kingston73

My A/C has had a small but persistent leak for several months now. I generally need to add a small can of 134 every month or so. As long as the refrigerant level is good, it pumps out good cold air. I finally found the leak, there is bright green (r134?) beading up on the bottom, passenger side of the condenser. Is this repairable, or is it a "replace the condenser" type job?

On a possibly related note, my rad coolant is leaking from somewhere that I can't find. I haven't had any white smoke from the exhaust, and the oil is great looking. I don't think the coolant and refrigerant ever could mix, could they?

FogRunner

Don't waste your time and effort trying to fix your condenser, buy a new one for $100 on rockauto.com. Also when you go to replace your condenser you need to replace your filter drier, also available at rock auto for only $11.00.

The bright green bead you saw is oil and dye leaking out of the system. Oil in carried with the refrigerant to lubricate the compressor and when refrigerant leaks out it takes oil with it. After you replace the condenser you need to add a can of oil charge to replace the oil lost in the condenser and that leaked out with the refrigerant.

As far as the coolant leak, your water pump could be weeping but you don't see it because it evaporates before it can be seen. You can take the top cover off the timing belt and look down in there at the water pump pretty easily.