Partial Loss Of Refrigerant

[Ogben Schmutzel]

Hi All,

 

Any help with really appreciated.

 

This is on a system with Climate Control.

 

Had this happen last Sept as well. Whispering noise down by the glove box, loss of cooling, no display flashing on the climate unit though. Checked by aircon machine, pressure/vacuum test etc, gas was low but otherwise no fault found. Topped up the gas, worked fine until .....

 

..... about a month ago when I had a full loss due to a fractured pipe. Climate control display flashing, complete loss of cooling

[sepulchrave]

If your high pressure cut-off switch is faulty then the climatronic display will flash at start-up. It will cut the system out if it is faulty or doing it's job properly. You won't know unless you use Vag-Com, which will show any fault.

 

Are you certain that you have lost gas?

 

I'm not going to repeat myself about seals etc. :lol:

[buford_t_justice]

The faults you describe and timeline almost mimmick the problems I've had with my air-con.

 

The order of mine was:

 

(1) Whispering noise by glovebox. Ford diagnose low pressure and regas.

 

(2) 2 weeks later, whispering noise again. Ford diagnose cracked condensor. Regas and ok.

 

(3) 4 weeks later, whispering noise again!! Ford diagnose faulty A/C Pressure Switch. Regas and ok.

 

Since then has been fine but I guess it's only a matter of time!!

[Ogben Schmutzel]

Are you certain that you have lost gas?

Sure as I can be. As somebody once said

[buford_t_justice]

As I recall the A/C Pressure switch was replaced in either January or early Feburary.

 

It was replaced under the Ford Warranty but would have cost

[Ogben Schmutzel]

Thanks,

 

BTW the diagram was posted by NikpV.

 

Apparently they put an ultra violet sensitive dye in last time so should be able to spot it! Famous last words!!

 

Cheers.

Oggy.

[Ogben Schmutzel]

Climate unit has started to flash - its no longer a partial loss!!!!!

 

This is starting to look bad. I'll keep you informed if I don't have to sell the PC!

 

Cheers.

Oggy.

[seatkid]

Climate unit has started to flash - its no longer a partial loss!!!!!

 

This is starting to look bad. I'll keep you informed if I don't have to sell the PC!

 

Cheers.

Oggy.

Slow leaks are commonly due to :-

 

Pinprick corrosion holes in the main a/c pipework under the clips holding down the pipework to the body.

 

Pinprick corrosion holes in the evaporator.

 

Both are due to bad quality control/materials/poor design.

 

BTW the whispering noise is just a symptom of low gas pressure (the gas is evaporating or "boiling" too early in the system) its not a leak....

[Ogben Schmutzel]

BTW the whispering noise is just a symptom of low gas pressure (the gas is evaporating or "boiling" too early in the system) its not a leak....

Thanks SeatKid, you have helped me with this before. I appreciate that the whispering noise is low gas and not necessarily a leak, but when it happens one month after a full recharge and service (with no fault found incidentally) it is indicative of something amiss!

 

Whether it is leak or failure of a valve or something I am hoping to find out on Friday because they put an ultraviolet dye in last time and are going to try and locate it!

 

Here's hoping, fingers crossed etc etc!!

 

Thanks for the input.

Oggy.

[Ogben Schmutzel]

The car went in to try and find the leak.

 

They could not find any UV dye anywhere so used some stuff with leak detector written to the bottle. It is some sort of sticky spray that forms big bubbles if over a leak.

 

System filled with nitrogen and all suspicious areas sprayed and lo and behold a bubble appeared right very (alarmingly) close to where the pipe work goes through the bulkhead (Near point 1. on the above diagram).

 

The technician later tried to show me the place but it was like looking into the black hole of Calcutta and I couldn