[Unowhoiis21]

Hey everyone! If somebody could help me I’d greatly appreciate it!

I bought a used 2009 Honda Odyssey and ac wasn’t cold. Rented manifold gauges from Oreily’s, and realized there was zero pressure in the system. I pulled a vaccum and let it sit but it couldn’t hold a vaccum for more than 15 minutes without starting to lose pressure. I pulled a vaccum again and immediately loaded it up with refrigerant with uv dye (compressor kicked on right away and it started feeling cool, mostly on the passenger side) and I started looking for leaks but didn’t see anything in the engine bay/any of the lines, or the compressor, or condenser. I realized that when I first would turn on my A/c I would smell refrigerant, and I’ve read that could be a sign of a leaky evaporator core (don’t know if that’s true or not.) But either way started taking the glove box apart and I realized there was no cabin air filter at all and when I got to it the evaporator was completely covered in caked on dirt and dust, some leaves, etc... But I’m confused because I didn’t see any leaks at all with with my uv light on the outside of the evaporator or expansion valve and I know it made it there because I saw dye inside the lines going to the Evaporator.

Does anyone have any other ideas of where this leak may be? I’m thinking I should forsure replace the evaporator just because of how dirty it is. But I still don’t know where my leak is.

 

[thscott]

Wow I’ve never seen an evaporator that dirty. Does your LX Odyssey have a rear air conditioning unit? perhaps your leak is at the rear evaporator.

 

[geotek]

I

Hey everyone! If somebody could help me I’d greatly appreciate it!

I bought a used 2009 Honda Odyssey and ac wasn’t cold. Rented manifold gauges from Oreily’s, and realized there was zero pressure in the system. I pulled a vaccum and let it sit but it couldn’t hold a vaccum for more than 15 minutes without starting to lose pressure. I pulled a vaccum again and immediately loaded it up with refrigerant with uv dye (compressor kicked on right away and it started feeling cool, mostly on the passenger side) and I started looking for leaks but didn’t see anything in the engine bay/any of the lines, or the compressor, or condenser. I realized that when I first would turn on my A/c I would smell refrigerant, and I’ve read that could be a sign of a leaky evaporator core (don’t know if that’s true or not.) But either way started taking the glove box apart and I realized there was no cabin air filter at all and when I got to it the evaporator was completely covered in caked on dirt and dust, some leaves, etc... But I’m confused because I didn’t see any leaks at all with with my uv light on the outside of the evaporator or expansion valve and I know it made it there because I saw dye inside the lines going to the Evaporator.

Does anyone have any other ideas of where this leak may be? I’m thinking I should forsure replace the evaporator just because of how dirty it is. But I still don’t know where my leak is.

View attachment 162574

check at the back of the condenser, the side facing the radiator. If you have a trans cooler, check behind it.
If you have rear air, there is an evaporator in the back behind the passenger side panel.
On the passenger side underneath the car there are pipes and connections that can corrode and leak. Check the schrader valves in the service valves.

 

[WiiMaster]

It is normal for some refrigerant to leak out over a long period of time, so if the 2009 was never recharged I would not be surprised.

I hope you didn't use a cheap DIY store-bought can for the refrigerant.

I believe some later LX models did not come with a cabin air filter, only the tray.

 

[nitely2]

Look for any sign of oily grimy residue along all the ac lines. If its not aluminum color, more like blackish and sticky, there is a leak close by. Its impossible to lose all that refrigerant without any sign of those oil coming out with it.

 

[Unowhoiis21]

Wow I’ve never seen an evaporator that dirty. Does your LX Odyssey have a rear air conditioning unit? perhaps your leak is at the rear evaporator.

I know, it so gross, definitely going to be replacing it have the new one coming in tomorrow.
Yes it does! I was also thinking of the same possibility I will check tomorrow as well once I’ve put the new front evaporator back in.

 

[Unowhoiis21]

I

check at the back of the condenser, the side facing the radiator. If you have a trans cooler, check behind it.
If you have rear air, there is an evaporator in the back behind the passenger side panel.
On the passenger side underneath the car there are pipes and connections that can corrode and leak. Check the schrader valves in the service valves.

