Air con leak

[niva441]

My '98 W202 has started dumping Air Con refrigerant. It worked fine driving down to Le Mans, but the next morning it was dead (when it would have been really useful).

I've just had the car serviced and the specialist reckons it could be the matrix. As that requires removing the dashboard, they're quoting silly money, before they've even started to diagonse / look at the problem.

Wandering round Halford I noticed that air conditioning leak sealers are available.

My question is has anyone any experience of these air con leak sealers?

Thanks for your time.

 

[Richard Moakes]

I would seriously recommend you get it seen by someone who can perform competent diagnostics on air conditioning systems.

A vacuum test, a nitrogen pressure test, halon detectors and finally a refill using refrigerant and UV dye are all methods that can be used to locate the leak.

Simply pointing a shotgun and asking you to replace one of the most difficult and expensive parts to replace is the hallmark of someone who wants your money, and is not really interested in resolving the problem.

Avoid leak sealers, they can do more damage than good in the long run.

Good Luck,

Richard

1989 W124 300E

 

[niva441]

Thanks for the reply.

As a part of the service the A/C was charged including UV dye.

When the system was inspected after a week, there was traces of the dye in the footwells, leading the garage to think that possibly the matrix was at fault.

I'm reluctant to have the dashboard removed, in case it leads to further complications.

 

[Richard Moakes]

Hmm, doesn't sound too good then.

It could be the joints between the hoses and the evaporator matrix, but it does sound like you may have an evaporator issue.

The sure way is to point a UV light at the evaporator drain hose, if it is glowing nicely then it's pretty conclusive.

I used a halon detector on one of my cars, it lead me to believe that the matrix was leaking, when all along the condensor at the front of the car was leaking and the fan was drawing in the escaping refrigerant and making me believe it was the evaporator.

Removing a dashboard isn't always as bad as it first seems, but then again I have only done it on cars with a minimum of electrical gadgets.

Maybe best to have a word with someone like Andy Gayle or George Fraser, they know MB's and could strip the car down, and then perhaps change the matrix or subcontract that part of the job before putting it all back together.

Whatever, unless you are a spannerman yourself, this won't be cheap.

Good Luck,

Richard

 

[JonathanC]

Hi

I had a similar issue on my W124, just after I had brought it. The A?C man diagnosed the evaporator but wouldn't fix it as it requried the dash to be removed. I got a couple of quotes at £1,000 to £1,500. I phoned George Fraser who put me onto the guy he uses for A/C who quoted £700. Fortunately I mangaed to get the supplying dealer to agree to fix it but I suggest you give George Fraser a call and get the number of his man (Martin I think his name was)

Cheers

Jonathan

 

[OlafMaxwell]

I had a lot of a/c trouble with my car.

The condenser radiator on the W210 is located under a cover behind the left side wheel strut. This was a known weak point and refrigerant was leaking out through it. It took three attempts to daignose and fix the problem and from what I found out I think the first place to look is the condenser radiator. This is located in the engine compartment and not inside the car. In most cases it is possible for leaking refrigerant to be drawn into the car. The idea of removing the dash should not be thought about until everything else ghas been checked.

One other thing though, when they recharge the system they make a connection which after recharging must be completely sealed. This does sometimes fail. I would ask how was the need for recharging identified? Was it a slow loss of cooling over a long period of time or did it just happen suddenly?

 

[niva441]

Sorry should have completed the post earlier.

I got an air con specialist with freon sniifer to look at the car. He identified that the 2 pipes from the condensor were leaking.

All sorted now, for a fraction of the cost of removing the dashboard.

The specialist work around the West Kent area.
Air Con Direct
01474 832941
www.airconditioningforcars.co.uk