Looks Like It Was The Condenser

[Ogben Schmutzel]

Finally got round to trying to fix the third and possibly most expensive leak in my system. The leak had been impossible to locate and I was starting to think the worst that it could be the evaporator. It still could be I suppose but today the condenser was exposed and a leak found.

 

The leak was underneath a plastic cap on the top left hand corner (when looking from front to rear of car) of the condenser and only visible on removal of the bumper, grill and the plastic cap itself. Didn't do the job myself so haven't got any photo's of the work but have got some of the faulty condenser and location of the leak.

 

Leak seemed to be a on weld seam and could only be due to poor product rather than damage.

 

Anyway, condenser replaced and now aircon works. Lets see if it holds.

 

SEAT didn't do the job but they had said that in their experience leaks that could not be found was more often than not the condenser and that evaporator failure was in fact quite rare. They ought to spend some time on here then!

 

Photo's inabit.

 

Oggy.

 

 

 

Condenser as if looking at front of car. Leak was under a plastic cap on top left hand corner.

 

 

 

Closeup of where the leak was.

 

This corner can just about been seen through the grill so if you can't find a leak but have some leak detector gel try that area.

 

And best of luck.

Oggy.

[seatkid]

Well, well...interesting..... back in 2002, my SEAT dealer was convinced it was my evaporator, not on the evidence of dye- after 3 lots, still no leak apparent :huh: ....but "in their experience, evaporator failaure was very common." How do they fail? I asked. "Pinprick holes and split welds."

 

So after a "don't waste our time" letter from SEAT UK, I went out and bought a new evaporator from my Delphi supplier at

[MrT]

This specific area of failure in the condensor is mentioned in a Ford TSB relating to the early production runs of the Mk2 galaxy and recommends using a newer part where the design flaw has been overcome.

[raymac]

This specific area of failure in the condensor is mentioned in a Ford TSB relating to the early production runs of the Mk2 galaxy and recommends using a newer part where the design flaw has been overcome.

 

i had my condenser replaced last month and it

was leaking on the top left corner where the reciever drier is situated ,it must be a common fault on this particular part :huh: anyway still working well just need to sort out the outside recirc flap and it should stop the panel flashing :)

[MrT]

A minor point is that the panel flashes once a fault has been logged, if the fault is fixed, the panel will still flash until the fault is cleared from the log with VAG-COM. This is certainly the case for the pressure alarm and I assume the same for the recirc falp.

[jkspoff]

My condensor was replaced also last month due to leaking. It too is an early 2001 mk2 model. As regards the flashing panel is hasn't needed resetting with VAG com as once the faults were rectified it cleared itself.

[Ogben Schmutzel]

Same here!

 

During the half dozen or so regasses that this car has had the CC unit stopped flashing without a vag.com reset when the pressure was back, and started again .................................

 

Cheers.

Oggy.

[MrT]

After an alarm mine flashed on startup for about 10 seconds then went to the normal display. It would only not flash on startup after clearing the faults with VAG-COM. It has done this for both high and low pressure and also on a speed sensor fault.

 

I don't know if it makes any difference but mine is the Mk2 with dual climate control.

[raymac]

A minor point is that the panel flashes once a fault has been logged, if the fault is fixed, the panel will still flash until the fault is cleared from the log with VAG-COM. This is certainly the case for the pressure alarm and I assume the same for the recirc falp.

 

do you know where the recirc flap solenoid is fitted indeed the recirc flap itself would be nice to locate :) :D

[MrT]

I have never actually seen it, but from the sounds it makes, it appears to be at the back top of the front passengers footwell.

[MrT]

When you had your leak have you any idea how much was leaking? I have lost 100g over two weeks and that was with the air con going full belt for most of the time on a trip to France.

[gazza007]

This specific area of failure in the condensor is mentioned in a Ford TSB relating to the early production runs of the Mk2 galaxy and recommends using a newer part where the design flaw has been overcome

 

I had exactly same problem everything was replaced under warranty until i got SEAT involved & went to another dealer who replaced collector/dryer which had corroded connections to condenser.

