A/C Leaks?

[jackndelphine]

I have just been going through all of the A/C questions on here, and there is some good stuff on here!! My question is, what are some of the common leak points on explorers? I have a 97 sport 4.0 SOHC, the A/C takes a charge, the compressor kicks on and it gets cold, but then leaks out within about 5 minutes, I don't smell freon inside the truck, so I am guessing that it is not the evaporator (and praying) so I am of course going to change the receiver/dryer cause its old, and the orifice tube, and I guess I will just go from there, hopefully I will find the leak, I noticed a bunch of rust on the R/D my truck was a beach truck, so I am hoping I have a rot hole or something to that degree. Anyway, does anyone have any advice? I currently have this truck up for sale, but everytime someone comes to look at it they say "Oh, the A/C doesent work?" And thats the last time I hear from them ha haa. Oh I also have a complete A/C system from a 95 XLT, will any of those parts work with my 97 stuff, just in case I need to "Pop N Swap" anything?

Thanks in advance for the help, Jack

 

[aldive]

Have you done a dye leak detector test?

 

[Glacier991]

Most common leak point is the accumulator. Next up is the connector on the back of the compressor, then the compressor main seal, then damage to the condensor.

 

[Glacier991]

Dye detection is not a bad way to leak check a system, but it's not foolproof. A halogen leak detector ("sniffer" is what I call em) is a far better method. A shop can leak check it for you, or these days you can buy a "sniffer" for about $75 - not a lot more than the blacklight setup for UV dye detection.