AC Failure at 116K miles
07-29-2014, 05:08 PM
#1
Out Of Control!!
Thread Starter
AC Failure at 116K miles
Waiting to hear back what they find, but the recharge lasted less than a month (Was about 1/2 filled then) and now is near empty.
When they recharged it they put in UV dye, so first thing tomorrow when a lift opens up they will start looking for the leak.
Given it lost a full charge in a month and that included a 2000 mile trip, it (hopefully) will be easy to find the leak.
I am hoping for either;
a) a Schrader valve or easy to get to seal.
or
b) The compressor (since I have a warranty)
Who has had an AC failure and what has it been?
When they recharged it they put in UV dye, so first thing tomorrow when a lift opens up they will start looking for the leak.
Given it lost a full charge in a month and that included a 2000 mile trip, it (hopefully) will be easy to find the leak.
I am hoping for either;
a) a Schrader valve or easy to get to seal.
or
b) The compressor (since I have a warranty)
Who has had an AC failure and what has it been?
07-30-2014, 12:34 AM
#2
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Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: Chicago, IL
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2015 - GL 550
I too had an Rear AC failure in March at 89000 miles mine is 2007 GL, at first I was like what the heck oil at left rear tire, was very confused how oil can leak out at left rear, then I took the pictures and took it to my Indy he did a inspection and said Rear AC Lines leaked out....
And said had to install AC lines parts are cheap like 3-450 something like that but labor is expensive as it is 5-7 hrs job thats what I paid for, overall job costed me around $1100 - 1300 I guess.
They did had to recharge the gas put the UV Dye, so far so good AC is been chilling big time better than before though....
Note :- When I start the AC after starting the car, I hear a vacuum sound like noise for 2- 3 minutes which makes me feel like AC Freon is rotating around pipes...
And also just FYI don't switch on your AC as your AC Compressor might get shot if you are running low on Freon.
And said had to install AC lines parts are cheap like 3-450 something like that but labor is expensive as it is 5-7 hrs job thats what I paid for, overall job costed me around $1100 - 1300 I guess.
They did had to recharge the gas put the UV Dye, so far so good AC is been chilling big time better than before though....
Note :- When I start the AC after starting the car, I hear a vacuum sound like noise for 2- 3 minutes which makes me feel like AC Freon is rotating around pipes...
And also just FYI don't switch on your AC as your AC Compressor might get shot if you are running low on Freon.
07-30-2014, 08:36 AM
#3
Out Of Control!!
Thread Starter
As soon as the AC is low on pressure the compressor won't kick on. MBs have low and high pressure cut-out safety switches.
Waiting for the call . . . . . . . . . .
EDIT:
And I got the call. . . . . .
No signs of dye anywhere! Vacuumed down and refilled with a new shot of dye (and it was very empty), and it is working like a champ.
Rechecked the evaporator drains to see if the water would bring out any dye, and no luck.
So another 2 to 4 weeks of wait and see!
Waiting for the call . . . . . . . . . .
EDIT:
And I got the call. . . . . .
No signs of dye anywhere! Vacuumed down and refilled with a new shot of dye (and it was very empty), and it is working like a champ.
Rechecked the evaporator drains to see if the water would bring out any dye, and no luck.
So another 2 to 4 weeks of wait and see!
Last edited by N_Jay; 07-30-2014 at 10:39 AM.
08-20-2014, 01:48 PM
#4
Out Of Control!!
Thread Starter
Getting ready for a camping weekend.
I just know the AC is going to work right up to the moment we leave.
fingers crossed.
I just know the AC is going to work right up to the moment we leave.
fingers crossed.
08-26-2014, 02:54 PM
#5
Senior Member
Here's my thought. Compressor is probably good, since a recharge is (temporarily) fixing your problem. It's likely leaking at a switch or a fitting.
I've never worked on the A/C in my GL (too new I hope) but I've worked on BMW's and Chevy's. On the Chevy it was a leaking switch followed by the compressor several years later. On the BMW it was a fitting.
I bought a set of gauges and a vacuum from Harbor Freight and fixed them both for the cost of parts, which was cheap. In both cases the dye helped but wasn't a panacea. If the leak is anywhere near the engine fan it can end up everywhere, which is what happened in the Chevy. Then you wash down the engine and start over again.
I've never worked on the A/C in my GL (too new I hope) but I've worked on BMW's and Chevy's. On the Chevy it was a leaking switch followed by the compressor several years later. On the BMW it was a fitting.
I bought a set of gauges and a vacuum from Harbor Freight and fixed them both for the cost of parts, which was cheap. In both cases the dye helped but wasn't a panacea. If the leak is anywhere near the engine fan it can end up everywhere, which is what happened in the Chevy. Then you wash down the engine and start over again.
08-26-2014, 03:43 PM
#6
Out Of Control!!
Thread Starter
Here's my thought. Compressor is probably good, since a recharge is (temporarily) fixing your problem. It's likely leaking at a switch or a fitting.
I've never worked on the A/C in my GL (too new I hope) but I've worked on BMW's and Chevy's. On the Chevy it was a leaking switch followed by the compressor several years later. On the BMW it was a fitting.
I bought a set of gauges and a vacuum from Harbor Freight and fixed them both for the cost of parts, which was cheap. In both cases the dye helped but wasn't a panacea. If the leak is anywhere near the engine fan it can end up everywhere, which is what happened in the Chevy. Then you wash down the engine and start over again.
I've never worked on the A/C in my GL (too new I hope) but I've worked on BMW's and Chevy's. On the Chevy it was a leaking switch followed by the compressor several years later. On the BMW it was a fitting.
I bought a set of gauges and a vacuum from Harbor Freight and fixed them both for the cost of parts, which was cheap. In both cases the dye helped but wasn't a panacea. If the leak is anywhere near the engine fan it can end up everywhere, which is what happened in the Chevy. Then you wash down the engine and start over again.
Most probably a fitting, but where.
It is not a problem with dye splattered everywhere, but rather no dye showing at all.
One of the issues is that the car sits a lot, so a slow leak may not be wet enough with oil to show up. I ran it a good bit this past weekend (AC working fine) and will have another few hours on it in a couple of weeks. (Hoping the AC works then, and fails soon after to help find the leak.
If not, then I have to weight the choice between tearing apart the car to redo all the seals or just keep topping up every so often. (Weird that it lost a LOT of Freon in a short time after the first fill.)
Was so hoping it was the compressor, easy fix and warranty coverage.
