A/C Leak Testing and Repair part 1 - 95 Jeep

Soap and Water, an air compressor and manifold gauges are all you will need to find 95% of the leaks in an A/C system. The vehicle being used for this video is a 1995 Jeep Cherokee but the tests shown can be applied to any AC system.

Symptoms
- A/C blows warm air
- A/C compressor does not engage

Tests Shown
- how to determine the cause of in-op A/C compressor
- how to use a set of A/C manifold gauges
- how to locate an A/C system leak with soap and water
- how to use compressed air to find an A/C leak
- A/C line identification

Tools used
- ATD Tools 3695 Deluxe Dual Aluminum A/C Manifold Gauge Set
- FJC 6909 3.0 CFM Vacuum Pump
- FJC 9281 Vacuum Pump & Gauge Set Assortment
- Bostitch BTFP02012 6 Gallon Air Compressor 150PSI
- Meguiars M9911 Spray Bottle W/Sprayer
- Mothers 05664 California Gold Car Wash 64 oz
- Bayco NSR-2166R Multipurpose 66 Led Rechargeable Work Light - Red

Playlist
- HVAC and Cooling systems troubleshooting

Related Videos
- A/C Leak Testing and Repair part 2 - 95 Jeep
- A/C Leak Testing and Repair part 3 - 95 Jeep
- A/C clutch not engaging - 2005 Honda Odyssey
- How to test a blower motor and resistor (subscriber requested)

On ScannerDanner Premium I will bring you right into my classroom at Rosedale Technical College. You will find page for page lectures taken right from my book as well as exclusive classroom type case studies. What is so special about these classroom case studies? I pull live problem vehicles directly into my classroom and we troubleshoot them in real time, using and applying the theory and testing procedures we learn during the classroom lectures. There is no better on-line training of how to troubleshoot automotive electrical and electronics systems anywhere!

Disclaimer:
Due to factors beyond the control of ScannerDanner LLC, it cannot guarantee against unauthorized modifications of this information, or improper use of this information. ScannerDanner LLC assumes no liability for property damage or injury incurred as a result of any of the information contained in this video. ScannerDanner LLC recommends safe practices when working with power tools, automotive lifts, lifting tools, jack stands, electrical equipment, blunt instruments, chemicals, lubricants, or any other tools or equipment seen or implied in this video. Due to factors beyond the control of ScannerDanner LLC, no information contained in this video shall create any express or implied warranty or guarantee of any particular result. Any injury, damage or loss that may result from improper use of these tools, equipment, or the information contained in this video is the sole responsibility of the user and not ScannerDanner LLC.

[wyattoneable]

That's me brother, I drive older vehicles and with your help,  keep them running. Nice set of gauges. Poor Eric and flip flops. I like the air check. If we weren't here you could have found that leak in 5 minutes. Your going to be busy. Two channels, the forum and now the RV and jeep stuff. Hey, I'm all for it, but pace yourself.  :) Great information Paul, thank you.

[jonhammes]

My Cherokee cracked the clutch also. I made a low clearance puller and pulled it off, installed a used one from the junkyard. That was 100, 000 miles ago. The jeep has 380, 000 miles on it

[haywardsautomotive]

Salvage yards are like Christmas time. Looking forward to seeing you & James together...somehow you get him to do most of the work. Family is fun & spending time together is priceless!

[Mahigeer]

Watching your videos have become addictive. As a retired ASE mechanic who changed profession in 1979 and became a general and electrical contractor, I need to learn to about the new technology in the automotive industry. If for nothing else to repair my own cars. When I started learning about auto mechanics in 1967, there were breather tube on engines to dump the bypass fumes to atmosphere!
Your videos have been very informational for me. To a point that I looked into going back to school at Rosedale. However, it is not practical due to where I live (Los Angeles) and associated cost of Rosedale college.

Thanks again for taking the time to teach us.

[larryeaton]

Brilliant! Brilliant! Deduction plus reason is always the sum for problem solving! Most a/c systems are quite scary to the average shade tree mechanic. I know some pros scared to tackle what they do not understand. You have a gift PAUL! Thanks for sharing it with an old shade tree mechanic.

[Mahigeer]

Dear. Mr. Danner “we” give you grief because we love you and want you to be safe.
More importantly, you set an example for people who mostly are learning automotive repair from your videos. I would guess that most have not been introduced to the safety instructions and procedures sessions in a school setting. I saw in the Rosedale shop video that every student was wearing safety glasses. I bet school and their insurance company is enforcing that.

In this video, the hoses on the asphalt is a no-no. A very small amount of dirt can damage you’re newly repaired A/C system. You are better than doing it under a “shade tree”. Thank you for your teaching. It is a win, win situation. We learn from you while YouTube helps you make more videos.

[scubasteel]

really glad your doing A/c videos man..I'm in Texas and do at least 4 A/c jobs a week.i just started my own shop and your videos help much..thanks agian..

[NOEISY]

I FOUND the leak on a 1999 mercury villager and 2003 ford mustang using my little tire compressor that only put up 100 psi. I glue a tire Schrader valve to the yellow filler hose, it works great . THANK YOU SO MUCH for your idea ScannerDanner...

[rohrt]

Just went out and pressurized my empty AC found the leak right away. Just replced the O-ring at the condensor coupler and it seems to be holding. Great video.

