a/c leak & problem

[Ted]

I've been forgetting to ask this but the begining of this summer when i turned on my a/c it made a really weird noise at idle and sounded like it was dying. So i stopped using the a/c all summer. It would take longer to cool. So this week i notice when i start my car it sounds like air is leaking by the passenger side back there some where. I don't know where it is coming from and i barely know much about a/cs. When i turn on the a/c now it doesn't do nothing but blow hot air out. How should I go about fixing the problem? I know i have to find the leak but where would be the most common place to look. And how hard is it to take the a/c out or anything like that if i have to?

[rockotman]

GM AC units are prone to leaks at two places - at the aluminum couplings that screw the lines to the lines coming out of the condensor (the radiator-like assembly that sits in front of your radiator), and the seal at the connection of the inlet and outlet lines at the compressor.

Another thing to check is the condensor itself for damage - sometimes road trash can put a small hole in the somewhat fragile aluminum, rendering it useless. But from what youdescribe as a slow degradation of performance, it sound more like one of the connections mentioned in the first paragraph failing.

Chekc the connection to see if any of them are loose. If you find that one is loose, you may be able to get by with just a recharge.

If you don't find a loose connection, there is still hope... If you are willing to invest ~$15, AutoZone carries a leak detector/sealant/lubricant kit that will work on your car. It may be worth a shot - I have a coworker that used in on his 94 Camaro, and it restored his AC after three years of not working. You may also want to pick up an extra can of R134 (about $5) in case the repair kit does not add enough charge.

[Ted]

Thanks a lot for your help rockotman, im going to get on it right away.