# 2009 Subaru Forester - 3 Recharges

**URL:** <https://community.cartalk.com/t/2009-subaru-forester-3-recharges/168159>\
**Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\
**Tags:** subaru\
**Created:** [August 1, 2020, 11:41pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2009-subaru-forester-3-recharges/168159 "2020-08-01T23:41:46Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 6\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![SUBIENO](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a87d85/32.png) [@SUBIENO](https://community.cartalk.com/u/SUBIENO)\
**Post date:** [August 1, 2020, 11:41pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2009-subaru-forester-3-recharges/168159/1 "2020-08-01T23:41:46Z")

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A/C STARTED BLOWING HOT, LOST ALL REFRIGERANT AFTER RECHARGED 3 TIME. A/C refrigerant just doesn’t disappear for no reason.

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**Author:** ![Tester](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/tester/32/15976_2.png) [@Tester](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Tester)\
**Post date:** [August 2, 2020, 12:09am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2009-subaru-forester-3-recharges/168159/2 "2020-08-02T00:09:41Z")

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Find the leak!

Tester

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**Author:** ![ok4450](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/e9bcb4/32.png) [@ok4450](https://community.cartalk.com/u/ok4450)\
**Post date:** [August 2, 2020, 12:44am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2009-subaru-forester-3-recharges/168159/3 "2020-08-02T00:44:20Z")

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A car A/C is not a sealed unit like a central home A/C. There are a dozen or so places where refrigerant can leak on a car so yes it can and does disappear for a good reason. A leak, or plural of that.

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**Author:** ![SteveCBT](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/stevecbt/32/3192_2.png) [@SteveCBT](https://community.cartalk.com/u/SteveCBT)\
**Post date:** [August 2, 2020, 2:14am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2009-subaru-forester-3-recharges/168159/4 "2020-08-02T02:14:55Z")

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Have a competent AC shop find the leak with dye. If they can’t find it in the engine compartment the leak is under the dash. The cost to find and fix an under dash leak is probably more than your Forester is worth. If this car is reliable and rust free you can balance the cost of repair vs a new to you vehicle. The straw that broke the camels back on my daughters 15 year old Skylark was an under dash AC leak. She bought a new car and someone who was OK without AC got a reliable cheap daily driver.

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**Author:** ![Tester](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/tester/32/15976_2.png) [@Tester](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Tester)\
**Post date:** [August 2, 2020, 3:20am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2009-subaru-forester-3-recharges/168159/5 "2020-08-02T03:20:10Z")

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> [@SteveCBT](#):
>
> Have a competent AC shop find the leak with dye.

Nobody uses a dye anymore to locate AC leaks.

> **[Electronic Refrigerant Leak Detector](https://www.harborfreight.com/electronic-freon-and-halogen-leak-detector-92514.html)**
>
> Amazing deals on this Electronic Refrigerant Leak Detector at Harbor Freight. Quality tools & low prices.

Tester

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**Author:** ![circuitsmith](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/circuitsmith/32/40376_2.png) [@circuitsmith](https://community.cartalk.com/u/circuitsmith)\
**Post date:** [August 2, 2020, 4:42pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2009-subaru-forester-3-recharges/168159/6 "2020-08-02T16:42:03Z")

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> [@SteveCBT](#):
>
> The cost to find and fix an under dash leak is probably more than your Forester is worth.

In that case there is an alternative:

 ![](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/original/3X/0/1/019052e10cc7c78913917275c381d94b65370eed.jpeg)