a/c leak

[dra95firebird]

here goes the compressor on my 3.8 is not running and once I put a can of r134a into it, it kicks back on but by the next day it is empty again I know this sounds like a leak but I put a dye kit into it but could find nothing. another thing under the cap I don't have that little o ring would that cause me to lose the entire can in one day, the guy at discound auto parts told me it wouldn't make a diffrence. I have already researched this subject but couldn't find the answer I was looking for. Thanks for your help

[Rob Bell]

You probably have a hole or a crack in some metal part somewhere, like the evaporator, where you can't see it. I'll bet you'll have to take it someplace for repairs.

[dra95firebird]

Thanks do you know about how much I would be spending

[whitefirebird96]

I have the same problem, and am in the midst of fixing it. The shop quoted me 600-800 to replace compressor, accumulator, and valve along with charging the system. I went to autozone and bought the compressor, valve, and accumulator for 193 total. I am still waiting for the shop and my days off to coincide so I can get it fixed, but I figure by buying the parts myself I saved about 300-400. But I am estimating 100-200 for repairs and charging, could be less though.

[Rob Bell]

Anything you have the shop do is going to cost a fortune. If it's just a leak then you won't need all that stuff like whitefirebird96 has. But it all depends on where the leak is. I think a lot of times the evaporator springs a leak, but I don't know what all is involved in fixing it on an f-body. On some cars you have to take the whole dash out, which has to be a nightmare. On others you can swap it out pretty easily.

If your compressor is going out then you need to have a lot of stuff replaced, because the old compressor can leave residue that will damage the new compressor.

I'd read up on A/C repairs, and then take it someplace for a diagnosis. Then decide from there if you think you can fix it yourself.

[dra95firebird]

Thanks for you help guys