A/C leak??

[Henjan]

I took off the bottom fresh air cover on the passenger side between bottom of dash and floor at the top of the steps on 2004 Monaco dynasty. When I put the screw in the top left corner there was a hissing sound and red oily fluid came out as it kept hissing. Is that Freon or whatever they use now? Hopefully it’s just for the dash air and I don’t have to worry on getting it fixed tell spring and can still use it to go to the sunny weather for winter?
Thanks

[donr103]

Imho I would disconnect dash a/c compressor electric connection.. so you will not burn compressor up.. that way you cannot inadvertently run compressor..
Good luck and keep us posted

[Jon_C]

It would either be freon / oil from air conditioner or antifreeze from heater coil.

If it leaks a lot more with motor running and hot its antifreeze otherwise its the a/c and will blow ambient air from vents.

There is a low pressure cutoff switch on the a/c so compressor wont engage until you get it repaired.

[Henjan]

Thank you for the help. Will be an expensive repair I’m sure. Terrible place to get at where the leak is.

[code2e]

Chances are there were different length screws securing that panel. When you reinstalled it, you may have used a longer screw than was removed from that location. I would suggest removing the panel again to verify what the screw apparently punctured. Refrigerant is colorless and I have not seen red colored refrigerant oil either. It might be a dye that was installed in the A/C for leak detection.

Coolant could be red, if the screw hit heater components. If leak is coolant, you will need that plugged up before travels.

Last thing I thought of being red, is ATF fluid used for hydraulic systems. Any chance there could be a hose back there? I would want to be sure of what leaked and from where.

[shootist]

Your slide and jacks hydraulic pump is there. It can have atf in it. I would slide under the coach and check. It shouldn't be ac. The dye for ac is an ugly greenish brown that you see with a black lite. Radiator fluid could be red and is a little oily feeling but usually it's way on the orange side of red and the color is very translucent.