I didn't know where else to post this, so if it is misplaced I am apologizing ahead of time.

So my '99 Maxima has an issue with the A/C. Specifically, the frion tank leaks, making my A/C little more than a fan. Actually, that is all it is now. The dealership that services the car has found the leak, but apparently it will cost over $1,000 to fix it. My question is, how easy of a fix is that? I know where the tank is, but removing it short of moving the engine is beyond me, if it can even be removed. (My car tech know-how is a little lacking.)

 

What exactly is leaking(not sure what you mean by "frion tank"), BUT If you know where the leak it get the faulty part yourself and get a reputable shop to vacuum the system swap the part and recharge and boom your done. Dealer will overcharge on everything I wouldn't get work done there.

 

From what I have been told, Frion is the liquid that chills the air for the A/C unit. So the Frion tank is what holds the Frion. But alright I can try that.

 

Well you have 2 heat exchangers( ac condensor and evaporator), the compressor and various ac lines(rubber hoses and aluminum/steel lines) nothing is referred to as the "frion tank" the Freon(correct spelling) cycles through this system and if you went to the dealer and got it diagnosed then you should have been given a write-up of the issues and it should clearly state the appropriate part that is faulty. good luck

 

Most auto parts carry a 1,1,1,2-Tetrafluoroethane leak detector kit, which consists of a can of 1,1,1,2-Tetrafluoroethane dyed with UV ink and a UV light source, all for about $40~$50. You add this special 1,1,1,2-Tetrafluoroethane to the AC system and it gives the AC lines enough 1,1,1,2-Tetrafluoroethane so that the system will turn on (if your low on 1,1,1,2-Tetrafluoroethane the AC system will not turn on). Once it turns on and cycles thru you can use the UV light source to see the leaks.

Now if the dealership already did this to your AC you might get lucky and see their dye left behind then replace those leaky parts yourself. There are several parts to the system, the compressor is attached to the engine and belt driven, then it goes to the AC condenser core which looks like a radiator, then it goes into a metal can near the battery that is the AC filter/drier and this can also houses the pressure sensor, then a long metal line snakes thru the engine bay up to the firewall and into the passenger side, then it goes to the AC evaporator which gives the HVAC system cool air, then the 1,1,1,2-Tetrafluoroethane goes back to the compressor to start the cycle again.

I had several slow leaks in the AC system which took a while to fix, but it only cost me about $300 in parts and 1,1,1,2-Tetrafluoroethane. The dye is an amazing tool to find pin hole sized leaks. I ended up having to replace the evaporator core because there was a small crack in one of the pipes (got a used one from a junkyard) and replacing some of the gaskets in the system. Now the system holds 1,1,1,2-Tetrafluoroethane all year long with no leaks.

 

To be technically correct, it hasn't been freon for decades...it's R-134a

 

this is tru lol R-134a aka refrigerant

 

and R134a in chemistry is called 1,1,1,2-Tetrafluoroethane.

I will edit it for you.