A/C Leak

[parimento1]

Last year I got into a minor accident that put a hole through the condenser. I had a new condenser installed and all was fine, it was very very cold. I put on my A/C now, after a few months had passed since the condenser was installed and it wasn't cold at all. I took it in to my mechanic and it was missing a few pounds of Freon, so obviously there is a leak. He put this fluorescent dye into the system, refilled it with Freon and said to come back in a few days to check for a leak, since it was obviously a slow leak. How does this fluorescent dye work AND do you think this new leak could be caused because fittings for the condenser may not have been tightened sufficiently or that the rubber O-rings on these fittings have worn out? The original Freon lasted for 10 years, and never had to be charged even once...a testament to the OE Toyota quality. I hope this problem will get resolved shortly

[Dave G]

The dye is invisible to the naked eye. You put on special glasses and the dye becomes visible. Whereever dye shows up that's where the leak is. DO NOT wait too long to bring the car back to the mechanic or too much dye will leak out and he won't be able to tell exactly where the leak is.

You don't say what year the car is. Did it originally have R12 or R134? If the condenser was the only thing replaced then it is likely that the leak is coming from there, Unless, there was another item damaged that you were not aware of.

The mechanic will be able to pinpoint the leak.

[parimento1]

The car is a 1997 Avalon. As far as I know the condenser was the only thing damaged and was definitely the only thing replaced, because it was a front end collision and the condenser sits right up front, in front of the radiator, so it pretty much took all the force of the collision