so today i finally put in a can of r-134a in my low side hose. before this i would turn on my a/c and the compressor would not turn on. While the car was running i started dispensing refrigerant in my low side and the compressor clicked and turned on and appears to be running exceptionally well. i guess if the refrigerant is low the compressor doesn't turn on, maybe this is a saftey precaution? So while recharging I noticed the level would not go past the borderline of the low/good charge level on the gauge (about 20 psi). I then turned my car off and now hear a hissng sound that i haven't heard before coming from inbetween the fan and the radiator, towards the upper left side. my car hasnt had cooling issues, so i dont think its the thermostat/waterpump. And the fact that the hissing came when i charged my system tells me its probably the refrigerant immediatley leaking out? not sure, any help would be greatly appreciated.

Side note, would this have anything to do with the fact that my raidiator is hanging by two wire hangers, and also the fact that i regularly drive at 90+mph on the highway which may have caused this unsupported radiator to violently jiggle loose and ultimatley create a leak?

TLDR; charged my A/C, now hear hissing sound inbetween raidator/fan. Engine doesnt have any cooling problems, that are known.

 

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=Mlxs30eayfM


There's a video of the noise. Kind of hard to hear but it's coming from the area that my camera focuses on.

 

What's the deal with your radiator? Is the lower radiator support rusted out or something?

As for your leak, I can't say where it is at. What you can do is get some soap solution and start coating the area. Dish washing detergent works great. You will get bubbles when you cover the leak. But there is a small catch to doing this. If the leak is very powerful, it may blow away the soap solution without making bubbles. A thicker soap solution helps in this situation.

 

I want to see pics of the lower radiator support mount.

 

I'll definatley try that and see the results. The car is definatley drivable, just seems as though the refrigerant is immediately leaking.

Ill post pictures tomorrow afternoon. It's really bad

 

You need a new condensor.

 

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=ba8acyvMkyU


It would appear that my support is non existent. And just realized my fan is hanging by wire, not the radiator...

 

How is everything still....in the car and not on the ground

 

Not sure, I would like to think that all maximas up north have the same problem

 

Well after further researching about my cooling components I've come to the conclusion that the owner before me payed a sloppy mechanic that did a half *** job of securing the fan to the the front of the radiator, as well as other components. I will most likely just change out my condenser and radiator along with it.

Question, since my refrigerant seems to be leaking immediately and it appears (I will check again) that it has no charge at all, do I have to get it evacuated safely at before I remove my condenser? Should I do it anyway as a safety precaution? Or can I just go ahead and unbolt that ****.

 

I think you have already lost all of the refrigerant along the way. No need to evacuate the system until you have the replacement parts installed and everything ready for a recharge.

Do you have access to a vacuum pump and recharging system hoses and gauges?

You may have lost some amount of compressor oil along the way.

Depending on your comfort level with AC system work, you may want to consider flushing the system, replacing the dryer, o-rings, and change the compressor's oil with the correct amount of fresh PAG100 before evacuating the system and recharging it.

 

don't drive that.
Worst I've ever seen.
It's not even there.
Get an Oem one for around $150.

 

I'm planning on properly securing the top of the radiator to the top of the frame like it's supposed to be (currently hanging by metal clothe hanger) this weekend. I would definatley replace the support but I don't have that kind of money atm...(quoted 900-1000)

A Mexican told me he could reinforce it for 500 and I said reinforce what? There's nothing there!!!