Help! Could this be the answer to my AC leak?

[Scott Tahoe]

I’m trying to find a AC refrigerant leak in my 2009 Tahoe LTZ (5.3 v8). I put in some UV dye and charged with about a pound of r-134a. I was looking around with my blacklight and was happy to quickly find a leak. Went inside to do some research and found that the UV dye was leaking from the heater hose. I’m not sure why this is happening because there should not be refrigerated leaking from these line, right? There is a possibility that a while ago someone put dye in to try to find a coolant leak but I highly doubt this. Also, I did not spill UV dye on this connection. Any ideas what I should do?

 

[iamdub]

I’m trying to find a AC refrigerant leak in my 2009 Tahoe LTZ (5.3 v8). I put in some UV dye and charged with about a pound of r-134a. I was looking around with my blacklight and was happy to quickly find a leak. Went inside to do some research and found that the UV dye was leaking from the heater hose. I’m not sure why this is happening because there should not be refrigerated leaking from these line, right? There is a possibility that a while ago someone put dye in to try to find a coolant leak but I highly doubt this. Also, I did not spill UV dye on this connection. Any ideas what I should do?

There's no way. I think the blacklight is just picking up some leaked coolant residue and that was already there, maybe from a past repair. Do you have Dex-Cool or "green" coolant?

Keep looking. There are lines that run all the way to the back, along the passenger side frame rail, then go up through the floor in the corner right above the exhaust resonator, into the expansion valve and evaporator core.

Oh- welcome to TYF!

 

[Scott Tahoe]

There's no way. I think the blacklight is just picking up some leaked coolant residue and that was already there, maybe from a past repair. Do you have Dex-Cool or "green" coolant?

Keep looking. There are lines that run all the way to the back, along the passenger side frame rail, then go up through the floor in the corner right above the exhaust resonator, into the expansion valve and evaporator core.

I’ll keep looking. I thought this must be a false alarm. I appreciate the response.

 

[iamdub]

I’ll keep looking. I thought this must be a false alarm. I appreciate the response.

Sorry it wasn't so easy! Although, if you had refrigerant mixing with your coolant, you'd have a much bigger issue than a refrigerant leak! Good luck and keep us posted.

 

[Scott Tahoe]

Sorry it wasn't so easy! Although, if you had refrigerant mixing with your coolant, you'd have a much bigger issue than a refrigerant leak!

Good thing I don’t have to worry about that, haha. I’m sure I’ll be able to find it with a little more poking around.

 

[swathdiver]

I’m trying to find a AC refrigerant leak in my 2009 Tahoe LTZ (5.3 v8). I put in some UV dye and charged with about a pound of r-134a. I was looking around with my blacklight and was happy to quickly find a leak. Went inside to do some research and found that the UV dye was leaking from the heater hose. I’m not sure why this is happening because there should not be refrigerated leaking from these line, right? There is a possibility that a while ago someone put dye in to try to find a coolant leak but I highly doubt this. Also, I did not spill UV dye on this connection. Any ideas what I should do?

I think it's a false positive too. Not a fan of dyes for this reason. I like to use the sniffer. Look through the grill at the condenser connections on the left, top and bottom. My bottom one sprung a leak there about a year ago. Dealer didn't find it but the sniffer I went out and bought did!

Like Chris said, check the lines above the tail pipe too.

Electronic Refrigerant Leak Detector

Amazing deals on this Electronic Refrigerant Leak Detector at Harbor Freight. Quality tools & low prices.

www.harborfreight.com

 

[rockola1971]

You can also use your favorite dishwashing soap wixed in a spray bottle with water to find refrigerant leaks. UV dye was a great idea until the cooling fan got into the mix and blew the stuff all over the place.

First suspect your schrader valves at the low/hi ports (those plastic caps do NOT hold back pressure) then all oring connections and then condenser body and evaporator body front and back a/c units.