[Andrew T]

Same thing happened to me, and I was told the same story about sub-standard components.

 

So, as Ford clearly knew there was a problem, why didn't they do a recall ? Or had they calculated that most of the failures would occur out of warranty and they wouldn't need to pick up bill ?

[MrT]

I am surprised that Ford are not open for action against them as they have internal (TSB) documents stating that this item is suspect. Maybe they are and there is a way open for some form of consumer action as goods have to be fit for purpose and have a reasonable life expectancy.

[Ogben Schmutzel]

do you know where the recirc flap solenoid is fitted indeed the recirc flap itself would be nice to locate ;)

Raymac - hope you had a nice holiday. I know you are desperate to get this sorted but you really would be better sticking to the thread that you started on this issue than asking the question on another thread.

 

Three reasons spring to mind:

 

1) It will cause confusion for anyone trying to follow what is a condenser related thread, especially if a discussion starts on your topic intermingled with discussion on the original topic.

 

2) Once a few more messages are posted no one will ever spot your 'recirc solenoid' question in a 'condenser' thread.

 

3) Thus it can be annoying to the all, but particularly the original poster who suddenly finds that their original question/issue has been lost to another question. Some refer to this as hijacking a thread.

 

No doubt there are other reasons too. Anyway no offence taken or intended on my part and I hope this is taken in the friendly way it is intended.

 

Cheers.

Oggy.

[Ogben Schmutzel]

When you had your leak have you any idea how much was leaking? I have lost 100g over two weeks and that was with the air con going full belt for most of the time on a trip to France.

I am not sure what 100g represents as a proportion of a full system, but if I recall correctly its going to be 15% or so in which case that is a far smaller leak than mine. I can't be sure but mine always seemed to finally pack up cooling on hot days. Maybe just coincidence or when the condenser is hotter or something, I really don't know. Anyway initially after the first gas loss in Sept last year it lasted all winter then the first warmish day in 2006 it went!! After that and recharging during warmish weather it lasted about a week.

 

Sounds like your leak is much smaller than mine and I would be tempted to keep going with the top cans until it gets worse and easier to identify. You could try some of the leak detector sprays but they only work if you can access and see the point of the leak so you can see the bubbles!

 

Regarding my condenser I am pretty sure that it had already been replaced at least once as the mod had been carried out that allowed access through the front of the car.

 

Regards.

Oggy.

[Masked Marauder]

Oggy, you do realise where yours was leaking from is the dryer and it comes with a new seal, you do not need a new condenser?

[Ogben Schmutzel]

Ummmm no!

 

Anyway its done now, and as I only paid

[Masked Marauder]

Where was the leak from, inside the round bit? I guess not or the aircon guy would have know that!

 

A dryer is

[Ogben Schmutzel]

Have a look at that video I emailed to you. If you let me have the link I will post it on here. Its only a camera phone but you can see the bubbles.

 

The best I can post at the moment is this close up. The leak was at about 7 o

[Masked Marauder]

I replied to your email with the link chap, in case you did not get it it is http://www.bigtrucker.co.uk/files/20072006.3gp

 

That is the drier housing in the picture with the green liquid, the metal top comes off and the drier cartridge pulls out. There are two seals in there and the replacement come with them included. A drier is

[jkspoff]

Am I right in thinking then, that a new condensor comes with a new dryer cartridge installed ?

[Masked Marauder]

Yes you are.

[Ogben Schmutzel]

I replied to your email with the link chap, in case you did not get it it is .......

 

No email received yet MM!!

 

Anyway thanks for the link, I won't bother to post given that its already there now. It seems that for some reason my mate decided to go with the condenser and drier even though maybe it only the drier, but to be honest I'm not going to get too excited about it. The time and money that has been spent on this I don't mind eliminating another major component. For the time being at least.

 

FYI, and I realise this is my problem not yours, clicking the link tries to run the video in Apple QuickTime with Internet Explorer and it hangs the browser session. If I download it plays in Real Player just fine.

 

Thanks for you contribution. I'm livin and learnin - at a price.

 

Cheers.

Oggy.