aircon leak

[hmang]

hi guys

my 2000 c220 cdi (202) loses enough charge from the aircon system in 3 weeks to stop it working.

I have had it repeatedly recharged and leak tested but it shows up as no leaks.

so....

where the flipping heck is the gas going ????

...any suggestions, on a postcard ..etc..etc..

 

[BlackC55]

Condensor 9/10

 

[hmang]

how do i tell ??

 

[BlackC55]

Remove the front slam panel and the 10mm bolts that hold the condensor and radiator together and split them apart.

Have a look in between them for evidence of dye. I take it they put dye in?

 

[hmang]

can you see dye with naked eye or is it some ultra violet lamp needed

 

[MIW615]

can you see dye with naked eye or is it some ultra violet lamp needed

Alternatively the repair shop should have a "sniffer" that beeps when it detects the area of the leak.

 

[BlackC55]

You can normally see the leak without a UV light but it helps if you have one.

 

[MotardMan]

Also check the ports used to fill the system. They stick open sometimes and the little caps that screw down keep the gas in for a time, but eventually, it gets out past the O rings.....

 

[hmang]

Also check the ports used to fill the system. They stick open sometimes and the little caps that screw down keep the gas in for a time, but eventually, it gets out past the O rings.....

good thinking
still searching..cheers fellas

 

[wscheffer]

Another hard to find leak area would be the evaporator since it is totally hidden and to get a visual would be as much work as to replace it.

 

[BlackC55]

Another hard to find leak area would be the evaporator since it is totally hidden and to get a visual would be as much work as to replace it.

If you look at the water drains under the car and see dye coming out the evaporator is leaking gas.

No need to remove dash to find out

 

[wscheffer]

If you look at the water drains under the car and see dye coming out the evaporator is leaking gas.

This is true unless the leak is too slow to detect it in that manner. Mine did not show up until a second shot of freon, dye and then the addition of stop leak. This allowed the system to build enough pressure to leave a nice puddle of oil out of the passenger side drain tube.

 

[hmang]

changing the ports today

 

[Glenn Smith]

hi guys

my 2000 c220 cdi (202) loses enough charge from the aircon system in 3 weeks to stop it working.

I have had it repeatedly recharged and leak tested but it shows up as no leaks.

so....

where the flipping heck is the gas going ????

...any suggestions, on a postcard ..etc..etc..

Condensors on these do not last long, 4-5yrs on mine (130000miles)

 

[hmang]

Condensors on these do not last long, 4-5yrs on mine (130000miles)

would this show up on a vacuum leak test ?

 

[Andy Wr]

would this show up on a vacuum leak test ?

A pressure rise test using a good quality vac pump and torr gauge would show that you have a leak but not identify where, nitrogen with a trace of gas would definately show the leak where ever it was.

 

[hmang]

A pressure rise test using a good quality vac pump and torr gauge would show that you have a leak but not identify where, nitrogen with a trace of gas would definately show the leak where ever it was.

i was just assuming (perhaps wrongly)that the leak test performed by the kwik fit, sucked out the contents of the system to a vacuum and then monitered that vacuum over a period of time to ascertain the integrity of the system.
maybe it's more sophisticated than that.....??

 

[Andy Wr]

i was just assuming (perhaps wrongly)that the leak test performed by the kwik fit, sucked out the contents of the system to a vacuum and then monitered that vacuum over a period of time to ascertain the integrity of the system.
maybe it's more sophisticated than that.....??

That is how they do it but it is wrong as proved many times, a system will hold a vac wth a tiny leak but get the system up to optimum operating pressure either with nitrogen or with a full gas charge and you will find the leak, Kwik Fit are a bunch of muppets who are dabbling with something they have no idea about, I would go as far as calling them a danger, they just do not know what they are doing and next year after they have spent 12 months dabbling and learning on customers cars they will put the prices up as at the moment they are the cheapest and have taken business from a lot of proper refrigeration engineers..

 

[hmang]

finally got round to change the condenser £109 GSF

she's lovely now. Keeping charge and super cool.

thanks fellas

 

[habz17]

finally got round to change the condenser £109 GSF

she's lovely now. Keeping charge and super cool.

thanks fellas

Hi,

Did you change the condensor yourself or did you have it done by someone..? Ive got a similar problem.. did you buy the condensor or was it supplied and fitted..? Thanks for your help...