Another Air Con Enquiry

[Guest andy@highams]

Have been working on a 2001 Galaxy over the last week,

 

Initial a/c reclaim showed system had lost 500 out of the 750 grams charge.

 

Regassed (on four occasions now) with UV leak dye added, and within 4 hours system loses 350 - 400 grams of refridgerant.

 

No evidence of UV dye anywhere, condenser, evaporator, pipelines, compressor all appear ok.

 

Does anybody know of common areas of failure, or hidden areas that I might be missing.

 

Cheers in advance

Andy

[Velcrohead]

Have been working on a 2001 Galaxy over the last week,

 

Initial a/c reclaim showed system had lost 500 out of the 750 grams charge.

 

Regassed (on four occasions now) with UV leak dye added, and within 4 hours system loses 350 - 400 grams of refridgerant.

 

No evidence of UV dye anywhere, condenser, evaporator, pipelines, compressor all appear ok.

 

Does anybody know of common areas of failure, or hidden areas that I might be missing.

 

Cheers in advance

Andy

All of what you have quoted are common areas for fault on the air con on these.

When you say you have added UV dye, have you actually checked with a UV lamp for leaks?

Maybe an obvious question but its not clear from your question.

[Masked Marauder]

Well the leak must be in the evaporator then, as it is all boxed in you won't see the dye.

 

Methinks a sniff test of the air ducts is required.

[Velcrohead]

Andy, Are you in the air con trade?, If not I have a leak sniffer you can use, If you are not miles and miles away of course.

[shefki]

I've had a problem with my Galaxy since june.

 

Loses 500g of gas within 24hrs of regas yet will stay under pressure with 250g in for a long time after.

 

I've had the expansion valve re-sealed because it showed signs of a leak.. b'stard to get to too... and still the same problem.

 

Now all seems OK, sniffer says there is no evap leak

 

BUT

 

We have now traced the leak to the blind side of the condenser (against the main rad) by running the aircon for a few moments and then shutting the engine down and sniffing in still air.

 

Looks like a new condenser job so may not renew until next spring.

[Andrew T]

 

Looks like a new condenser job so may not renew until next spring.

If you do this make sure the compressor is still used regularly (and it may choose to shut itself off if it detects low gas) or you may have to replace that as well next spring.

 

I speak from the exprerience of the previous owner of our Galaxy ended up spending well over a grand on repairs.

[HJT]

I agree. Leaving it can cause more problems. Mine cost

[Guest andy@highams]

Thanks to all - yes have checked with UV lamp and sniffer, and nothing to show for it sadly.

 

Will recheck around condenser / drier, paying attention to areas highlighted by yourselves.

 

Cheers

Andy

[MrT]

I seem to have exactly the same problem at the moment. Recharge the gas and it works perfectly for around two days then the performance starts to drop off again. No sign of any UV dye leaks to me, so it is going to be examined again next week and have a sniffer test. It could well be between the radiators or in one of the places where the pipes are not visible. The pipes do look rather vulnerable running virtually the whole length of the car underneath. I have had the grill off and the condensor bung out and looked at the top of the condensor and there is no dye there.

 

The UV dye they have used has an unpleasant smell and I would notice it if it were coming through the air vents.

[Guest metalmickey]

Just found a leak on mine, it is at a connection behind the osf wheel near the chassis rail. It is on the steel(?) pipes that run along there.

 

I noticed the oil first and didn't follow the pipes hence I didn't realise it was for the AC, so I have left it leaking for about 2 years ( and two refils where no leak was found under vacuum!).

 

So, it might be worth a look.

 

Hope you find it.

 

Chris

[Velcrohead]

Just found a leak on mine, it is at a connection behind the osf wheel near the chassis rail. It is on the steel(?) pipes that run along there.

 

I noticed the oil first and didn't follow the pipes hence I didn't realise it was for the AC, so I have left it leaking for about 2 years ( and two refils where no leak was found under vacuum!).

 

So, it might be worth a look.

 

Hope you find it.

 

Chris

It is really best to use OFN (oxygen free nitrogen) to leak test, the problem you get with checking with a vacuum is that the vacuum itself can pull any leaking joints together.

[MrT]

How does the nitrogen test work? I would wonder how you would detect leaking nitrogen as air is about 80% nitrogen, is something added to it?

[Guest Dunny]

Soap solution on the joints and look for bubbles. Its not the most scientific method of looking for leaks :lol: