Aircon leak

[SCUTHY2002]

I have a frustrating problem with my 2003 XJR. Basically it has got such a minor gas leak on the aircon that nobody seems to be able to trace it. If I have the system regassed it can work fine for up to 3 weeks before it loses enough gas pressure for the compressor to refuse to kick in. Unless the tiny leak can be found I can see me having the whole system replaced piece by piece!! Any ideas? Anybody know an aircon Whizz in the Midlands?? Thanks. Steve.

[ptjs1]

SCUTHY2002,

I don't know of anyone in your area apart from, obviously, David Marks.

However, one thing you could try which happened to my XJS and fooled the experts for a while is to check for a leak on the ball valve itself. If the ball just unseats itself through the tiniest bit of debris getting under the seat, you can get a slow leak. When they connect their equipment, naturally they can't find the problem. Disconnect the diagnostic pipes and off it goes again!

Just take off the plastic cap and see if you can see a tiny bubble forming around the ball seat.

Just an idea.

Good luck

Paul

[rosemary]

Years ago on an S-Type SE 1999 MY I had a gas leak under one of the retaining clips fixed to the bodywork chassis holding the alloy flow and return pipes to the cabin matrix. The clip assembly was made up of the steel clip, a rubber grommet to provide insulation between the clip and the alloy pipes, and the steel bolt in to the steel bodywork. Unfortunately a tiny distortion during assembly ( of the car during manufacture) meant that a small piece of the pipe was touching the steel clip. A leak eventually resulted. Jaguar Service couldn't find it even using the "light "gizmo they have for detecting leaks and like you it took a few weeks after a gas before it stopped working. Cost me two re-gasses before I gave up with the main dealer and went to my village garage. They found it immediately, clearly the Jag Dealer wasn't looking properly. So the moral is check the clips.

[J44EAG]

My aircon guy put a dye in the gas. A week later i took the car back and a UV detector showed the leak as a bright green stain. Aircon then fixed on the spot. Perhaps an idea that may help?

Mike

[PTR200Jag]

My aircon guy put a dye in the gas. A week later i took the car back and a UV detector showed the leak as a bright green stain. Aircon then fixed on the spot. Perhaps an idea that may help?

Mike

Yep. agree, this is the best way to find most leaks, usually joints on the pipework or aircon rad and these show up with the dye really well !!

[SCUTHY2002]

Thanks for the info and tips guys. Will let you know what happens.