Technical Evaporator removal?

[Jimby]

After going through pretty well all the easy things I still think the leakage on my A/C is from the evaporator my health isn't as good as it was once upon a time so it's something to fill me with dread. Is it possible to access/remove it via the plate around the TXV on the firewall?
Has anybody ever had a positive result from using a sealant? as that's going to be my next and likely final kludge to try and cheer my wife up, luckily the cuteness factor has won her over a fair bit.

 

[jrkitching]

How old is the car?

 

[Jimby]

2014 Twinair with the base A/C

 

[jrkitching]

On a 10 yr old car, if anything beyond a regas were needed, I'd likely just accept the loss of functionality.

 

[Herts Hillhopper]

...or possibly a leak o the seals at the compressor itself. (I guess that was one of the 'easy' fixes)

 

[The Panda Nut]

After going through pretty well all the easy things I still think the leakage on my A/C is from the evaporator my health isn't as good as it was once upon a time so it's something to fill me with dread. Is it possible to access/remove it via the plate around the TXV on the firewall?
Has anybody ever had a positive result from using a sealant? as that's going to be my next and likely final kludge to try and cheer my wife up, luckily the cuteness factor has won her over a fair bit.

I had an additive put in our Perodua system when a very minor leak was detected. It worked for us sealing it (pipe union) and it lasted a year before the car was sold. It still has a valid MOT and has not had a/c advisories on the MOT. I suspect if the condenser / rad is leaking it will need tp be replaced and you need to access it after the front bumper is removed. This should not be too big a job. A/C work best done by a specialist in my experience. The condensers are around £130. Gas is the expensive part.

 

[jrkitching]

and has not had a/c advisories on the MOT

A/C is not part of the MOT. The car's roadworthiness isn't affected by the A/C not working; not repairing it is a no-cost option here.

 

[Jimby]

My first suspect was the condenser, an easy job, but alas it was sound then I went for the compressor (BTW if you want to check anything back there removing the plastic panels over the wipers really helps access) but the compressor seems sound, then I saw suspicious wear on a pipe, but it checked OK, then desperate Jimby changed the expansion valve in a continuing learning exercise, again no change, the system from the TX valve holds vacuum but the bit behind the TX valve retains the same slow leak so I'm a really hoping adding the sealant (which is something I hate to do) may work, although it's annoying that I won't be able to draw down a vacuum before gassing. A younger fitter Jimby would have already pulled the dash out but I'm really quite a feared of the job now.

I'm in North Queensland among sugar cane fields so having A/C is a nice thing and I'm on the bad side of my wife for buying "Penny" with a broken one, silly Jimby thought it'd be an easy fix, wrong! We don't have yearly inspections here, only when a vehicle is sold, so that's a rort our state avoids, and yes the A/C isn't part of it.

 

[Mike1alike]

Frist thing to replace in case of AC leakage are the orings. There are some of them where pipes connect to other parts. If you pay attention, you can see the spot where refrigerant leaks, it leaves green marks around. My Punto was loosing refrigerant and after replacing the orings, I ultimately replaced the Service Valve Caps on the service/filling valves on the pipes (that goes in and out of the compressor) and that did it. No refrigerant leaks since and AC works great.
These are the ones, two of them, one on high pressure pipe, one on low pressure pipe, both M8 threaded.

https://www.amazon.de/-/en/THERMOTEC-KTT500012-Service-Valve-Cap/dp/B08K7FXPK3

Hope this helps and that you can fix it and that there's no need to replace the evaporator.