A/C not blowing cold and hissing sound coming from the center vent when turned on

Tiny
MERK6
  • MEMBER
  • 2005 CHRYSLER TOWN AND COUNTRY
  • 6 CYL
  • 2WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 150,000 MILES
Okay, A/C on my wife's van stopped working about a month ago.
It had a hissing sound coming from the center vent when turned on. I checked the low side and it was around 20 lbs. So I went and put a can in it and when I disconnected I could hear a small hissing sound. After checking found that the valve was leaking. After taking it out found it was bent so I replaced it. Was good for a few days but I noticed even when working it wasn't cold like it should have been. It was cool, but not quite right. After a few days it stopped cooling again. Blowing just fine, but not cool. I checked it again and it had dropped down about 5 lbs. Rechecked valve and seemed okay. Put more 134 in it, got it to about 45 lbs and let it go. After about 4 days (today) it has stopped blowing cold again.
More information: I have dye tested it. Could not find anything. Compressor kicking on, voltage is fine. Condenser not leaking. Here's the kicker: about 6 months ago the car was leaking into the passenger floor. Learned that this car has a design flaw where the evap core has a small drain that hardly sticks out of the firewall, so I had put an extension hose on it and it seemed to work fine. Now about a week ago she said her floor board was soaked again. Now I'm wondering if the problem all along was a leak in the evaporator. How can I test this? Not really wanting to pull the darn dash out if I can help it. Could it be clogged? Would that cause lack of A/C, or the hissing? I'm guessing leak in evap but hoping not. Thanks for reading this book. Lol.
Monday, October 7th, 2019 AT 3:51 PM

6 Replies

Tiny
STEVE W.
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  • 13,476 POSTS
Welcome back to 2CarPros. Hissing would be a good indication of a leaking core. To test without tearing it all apart go get a refrigerant sniffer, shoot in some 134A and run the sniffer around the interior vents and the case drain and I'm betting you find it has a leak in the core.
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Monday, October 7th, 2019 AT 4:38 PM
Tiny
MERK6
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That's what I was leaning toward too Steve. I guess that's what I will do. Thanks for the help.
Ronnie
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Wednesday, October 9th, 2019 AT 5:27 PM
Tiny
MERK6
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Well, last thing. Shouldn't I be hearing the hissing the whole time? If I put a can or 2 of 134 in it the hissing goes away until it gets low again. Thanks
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Wednesday, October 9th, 2019 AT 5:27 PM
Tiny
STEVE W.
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  • 13,476 POSTS
Depends on where the leak is and how it is leaking. It may be that under pressure the leak closes itself off a bit so it doesn't leak as fast until the pressure drops enough that the leak can open up. Or it's leaking into some sound deadener and it's just not heard until the pressure drops.
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Wednesday, October 9th, 2019 AT 7:28 PM
Tiny
MERK6
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Yeah, I'm thinking that is what it is. Last question and I'll leave you alone. Lol. Could this in any way affect the amount of coolant in the car, as in radiator? Car has been sucking down coolant, it is mixed 50/50, and I can still see the green of the coolant in the radiator, and I see no leaks, but I filled it last week and today put about half a gallon of water in it. It's been hot here so I'm thinking it is just the water in it evaporating. But still odd. I had to change the radiator a few months ago and haven't noticed the coolant drop until this A/C problem started. Thanks for the help and have a great night.
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Wednesday, October 9th, 2019 AT 8:18 PM
Tiny
KASEKENNY
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  • 18,907 POSTS
Hi,

I can jump in and answer that part. If this is a leak in the AC system then it will in no way effect the coolant or the level. If you still have coolant at or above the minimum line then you are find.

Please let us know if you have an issue here and if so, get a new post started with that coolant issue because we need to keep each to one issue so others can find the solutions to them. They won't find an answer to the coolant issue under this heading. Thanks

https://www.2carpros.com/questions/new
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Sunday, October 13th, 2019 AT 10:31 AM

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