Fluorescent Dye Usage Tips

WARNING: This page does not describe the selected car, but rather 6 other vehicles, including the 2015 Honda Crosstour, 2014 Honda Crosstour, 2013 Honda Crosstour, 2012 Honda Crosstour, and 2011 Honda Accord Crosstour. However, it is still accessible from the selected car via links, so may be relevant.

Use only Tracer-Stick single dose fluorescent dye capsules from Tracerline®. Other dyes contain solvents that may contaminate the refrigerant oil, leading to component failure.
Adding excessive amounts of dye can damage the compressor.
PAG oil is water soluble, so condensation on the evaporator core or the refrigerant lines may wash the PAG oil and fluorescent dye away from the actual leak. Condensation may also carry dye through the HVAC module drain.
After checking and repairing leaks, thoroughly clean any residual dye from the areas where leaks were found. Use GLO-AWAY dye cleaner, from Tracerline®, and hot water to remove the dye (follow the instructions on the bottle). Residual dye stains can cause misdiagnosis of any future A/C system leaks.
If any refrigerant dye contacts an exterior paint surface, remove it by doing this:
- Carefully wash the affected surfaces to remove any dirt, and to prevent paint scratching.
- Mix water and isopropyl alcohol in a 50/50 mixture. Soak a soft 100 percent cotton towel with the water/alcohol mixture, and place the cloth on the affected areas to remove the dye.
- After removing the dye with the water/alcohol-soaked cloth, carefully wash the affected areas, and check that there is no remaining dye.

Connect an R-134a refrigerant recovery/recycling/charging station (A) to the high-pressure service port (B) and the low-pressure service port (C), as shown, following the equipment manufacturer's instructions.

Fig 1: Locating R-134a Refrigerant Recovery/Recycling/Charging Station, High-Pressure Service Port And Low-Pressure Service Port
Courtesy of AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO., INC.
Recover refrigerant from the A/C system (see REFRIGERANT RECOVERY ), and evacuate the system (see SYSTEM EVACUATION ). If the system achieves a vacuum of approximately -93.3 kPa (-700 mmHg, -27.55 inHg) in 15 minutes, and holds the vacuum for 15 minutes, then the system does not have a leak at this time. If the system cannot achieve or hold a vacuum, continue the refrigerant leak check.
Open the high pressure valve to charge the system to the specified capacity. Select the appropriate units of measure for your refrigerant charging station.
Refrigerant Capacity:

400 to 450 g

0.40 to 0.45 kg

0.88 to 0.99 lbs

14.1 to 15.9 oz

With the engine OFF, use a halogen leak detector first to detect the leak source. Follow a continuous path in order to ensure that you will not miss any possible leaks. Test the following areas of the system for leaks:

DIAGNOSTIC PROCEDURE CHART

Possible Leak Area	Diagnostic Procedure with the Leak Detector	Notes
Service Ports	Check the service ports with the detector. If the detector "sniffs" a leak, use fluorescent dye to confirm it.	When capping the service ports, ensure that the seals on the port caps are in place, and that the caps are tight. The caps are used as the final seals in the system.
A/C Condenser	If the detector "sniffs" a leak, use fluorescent dye to confirm it.	Check for joints or connections coated with oily dust. Check for damaged and corroded areas. Check all fittings, couplings, brazed/welded areas and areas around attachment points. Move the probe slowly (1 inch/second or less), and keep it within 1/4 inch of the component being checked. This maximizes the chance of detecting a leak. If you detect a leak, blow compressed air over the area, then recheck for leaks. For large leaks, clearing the area with compressed air may help you pinpoint the leak source.
A/C Lines (Low pressure side)	Wiggle the rubber hoses when checking crimped metal ends. If the detector "sniffs" a leak, use fluorescent dye to confirm it.	Check all fittings, couplings, pressure switches, brazed/welded areas, and areas around attachment points on A/C lines and components. Check for damaged and corroded areas. Move the probe slowly (1 inch/second or less), and keep it within 1/4 inch of the component being checked. This maximizes the chance of detecting a leak.

Close the quick coupler valves, then disconnect the quick couplers from the vehicle service ports.
Attach the universal connect set, from the Optimax Jr. Leak Detection Kit, to the service valve fitting. Close the control valve (the black knob on the connect set).
Attach the charging station low pressure hose quick coupler to the service valve fitting, and open the quick coupler valve. Evacuate the connect set using the charging station vacuum pump, then close the quick coupler valve.
Detach the universal connect set, and install a Tracer-Stick® dye capsule between the connect set and the service valve fitting (see the manufacturer's instructions for more detail).
Attach the quick coupler on the universal connect set to the low pressure service port on the vehicle. Open the charging station low pressure hose quick coupler valve, but do not open the control valve.
Start the engine, and set the A/C system to maximum cooling. Open the control valve to let refrigerant and the dye enter the A/C system through the low pressure service port. Close the control valve when the Tracer-Stick® dye capsule is empty.

Run the engine and A/C system for 15 minutes to thoroughly circulate the dye. Then shut the engine off, and inspect the following areas of the system for leaks:

NOTE:

Check for leaks in a dark work area, and use the UV light and the special glasses from the leak check kit. Other UV lights may not work well with the Tracer-Stick® dye.
Small leaks may take up to 1 week of vehicle operation (with normal A/C use) to become visible.

DIAGNOSTIC PROCEDURE CHART

Possible Leak Area	Diagnostic Procedure with Fluorescent Dye
Service Ports	If a leak is found, replace the schrader valve on the service port.
A/C Lines	Use a permanent marker pen to circle the leak area. If a leak is found, remove and replace the A/C line (see A/C LINE REPLACEMENT ).
A/C Condenser	If a leak is found, remove the A/C condenser (see A/C CONDENSER REPLACEMENT ). Determine whether leak is in the A/C condenser or the receiver/dryer. Use a permanent marker pen to circle the leak area. Replace either the receiver/dryer (see RECEIVER/DRYER DESICCANT REPLACEMENT ), or the A/C condenser (see A/C CONDENSER REPLACEMENT ), depending upon which is leaking.
A/C Compressor	Check for leaks at all of the A/C compressor joints, the clutch center, the A/C compressor front housing bolts, and the scroll bolts on the back of the A/C compressor. If a leak is found, use a permanent marker pen to circle the leak area. If the A/C compressor relief valve appears to be leaking, determine whether the leak is coming from the relief valve, or the joint between the A/C compressor casing and the valve. If the leak is from the relief valve, check the A/C system pressures, and refer to the pressure test table in the A/C system test (see A/C SYSTEM TEST ). If the leak is from the casing/valve joint, replace the A/C compressor relief valve (see A/C COMPRESSOR RELIEF VALVE REPLACEMENT ). If the leak is coming from the suction hose and/or discharge hose fittings on the A/C compressor, clean the A/C fittings and replace the suction/discharge fitting O-rings. For all other A/C compressor leaks, remove and replace the A/C compressor (see A/C COMPRESSOR REPLACEMENT ).
Evaporator	Start checking for evaporator leaks by illuminating the evaporator drain tube area. If a leak is found, remove the evaporator core (see EVAPORATOR CORE REPLACEMENT ). Determine whether leak is from evaporator or expansion valve. Use permanent marker pen to circle leak area. Replace the expansion valve (see EXPANSION VALVE REPLACEMENT ), or the evaporator core (see EVAPORATOR CORE REPLACEMENT ), depending upon which is leaking.