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Mr Persistant
P Plater
72 Posts
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 Posted - 11 Mar 2010 : 11:24:57 PM
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Well, only two months after relacing the compressor, hoses and dryer, I lost all my gas over about 1-2 weeks. 
I took it to a shop. They put the leak dye in, cause I couldn't see masses of compressor oil blasted out anywhere. They say the high pressure aluminium pipe from condensor to firewall is ruptured. Okay, fine. AND they say they can see leak detector dye coming out the evaporator/cabin drain pipe, under the car....indicating gas is leaking from the evaporator, mixing with the condensation inside the box and draining out with the water.
Itis LESS than two years since I replaced the damn evaporator, with a new one from Repco. Should be reasonable quality. I was careful. Can't recall doing anything like reefing or pushing or bending that could has lead to a problem. I DID push the temperature probe into the fins somewhat, I vaguely recall, just like the original one had been. I was gentle as I could be. Surely that didn't hole it?
ALL piping connections to the evaporator are OUTSIDE the cabin, under the windscreen, so it can't be coming from a bad connection.
My question is this - is it conceivable that a PRIOR leak test with dye when the ORIGINAL EVAPORATOR was in the car coated the evaporator/heater box with dye. And that same dye is now STILL slowly dribbling out the drain tube? The shop said you could only see the dye traces with the special tinted goggles.
I'm not sure if they were aware that this evaporator is less than two years old. I'm so stunned (I did not much enjoy doing that job)I'm even wondering if they are having a lend of me?  Times are tough and all, but I'm sure I'm being paranoid there. I hate it when I think like that.  But really, is it possible a new one could fail so soon?
I DID not bother cleaning the box much at all when I replaced the evaporator. So it seems conceivable to me that there are traces of dye left. Otherwise, evaporators are currently going cheap at Repco... no way do I have time for that in the next few months. 
And BTW, local GMH parts supplier practically laughed out loud when I asked for the high pressure aluminium pipe for the A/C going from the condensor. Said just "forget about getting AC parts for VNs now." I just want to know WTF Holden think they are doing not supporting an Aussie icon like this, AFTER they get so much govt subsidisation to make their cars of sometimes questionable value. Pipe is available from Melbourne somewhere. The shop that did the diagnosis is getting it for me. Don't know what the margin is there. Was told around $70. It's probably very reasonable.
Sometimes I just wonder why I don't buy an old Mercedes E320 or something if I'm going to be working on stuff all the time where parts are a problem. Get everything from UK and USA via the net.
Sigh. Rant mode off. Rage subsiding. Could be worse I guess. Could be living in France.. Land of govt subsidised Citroens, Renaults and Peugoets....I wanna Citroen C5 HDI wagon...one without the faults.
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Mr Persistant
P Plater
72 Posts
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Posted - 12 Mar 2010 : 11:12:55 PM
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Well, got the pipe a bit cheaper than was quoted, which was nice. Summer is gone and I'm out of spare time for this kind of thing for now, so I'm just going to forget about it for a while....feel better already.  |
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Mechknight73
National Driver
1001 Posts
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Posted - 14 Mar 2010 : 3:45:07 PM
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| There's only two things that can go wrong with an evaporator; the tiny o ring that seals it, and the integrity of the thing itself. Price often makes a difference. If you buy some cheap thingy that looks like a knockoff of the genuine part, it's an obvious problem. Usually your first culprit IS the o-rings. That's the most common cause of a/c gas leaks. |
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