Refrigerant leak in cabin?
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Refrigerant leak in cabin?
My wife was preparing to drive my 98 E430 a couple of days ago and, upon opening the door, told me that there was "smoke" in the cabin. This was before she even started the car.
I immediately investigated and could find no smoke but did find a type of a fog that dissipated very quickly with a chemical smell. Certainly not electrical or "hot" smelling. I checked everything out and could not recreate.
Yesterday, when I was driving, I got a small blast of "fog" out of the dash vents, then the AC slowly started loosing effectiveness. The onboard diagnosis indicates that refrigerant pressure is slightly low at 5 bar.
I'm assuming this is a refigerant leak and am hoping that there is something other than the evaporator that might cause refrigerant to get into the AC vents. Any ideas or experience?
I immediately investigated and could find no smoke but did find a type of a fog that dissipated very quickly with a chemical smell. Certainly not electrical or "hot" smelling. I checked everything out and could not recreate.
Yesterday, when I was driving, I got a small blast of "fog" out of the dash vents, then the AC slowly started loosing effectiveness. The onboard diagnosis indicates that refrigerant pressure is slightly low at 5 bar.
I'm assuming this is a refigerant leak and am hoping that there is something other than the evaporator that might cause refrigerant to get into the AC vents. Any ideas or experience?
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Joined: Apr 2007
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300E a couple 1994 w124wagon E320 Wagon/,1971MGB Track/Rally, MG Midget Autocross ,2000 E320 wagon.
Get the car
to an a/c shop and have them sniff it with an electronic sniffer.
Turn off the e/c button so the compressor is not running, You do not want to breathe the r134a,so open the windows,
Turn off the e/c button so the compressor is not running, You do not want to breathe the r134a,so open the windows,
Thread Starter
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I will do...was just trying to figure out if it could be anything OTHER than the evaporator...
MBWorld Fanatic!
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300E a couple 1994 w124wagon E320 Wagon/,1971MGB Track/Rally, MG Midget Autocross ,2000 E320 wagon.
?
should be is it r134a ,first.
Rule that out.If it were a leak of r134a you should be covered in oil and smeel it.Big enough to fog the car it would all leak out shortly and you would have no a/c at all today when set on low.
Coolant leak,oil on exhaust,trans fluid leak ,all are suspect after you rule out the one that can kill you by suffocation.
Rule that out.If it were a leak of r134a you should be covered in oil and smeel it.Big enough to fog the car it would all leak out shortly and you would have no a/c at all today when set on low.
Coolant leak,oil on exhaust,trans fluid leak ,all are suspect after you rule out the one that can kill you by suffocation.