Thank you so much for all the recommendations, I will check tomorrow and report back what I find out! As far as the rear evaporator is the panel you’re talking about in the trunk area on the passenger side? I saw a video of someone replacing the rear exp. valve and it was in that area, didn’t see the evaporator in his video but I assumed it would be there too.
Also would I need to put everything back together and refill with refrigerant and dye? or should I still be able to see dye that would’ve leaked about 5 days ago? I was told after it leaks out it drys and dissipates and you won’t be able to see it for more than a couple of days is that true?
thanks again!

 

[Unowhoiis21]

It is normal for some refrigerant to leak out over a long period of time, so if the 2009 was never recharged I would not be surprised.

I hope you didn't use a cheap DIY store-bought can for the refrigerant.

I believe some later LX models did not come with a cabin air filter, only the tray.

I have my suspicions it’s a bigger leak because I did refill it earlier this year in March and it completely emptied after some time. Also it wouldn’t hold vaccum at -30 for more than 10-15 minutes before starting to go down slowly.

As for refrigerant I did just use the cheapest one at Oreily’s but I made sure to use one that doesn’t have any additives or stop leak!

after seeing that evaporator I’ll definitely be putting in a cabin air filter hahaha

 

[Unowhoiis21]

Look for any sign of oily grimy residue along all the ac lines. If its not aluminum color, more like blackish and sticky, there is a leak close by. Its impossible to lose all that refrigerant without any sign of those oil coming out with it.

Okay thank you I will check closely and look at all the lines. I didn’t see any oily or grimy residue around the lines in the engine bay leading to the condenser, compressor, or into the evaporator. But I’m starting to think my leak may be towards the rear of the van because I do have rear A/c. Thanks again! I will definitely keep updating

 

[WiiMaster]

Thank you so much for all the recommendations, I will check tomorrow and report back what I find out! As far as the rear evaporator is the panel you’re talking about in the trunk area on the passenger side?

All the rear AC components are behind the quarter panel trim on the passenger side.

 

[Unowhoiis21]

All the rear AC components are behind the quarter panel trim on the passenger side.

Thank you much! Going to check it out today!
Do you know if the suv Dye I put in 5 days ago will still show up today? The system has been open for two days now. Or will I need to recharge it again?

 

[WiiMaster]

Thank you much! Going to check it out today!
Do you know if the suv Dye I put in 5 days ago will still show up today? The system has been open for two days now. Or will I need to recharge it again?

I once had my system recharged with dye in a September, and my mechanic told me to come back by a couple of months before the winter cold. So it probably can last a while.

 

[MrRangerZr1]

Hey everyone! If somebody could help me I’d greatly appreciate it!

I bought a used 2009 Honda Odyssey and ac wasn’t cold. Rented manifold gauges from Oreily’s, and realized there was zero pressure in the system. I pulled a vaccum and let it sit but it couldn’t hold a vaccum for more than 15 minutes without starting to lose pressure. I pulled a vaccum again and immediately loaded it up with refrigerant with uv dye (compressor kicked on right away and it started feeling cool, mostly on the passenger side) and I started looking for leaks but didn’t see anything in the engine bay/any of the lines, or the compressor, or condenser. I realized that when I first would turn on my A/c I would smell refrigerant, and I’ve read that could be a sign of a leaky evaporator core (don’t know if that’s true or not.) But either way started taking the glove box apart and I realized there was no cabin air filter at all and when I got to it the evaporator was completely covered in caked on dirt and dust, some leaves, etc... But I’m confused because I didn’t see any leaks at all with with my uv light on the outside of the evaporator or expansion valve and I know it made it there because I saw dye inside the lines going to the Evaporator.

Does anyone have any other ideas of where this leak may be? I’m thinking I should forsure replace the evaporator just because of how dirty it is. But I still don’t know where my leak is.

View attachment 162574

We meet again

That evaporator should be changed. Make sure you change the expansion valve too. Use OEM parts.

If you put UV dye in the system, you should be able to pin point the leak with a UV light and yellow glasses.