UV light isn't much good for leak in condenser and evaporator due to access. Sniffer would work better. You could get a shop to leak detect then fix yourself. Why don't you pressurize the system with about 60-80psi compressed air and use soap solution?




This may work?? http://www.es-refrigerants.com/products/...;&Trying=ON

But you're always better to fix the leak. When I converted my system from R12 to Enviro-Safe I replaced all the tubing o-rings and compressor shaft seal(where the leak was). For piece of mind I also replaced expansion valve and it's o-rings since the system was 17 years old. I didn't want to constantly troubleshoot leaks.

Yes, and $100 for the gauges. And to add to that the yellow charging/vacuum hose that I was loaned had crap in it (or the "1st charge can" had froze) so that throw the whole test out of whack. Luckily a nieghbor that works at O'Reilly's came over to help and we put almost 800 grams of refrigerant in it and the air still wasn't blowing cold. He thinks it could be the compressor not turning/grabbing the pulley. I'll tear into it later today and see what we can find.

A day or two after my neighbor got some refrigerant into the system I tried my ac and it blew cold air, I thought it was great till I looked at the glass piece on the high pressure side and it was red and bubbly. NOT GOOD! <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/scared.gif" alt="" /> I figure some rust inside. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/barf.gif" alt="" /> I knew I should have stopped the guy from doing it cause I knew something was wrong. And he turned the can upside down too! He used his own/longer charging hose to fill it cause the loaned manifold lines from Autozone must have had crap in them cause they weren't filling. This is very depressing cause I just read about flushing a system, sounds very time consuming. And time is what I don't have.

That red in the sight glass might just be dye AND air. Some leak detection dyes look pretty weird when they're running past the sight glass and not leaking out of the system,yet[ <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/drunk.gif" alt="" />]
If it IS rust, then you're in for some major work.
Find out if the Freon that was used to charge your system has ANY type of dye in it to aid in finding leaks.
We'd love to know the pressure gauge readings while the system is running, and yes, depends on type of freon in system and ambient temp. that you're running with at the time the set is hooked up to the vehicle, but it's still important info to have to help you with any needed diagnoses.

I geuss the prior owner could have tried finding a leak with the dye and while I was vacuuming it out it never came out. The two cans that were put in are gone already with the recycling truck but I'm almost positive they were straight R-134a cause I still have the "1st charge" can with the dye, leak stop, and oil.

By they way I found out I wasn't doing the leak test right, after that it held negative pressure for ten minutes.

Anyways I'm not sure what to do from here. If I fill till the bubbles stop and tint my windows I'll be a happy camper till I need to charge it again, if needed. Or worse case, the compressor dies. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" />

Being this is the first time working on AC I feel that I should have to do more, so should I purge the system and start over with new/unused gauges, vacuum, fill and see if the red shows again. Or am I just over thinking it.

My Gen 1 had been setting for 6 yrs. Still had a little R-12 in it.. So I removed it ( the approved way).Pulled a vacuum on it for 2 hrs.Let it set for 1 hr w/ no change in vacuum. Then put in the 134-a.Picked up the 3 can kit w/ charging hose from Advance auto. The instructions stated to put in 80% of the original R-12 charge. It's been working fine for 2 &1/2 yrs...Just for what it's worth. Good luck.