[jamesrossmotors]

Had a chuckle when you had your little dig regarding you previous AC Video as you know I was one of those that commented on checking the power at the pump. But I think I also mentioned checking for power both sides of the pressure switch.
I think the essence for your inexperienced viewers is that there is more than one way to do things and different techs will take different approaches to find a problem. A jumper wire on the pressure switch wires will tell you if your clutch is working.
At the end of the day the same conclusion will be found regardless of which procedure you take first.
Concede that in this video the guages needed to be connected.
In finishing. I have stayed in this trade for 36 yrs and still enjoy fault finding and the thrill of trying different ways to find a problem.
Keep them coming Paul. You know I will be watching and look forward to making an argument in your coming videos.
Great Work

[antt]

Tech teacher as well, mobile plant though. I mostly use nitrogen for leak testing A/C because we have it but I like the use of air under the circumstances you were under. As long as a new drier goes on, no harm done.
I really respect the fact you cover your thought process as the job unfolds. There are a number of ways to skin a cat and as long as the customer gets what they pay for no harm is done. I really like your work.

[SmittySmithsonite]

If I was a bettin' man, I'd say that nut on the discharge line to the condenser is going to take all the threads with it. Maybe not, since it spent most of it's life down south, and you are "down south" from me here in MA (lol), but up here, it's pretty much a given that you're going to be replacing a condenser whenever a vehicle is that age, or if there is that kind of rust on the nut.

Got a good story for you on wasting refrigerant ...

So, I redid the system in our '93 Volvo just a couple months ago. New compressor, suction line, custom made liquid line, accumulator, & orifice tube. R12 and mineral oil. :) Get the system charged up and running - blows 37° out the vents rolling down the road on recirc with the fan on high, at 80° or so ambient. System is GREAT! Well one muggy morning I go out and fire up the system to take some humidity out of the air, when I hear, Ahh shit! A cloud of fog and oil is coming out of the cowl on the passenger side. My $30 a pound R12 going to the A/C gods in the sky. 3 pounds of it too! :( . By the time I started to run towards the house for my recovery pump, I realized I hadn't yet vacuumed my brand new recovery cylinder! Shit ... shit!! What an awful feeling watching all my money vaporize before my eyes.

My next thought was, WTF just happened??? Saw it was blasting out of the accumulator connection to the suction hose. I took the fitting apart expecting to see a mangled o-ring. Thing was mint - still covered with liquid snot (Nylog). So as I'm installing a new o-ring, just because, I just knew I was missing something. As soon as I got the nut tight, I found the problem - the hose was able to move in and out of the accumulator with the nut cranked down as far as I could without yanking the threads off, about 1/4"! WRONG ACCUMULATOR!!! Boy was I cursing up a storm after that one!

My windshield, underside of the hood, and firewall was all fluorescent yellow from the leak finder oil, lol! Still is!

What amazed me the most is, this system ran without a problem for 3 straight days! Even my Bacharach leak tester didn't pick up a single molecule leaking out of the joint! I figured something like that would leak out the instant I leak-tested the system with 134a (compressor not running, of course). That right there is a testament to Nylog. Stuff is AWESOME. Put that on all your threads and o-rings, and that system will be happy for a long, long time.

I may win Youtube's "longest comment section post in history" award now ... :D

EDIT: forgot to mention my favorite leak solution. WINDEX. It sucks as a glass cleaner, but makes a great leak finder in A/C systems and tires. :)

[ozzstars_cars]

The a/c system in my '87 Ranger is very simple to operate and maintain. There is an individual climate control system. Both passenger and driver side doors have a window crank. Turn counterclockwise to turn cooling on, clockwise to turn off. LOL Keep the vids coming Paul, always enjoy them!

[baxrok.]

Fantastic video Sir. Because of you I've become proficient at fuel pressure testing to the point where I recently diagnosed, replaced, and verified a fuel pump. Add to that evap testing and now A/C. Thank you so much for all of your efforts to share your valuable knowledge with us.

[kelvinrandolph]

Paul Danner is the best. This is my second year subscription. I am ready to join again in a few weeks.

[sKid]

Yep the milwaukee 2457 is awesome. Loving it. I have the 3/8" version but it's basically identical to the 1/4". It doesn't have the most torque in the world, but I like it because it knows when a bolt is too tight and it can't break it free so it won't jerk out of your hand but instead it'll flash its light to tell you. And at that point you just break the bolt free like a hand ratchet and spin it off. The reason I went for it is it's simply the fastest one out there at 500 rpms. I also considered the acdelco one--same price--because it has twice as much torque but it was half as fast. I choose speed because I can get things out so quick and it means a little less editing in my videos. (The milwaukee 200 lb-ft 3/8" impact driver is also the best as well--can't beat it)

[hondanation]

I been wasting money on Freon to find leaks for years! Totally didn’t know you could use air good video wish I found this channel earlier!

[timcdavis]

This was very informative. Being that I work in the Auto parts industry and we sell a lot of refrigerant to customers who just want a quick fix to their A/C problem. The information in this video will help me to help my customers not to waste money on refrigerant, and use the information above to find out why their A/C isn't working first.

[Ottonic]

Why have I not seen this video till now? It's a must watch.. Thanks Paul!

[toyotatechMDT]

I sold my snap on 3/8 14.4V and bought a Milwaukee 18v 3/8 impact with 2x 5Ah batteries, great tool and the batteries last forever! Easily a month and I work in a busy Toyota dealership. Can't recommend Milwaukee enough, got the battery ratchet on order, my colleague has one and it is worth its salt. I hate hand tools! Lazy I guess! Nice video Paul. Looking forward to some Jeep/RV stuff. Have a great weekend.