What to Do If the Car Air Conditioning Leaks Refrigerant but the Leak Can't Be Found?
3 Answers
How to confirm if the car air conditioning is leaking refrigerant? Generally, if the cooling effect of the compressor is not as good as before, it can be judged that there is a refrigerant leak. If you can hear the sound of refrigerant leaking, the refrigerant will leak out instantly. Therefore, it is necessary to go to a professional car air conditioning repair shop to check for leaks. After detecting the leak, use welding to repair cracks or pinholes in the air conditioning pipes. If the air conditioning pipe cannot be repaired, replace it with a new one. After confirming that the repaired air conditioning pipe no longer leaks, perform vacuum exhaust, which means removing the gas and moisture from the air conditioning pipeline. After vacuum exhaust of the air conditioning pipeline, add refrigerant again, and the air conditioning can return to normal use. Adding refrigerant requires professional handling.
With over 20 years of car repair experience, I've encountered many cases where the car's AC system leaks refrigerant but the source can't be found. The key is systematic troubleshooting step by step. Start with the simplest method - spray soapy water on pipe joints, compressor and other common leakage points to check for bubbles. If there's no reaction, then use UV light to detect fluorescent dye - this method works particularly well for micro-leaks. I recommend buying a UV leak detection kit from auto parts stores, it only costs a few dozen yuan and isn't expensive. If you still can't find it, there might be hidden cracks in the evaporator. It's best not to randomly add refrigerant, as it will leak faster and harm the environment. I suggest going directly to a professional shop to use electronic detectors - their more advanced equipment can locate hidden leaks. Remember to maintain the AC system regularly, especially for older cars where pipe aging poses greater risks. Checking refrigerant pressure every two years can prevent major leaks. For safety, if you notice AC leakage while driving, turn it off to avoid affecting operation or inhaling harmful gases.
As an average car owner, I was really stressed out last month when my A/C was leaking refrigerant, and the repair shop couldn't find the leak. I'd like to share my experience: Initially, I tried applying soapy water to the pipes but found nothing. Online searches suggested the evaporator might be hiding the leak, but dismantling the interior trim seemed too troublesome. I then borrowed an electronic leak detector from a nearby auto parts store to try myself, but still couldn't fix it. In the end, I spent some money to get it resolved at the dealership—they used a high-pressure tester to locate a tiny crack. My advice is, if DIY isn't working, seek professional help early. Don't delay like I did, leaving the A/C ineffective for so long—driving in summer heat was unbearable. Also, don't just randomly top up refrigerant when there's a leak; it could pose safety hazards or cause overcharging pollution. Pay attention to unusual noises when running the A/C and get it checked immediately. A money-saving tip is to regularly clean the cabin air filter to reduce corrosion.
