Sorry if this has been posted before...

As the title suggests, I must have a small leak in the aircon system. It fills and holds pressure but after 6-8+ weeks, an audible hiss develops behind behind the dash, more the drivers side and the aircon is no longer as cold as it was. Eventually the pressure is so low the compressor no longer engages requiring a full refill. I have had the compressor and seals replaced, a high pressure nitrogen test and a dark light test looking for leaking dye... nothing shows up a leak and its just becoming expensive. 

I noticed you can get cans of leak stopper for the aircon system and I was wondering if anyone had tried anything like that before? As its a small leak, I assume from reading online reviews it might work?

Cheers in advance! 

 

Well, I had a look myself this morning, borrowing a black light torch(?) and there is glowing green dye in a very random place (to me). 

The dye is at the front bottom right corner looking when looking at the front of the car (passengers side). I don't see any dents, bends or distortion of the fins and it's hidden behind a hardened part of the bumper where it is a good 45' off from the centre vent. It doesn't appear to be leaking down from anywhere else and is focused on the bottom corner area.

How easy is it to replace the condenser on the drive on the focus? I've done any empty one before on an old vectra, but that was a front bumper off, drop the radpack job.  

I tried leak fix, didn't work.  I then replaced the condenser on the drive, didn't work but it was a reasonably easy job tbh.  Don't need to drop the whole rad pack and unfortunately you cant do it just by removing the bumper either.  You have to jack it up high enough to have enough space underneath to get the condenser out.  Then remove the lower rad support and the grill shutter (awkward part!) while supporting the rad.  Both AC pipes unbolt on the left, and the drier stays attached on the right.  They you have to slide the condenser upwards by about an inch to push it out of it's plastic clips (I broke one by accident, they're quite brittle already!) and then it just slides straight down and out underneath.

If the system isn't yet empty, you will need to have the gas recovered by a suitable garage before attempting the job.

Sorry if this has been posted before...

As the title suggests, I must have a small leak in the aircon system. It fills and holds pressure but after 6-8+ weeks, an audible hiss develops behind behind the dash, more the drivers side and the aircon is no longer as cold as it was. Eventually the pressure is so low the compressor no longer engages requiring a full refill. I have had the compressor and seals replaced, a high pressure nitrogen test and a dark light test looking for leaking dye... nothing shows up a leak and its just becoming expensive. 

I noticed you can get cans of leak stopper for the aircon system and I was wondering if anyone had tried anything like that before? As its a small leak, I assume from reading online reviews it might work?

Cheers in advance! 

 

I had mine checked last year by Ford's  & they diagnosed compressor,  which I had fitted at non ford garage & damn garage knackered my bonnet lock ,which I had fixed but aircon leaked within few days , so I took it elsewhere  & they checked with  nitrogen  & found  out it was condensor to compressor  hose split.  I think that last garage  damaged it whilst fitting condensor.  this hose isn't cheap at £135 at dealers  . finally we have  cold Air now sfter  a year. 

yunii 

 

 

6 minutes ago, TomsFocus said:

I tried leak fix, didn't work.  I then replaced the condenser on the drive, didn't work but it was a reasonably easy job tbh.  Don't need to drop the whole rad pack and unfortunately you cant do it just by removing the bumper either.  You have to jack it up high enough to have enough space underneath to get the condenser out.  Then remove the lower rad support and the grill shutter (awkward part!) while supporting the rad.  Both AC pipes unbolt on the left, and the drier stays attached on the right.  They you have to slide the condenser upwards by about an inch to push it out of it's plastic clips (I broke one by accident, they're quite brittle already!) and then it just slides straight down and out underneath.

If the system isn't yet empty, you will need to have the gas recovered by a suitable garage before attempting the job.

Nope its not empty (Yet). I can see the fluorescent dye on the condenser, its at the front bottom right corner, the side with the air drier unit attached. So I can assume at the moment it's not leaking from a seal or a pipe and it is actually the condenser. I didn't\couldnt see dye anywhere else within the engine bay. I think it must have happened driving too close to a salt spreader on the motorway during the winter... 

The condensers seem pretty cheap new £60-100 from the usual online places. I might just bite the bullet and get a garage to do it. 

7 minutes ago, n_hudson said:

Nope its not empty (Yet). I can see the fluorescent dye on the condenser, its at the front bottom right corner, the side with the air drier unit attached. So I can assume at the moment it's not leaking from a seal or a pipe and it is actually the condenser. I didn't\couldnt see dye anywhere else within the engine bay. I think it must have happened driving too close to a salt spreader on the motorway during the winter... 

The condensers seem pretty cheap new £60-100 from the usual online places. I might just bite the bullet and get a garage to do it. 

Yeah, I think I paid less than £50 for a Nissens one for mine last year.  Probably a couple of hours labour at a garage, plus around £50 for a regas now we're in summer (I did mine in winter so regas's were cheap!).

 

Eurocarparts do German made Eis which cost me £60 with lifetime warranty.
yunii

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On ‎5‎/‎25‎/‎2019 at 9:10 AM, n_hudson said:

 there is glowing green dye in a very random place (to me). 

The dye is at the front bottom right corner looking when looking at the front of the car (passengers side). 

How easy is it to replace the condenser on the drive on the focus? I've done any empty one before on an old vectra, but that was a front bumper off, drop the radpack job.  

this is exactly where you should expect to find a leak.... the air con guys are either animals or robbing you

the gas should be recovered (illegal not to) which you can't do at home, otherwise fitting a new condenser is about as hard as doing a normal coolant radiator swap (obviously ASAP go to a specialist to vac check and fil)

i changed my condenser last year as mine had gone in the bottom right hand corner aswell. i removed the bumper to do mine its just a shame the car has that active grill shutter that makes the job a bit harder to do. as botus says above get it pressure checked and vacuumed out then get it filled up.