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A/C leaking. How can I detect? S70

I've been putting refrigrant 2 cans a month because of the leak. How can I detect the leak? Does leak detector work? How about those stop leak refrigrant cans?
Thanks
98 S70 T5 140k miles








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    A/C leaking. How can I detect? S70

    If you get the cans with stop leak which also contains R134a, they won't work. If you get the 3oz can to stop any leak, it will plug up your compressor if you ever loose all pressure, to say nothing about the machines the shops use to vacuum test AC systems.

    Go to an auto parts store, like NAPA, and get a very small can of yellow dye made for AC. Then charge up the system. After a day or 2, use a paper towel and wipe down the receiver/dryer cannister and hope for a leak there.

    Most cases, the leak is at the evaporator. Unfortunately, inspecting the evap through the small hole at the bottom of the dash is particularly hard to do. Some of the dye might show up at the drain hole at the center, bottom of the car, but even that is iffy.

    From the sounds of it, you will need to replace the evap. A 10 hour billable job at the dealer, plus parts.

    Klaus
    --
    Common sense trumps a PhD








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    A/C leaking. How can I detect? S70

    I'm no expert but some there some type of additive you use and can see with a black light. If you continue adding cans, I'd try using those stop leak type, but it probably won't solve your problem. Good Luck.








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      A/C leaking. How can I detect? S70

      Just took the wifes car in to the local Castrol Oil Change place and for $39.99 they were able to pull the fulid out of the AC system, pull a vaccum on the system, and refill the system with the proper fulids and an additive that glows under balck light. They said that although her system did not currently have a leak, it would make detecting one in the future much easier.

      Hope this helps.

      Oliver
      Over a million Volvo miles and still smiling :-)







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