Air con leak - 2nd opinion

[Ian Geary]

Brief back story: 2007 swift. No air con.

Previous owner receipts show at least 3 re-gasses (didn't notice them in the paperwork at the time)

In our ownership, Kwik fit filled x 2- ac stopped after a week each time. Second time was free - after that they wanted to pass it to their master technician, so i ignored it.

This year - weatuer got hot and ignoring it became unpopular. Our local railway arch garage refilled (half the price of kwit fit fwiw), but with dye in on my request.

Empty after a week, so i brought it back for them to diagnose. They spotted a seal on the front of the condenser bright with uv. Replaced it, refilled, and we're off. Lasted 3 weeks.

Back to them again for another look and they "cured" the leak by adding a stop leak solution into it (we didn't ask for this - i was expecting them to try and find another leak but hey ho)

Anyway, it has lasted about 3 weeks as well, but is now empty again (ie ac doesn't get cold).

So, as ac helps clear moisture in autumn, i need to get a solution or the car has a limited future with us.

I get a uv torch and have a nose around myself. My question is basically what people make of these pics? And if it looks like the leak is in the condenser?


1. This is the low port. The other day it hissed slightly when I unscrewed the dust cap, but only half a second, which the internet seems to think is not untypical.



My view is the bright dye is just where they spilt it when recharging the system, as they didn't mention anything about cleaing it off or a leak there.

I will clean it with brake cleaner, but given the system is empty, I'm not sure it will achieve anything now.


2. This is the seal they replaced (top pipe to the condensor). Again, i assume the dye is from the pervious - now fixed- leak. Again I will clean it but not sure it will be much use.



3. Now, this is the side of the condenser. I can see a definite haze of uv dye, but it's nowhere near as pronounced as the dye by the seal.

But I think this has to point to a small leak? As how else would uv dye get on the outside of it? (It is definitely dye and not rust or dirt).



4. with normal light, I can see each lower corner of the condenser has a dark patch. Would this also point towards a leak of refrigerant/oil?





So ultimately it seems like a new condensor is needed.
And of course the emptying and refilling again.


Its boarderline not worth it on a £1k car, but we just put new decent tyres in it, and a car is worth more alive than dead.

If I was the previous owner I would just recharge it again and sell it....


Thanks

Ian

[Dog Biscuit]

9 time out of 10 its the condenser.

Run it up and spray some water with fairy liquid mixed in over the areas you suspect and look for bubbles

[stevemcs]

That looks like oil on the condenser from the system so most likely the condenser (it nearly always is )

[Ian Geary]

Thanks both!