924Board.org

Jaf · Joined: 08 Jun 2006 Posts: 194 Location: Oria. Spain

Hi guys. My other car (a Xantia) has a bad air con leak. She loses the gas in an hour. I've had a couple of garages look for the leak but they haven't found it. Anyone heard of a different method of leak detection than the gas sniffer machine? I was wondering if perhaps a coloured gas so the leak could actually be seen...?

Thanks!
_________________
1978 924na

agfisher · Joined: 09 May 2007 Posts: 483 Location: West Hartford, CT

I'm not sure if you can get it in Europe but my Jeep had a leak that the garage couldn't find. I saw a TV show here in the states that had a segment on this stuff:

http://www.wholesalepartsandtools.com/products/FJC_9165_Kwik_Seal_Stop_Leak_Aerosol_Can_w_Charging_Hose-706-189.html

(The segment I saw is actually on this page.)

I put this stuff in, had the garage recharge the system and it has been leak free for over a year.

Adam
_________________
1977 924 N/A Martini Edition

joejax · Posted: Tue Jul 13, 2010 9:07 am Post subject:

Hey Jaf, if they did not find the leak with a sniffer then it may be where you can't get to it or their sniffer isn't working.

We check for leaks on a system with pressure with bubble soap, a household cleaner such as 409 will work well.

Sounds like you have a sizable leak. There are ultrasonic detectors that actually "hear" the leak. I prefer bubbles first, then the electronic sniffer.

There is a dye product that can be introduced to the system, run A/C for awhile, then check for the dye stains with a "black light", the dye should glow.

We have had pretty good luck with the stop leak product in household AC units, never tried it in a car, seems like it may be worth a try but if the leak is too big it may not work.
_________________
I got nothin'
Uhhh...you got any pics?

Fifty50Plus · Posted: Tue Jul 13, 2010 10:10 am Post subject:

I have a Benz that does the same thing. I put in a can of the leak detecting dye and it poured out of my evaporator (inside the dashboard) all over the transmission and onto my driveway. You can see the greenish glowing stain from outer space. I tried two cans of stop leak in that system to no avail. Apparently there's a big O-ring seal in the Benz that goes bad.
My Chevy Pickup was losing its charge much more slowly and the stop leak fixed it.
BOL
Chuck
_________________
1979 924 NA race car H-Prod SCCA
1982 924 NA race car - Sold
1981 924 Turbo sold
1982 924 Turbo sold
1972 911 E race car - traded for Cayenne Diesel
1975 914 1.8 Building for H-Prod SCCA

Jaf · Joined: 08 Jun 2006 Posts: 194 Location: Oria. Spain

Hi guys, thanks for your replies.

I looked at the leak-stop and it says it works for leaks which take 5 or so days. So I think my leak's too rapid.

I'm glad there is leak detecting dye. Would have to be an internet purchase as I get blank looks when I ask about it here. Not sure I fancy having green gunge all over the car though...not that's she clean or anything.

I spoke to one of the garages which looked for the leak before and they said they now have the new pressure test equipment which is used with bubble soap. Maybe 4th time lucky!

Thanks.
_________________
1978 924na

ideola · Joined: 01 Oct 2004 Posts: 15550 Location: Spring Lake MI

To Chuck's point, if the leak is in the cabin, you'll need to remove the kick panel to see it. If the leak is at the evaporator, there's no way to see because it's enclosed in the plenum.
_________________
erstwhile owner of just about every 924 variant ever made