AboutCandido Figueroa Expertise Most questions on automotive air conditioning service and repairs.
Experience Completed Education in 1984 and started my own business in 1987. Have owned and operated an automotive air conditioning reapair shop in South Florida since 1987.
Organizations Mobile Air Conditioning Society International Since 1992
Education/Credentials Miami Lakes Technical Education center 1984
Question I brought my 2006 Dodge Grand Caravan SXT in for repair with the A/C blowing warm. (43K miles). $125 later they said they added dye and a pound of "Freon" and didn't see any leaks but said it must have a leak in the front evaporator ($1200 to repair). I didn't get repaired but it worked well for about 2 weeks. (I felt it may have been just low freon level after 3 years rather than a significant leak)
The first day the temp hit 95+, I started the car. It idled for a minute or two and I heard strange hissing sound. At the back, a very large bright green puddle of dye and oil (about 2 foot circle) appeared and the AC had stopped working. I brought in and now they said "AH HA, We found the leak." It will now cost over $2000 to repair.
It appears to me that they packed the system with too much dye & oil and, for some unknown reason, no safety valves or sensors worked and over pressure blew out the seals at the connections. (How likely are 2 evaporator failures to occur at the same time!)
Is there some other explanation on how both the front and the back evaporators would suddenly develop a catastrophic leak shortly after being checked out by the AC experts?
Is it likely that both evaporators failed at the same time, without some "help"?
Are there seals (o-rings) that could have blown due to overpressure that can be more easily (and cheaply) replaced rather than all the parts?
Answer Hi David
There is nothing they could have done to make an evaporator blow like that. The only thing I can tell you is that where ever you saw the pool of green oil you have the leak. Not sure where you say you saw the pool of oil. If it is in the rear just change the rear one. Take it to an other shop and get an estimate. See if you can find a specialist in your area. good luck
