Print

Please login or register.
1 Hour 1 Day 1 Week 1 Month Forever
Login with username, password and session length

[Andy B]

 ...... again!
So .... where are the usual suspect areas for a loss of refrigerant? Condensor? Pipework? Compressor? I know it's a bit like asking, how long is a piece of string, but are there any recurring problem areas. I had my car re-gassed at the end of last year, and as recent as last month all was cold in my car. Yesterday though, when the weather was particularly 'changeable' I realised that there wasn't a lot of ice cold air in the car and the accumulator(?) under the bonnet, wasn't at all cold.  
It's going back to the bloke that topped it up last time, but anyone's experience would be handy.  

[Turk]

Get it done by a place that use UV dye.
Kwik-Fleece don't use the dye and I left with mine working fine. Following day..no cold air.
Had the job re-done by an air-con specialist that use the UV dye and found that my condensor was glowing bright green. It had become porous. Very slight leak that was not picked up by the Kwik-Fleece pressure check.  

[Andy B]

I thought the dye was more or less standard.  :-/

[feeutfo]

if its got die in it your man should have the uv light and goggles to see the die escape and id the component at fault, if he cant see it try under the foil covered pipes(i think) they can hold the fluid under the foil, condensor usually favourite, radiator looking thing in front of the radiator,(nearest the bumper) remove the plastic sump cover and look from underneath if you fancy a look for something obvious, if you have to open the system change the drier as well they dont like the air in the chrystels,
drier and condensor 150 from auto vox, worth a try with a club card

guide on herefor condensor, hope helps

[Matchless]

Dye only shows up large leaks and is of limited use. Electronic leak detectors can find and localise very small leaks but need still air to work properly so need to be used in a closed workshop.....takes time to do properly so expensive.
Its most likely to be a new leak....say condenser....so take it to a specialist that can 'sniff' for it.

[Andy B]

.... condensor usually favourite, radiator looking thing in front of the radiator,........

That was the case with my Senator, you could see the oily patch in the corner of the condensor.

[Elite Pete]

Mine's taken about 7 weeks from refill to loose its refrigerant, so it looks like im in the same boat

[FRE07962128]

I thought the dye was more or less standard.  :-/

It is, apart from at the best cowboys in the trade, Kwik Fittup!
 

[Andy B]

Mine's taken about 7 weeks from refill to loose its refrigerant, so it looks like im in the same boat

Mine'll be going back a week on Monday. I'll let you know what's failed. I can do without having to  dig deep at the moment.

[Elite Pete]

Mine's taken about 7 weeks from refill to loose its refrigerant, so it looks like im in the same boat

Mine'll be going back a week on Monday. I'll let you know what's failed. I can do without having to  dig deep at the moment.

I might not bother, if I decide to get an Alfa

[Andy B]

.....
I might not bother, if I decide to get an Alfa

I thought Mrs Elite Pete has already said 'Like f@@k!'  

[Elite Pete]

.....
I might not bother, if I decide to get an Alfa

I thought Mrs Elite Pete has already said 'Like f@@k!'  

Thats to a 3.2, as im supposed to be swapping for economy purposes

[feeutfo]

.....
I might not bother, if I decide to get an Alfa

I thought Mrs Elite Pete has already said 'Like f@@k!'  

Oh God alive, please dont. Dont be drawn in by the not a petrol head til you've had an alpha thing on top gear. 147 twin spark stripped its belt 500 miles over its rescheduled schedule, all valves breaked, but we played with it anyway, special tools needed to get the aux belt pully off to change cam belt, you try getting one. Or drill a hole in the wheel arch.
Brarer is orgasmic to me tho, maybe if company car!    


.