They filled it with dye and found a leaky schrader valve. Replaced that. Filled it back up and ac was ice cold last night. Got in this morning and noticed a odd smell, almost like chemicals. Does the stuff they fill the ac with have an odor? I turned on the ac and it felt cold but it was only 50 degrees or so this morning so hard to tell. Will have to try it again after work and see if its still cold.

 

Any update to this?

 

Sorry. Nothing yet. On vacation doing the hot rod power tour in my other car. More info to follow next week when I get home since its warm wheather again.

 

3 monthes later and they seem to finally have fixed it. After returning it the second time and getting the schrader valve replaced it lasted another week before dying. Took it back, they said must be the whole hose where the schrader valve was. $180 later we made it another week or two before dying. They said they couldnt figure it out and took it to another mechanic. He determined the seal on the front of the compressor was leaking. Replaced that about a month ago for another $350 and its still ice cold. Too bad its actually getting chilly outside and I barely need the air anymore. I have my suspicions that the schrader valve/hose prob did not need replacing and the only reason the die was showing there is because thats where they put it in, but no hard evidence. Lesson learned, not returning to the first shop for any futher work. Thanks for the help guys.

 

There is probably at least 50 different places where leaks can occur. Dye only works when the leak is where you can see the dye leaking out. The best way - an electronic leak detector - it can sniff places where you cannot see. It used to be those detectors were expensive znd nt s reliable - technology has changed that. Look on EBAY lots of them for $20-30. They are so cheap it's a good invesment before taking it to a shop or even assuming someone's wild guess accurate.

 

Glad you tracked it down finally. I had similar gremlins...my A/C system didn't leak down fast enough to notice on an overnight pressure test, but would be low on refrigerant after about a week. Even after adding dye, we couldn't find the leak. It would up being a tiny fracture in the evaporator coil. I guess that's a very, very common failure on XJs and I completely understand why that was the first suggestion made in this thread. To the OP, count your lucky stars that you didn't have to go tearing your dashboard out...