shop in class.

 

[UNCC_99XJ]

A lot of the old UV additives you need a black light. Most of the new ones, you don't. Most of the new ones are a bright neon green color too, extremely hard to miss.

 

[devilinside13]

send me a pm and ill help you track down the leak, the sniffers are basically useless as you can breathe on them and set them off.

 

[anthrax323]

Thanks for the tips guys. Just did a UV/dye trace and found a few leaks (high pressure service port, some UV dye visible through the floor vents inside the vehicle, and a leak at a coupling of one the liquid lines connected to the condenser). Looks like I'll go ahead and replace the soft/hard lines, accumulator, and evaporator core... Should be a fun job.

I'm still pretty tempted to throw another $230 at the job and just buy a new compressor through JeepAir.com...

 

[Jamescad04]

Thanks for the tips guys. Just did a UV/dye trace and found a few leaks (high pressure service port, some UV dye visible through the floor vents inside the vehicle, and a leak at a coupling of one the liquid lines connected to the condenser). Looks like I'll go ahead and replace the soft/hard lines, accumulator, and evaporator core... Should be a fun job.

I'm still pretty tempted to throw another $230 at the job and just buy a new compressor through JeepAir.com...

I did an ac delete on mine hit me up before you buy new.

 

[anthrax323]

Thanks James - I actually just pulled the trigger on an entire new system... Compressor, condenser, evaporator, heater core, accumulator, liquid orifice tube, suction/discharge hose assembly, O-ring set, etc., from RockAuto.com.

Total damage was $502 shipped (after finding a 5% discount coupon code). Honestly, not bad if you ask me. I entertained the idea of used/second-hand parts, but decided that I never, ever, ever want to do this again and opted for brand new components.

 

[Jamescad04]

Doesn't sound bad at all, good luck to you with the job sounds like a big one.

 

[anthrax323]

Yeah, it's gonna be a blast... Gonna use a few tackle box trays and a label maker to make sure I keep things in order. Now I just need to go buy a vacuum pump and a manifold gauge set (as well as 6.1 oz of PAG oil since my compressor will not be pre-loaded).

This is gonna be so, so fun.