Replacing air con seals

barrybritcher · Apr 20th, 2019, 16:28

How do I replace the air con seals or at least visually inspect them.

The system will have no refrigerant in it as it has defo leaked out and isnt working so no worries about capturing gas.

Dancake · Apr 20th, 2019, 17:27

Once you have disturbed the seals they are unlikely so seal again. Get yourself a UV torch or blacklight and shine it over all of the aircon components. You will see where it has been leaking from as it will glow under the UV light. The seals are very expensive due to the material they are made of, so I'd be inclined to only replace those that need to be replaced.

pierremcalpine · Apr 21st, 2019, 18:13

Have to agree with that. AC seals they have never been touched are not prone to leaks. But any they are disturbed for part replacement should be replaced. They are really not cheap - think 8-10x more than you think an o-ring would cost you.

barrybritcher · Apr 21st, 2019, 20:22

Ok. So what I have to assume is the UV dye from October is present on the compressor as though it's seeping out between the two halves. Does it have a large seal in the middle? Ie it's all around the large body of the compressor

pierremcalpine · Apr 22nd, 2019, 01:21

Quote:

Originally Posted by barrybritcher

Ok. So what I have to assume is the UV dye from October is present on the compressor as though it's seeping out between the two halves. Does it have a large seal in the middle? Ie it's all around the large body of the compressor

I think that calls for a new compressor. A guy at my local wreckyard told me that sometimes this problem is caused by idiot mechanics using an air gun to pound the compressor on. They gun the two bolts on the right and then do the same on the left and it literately pulls the compressor in half resulting in the symptoms you describe.

MarvinMitt · Apr 22nd, 2019, 09:15

If the compressor doesn't engage and there is an UV-visible leak then it doesn't mean all the refrigerant has leaked.
Not sure about the compressor seam leak, but my condenser had a leak that happened only when it was on operating pressure, then when it lost some of the refridgenant, the compressor couldn't pull the operating pressure anymore and only comes on for a second when I start the car to check for operating pressure.

If I had opened the system myself I would have lost all the refrigerant and would had to pay more to complete refill than had a workshop pull the refrigerant, replace the condenser themselves and top up some of the refrigerant.

Apr 20th, 2019, 16:28	#1
barrybritcher Flaccid Member Last Online: Apr 15th, 2024 16:09 Join Date: Nov 2016 Location: Norwich	Replacing air con seals How do I replace the air con seals or at least visually inspect them. The system will have no refrigerant in it as it has defo leaked out and isnt working so no worries about capturing gas. __________________ 2001 Volvo S60 T5 SE 2.3 Geartronic (Scrapped) 2007 Volvo S60 T5 SE 2.4 Geartronic (Sold) 2008 Volvo V70 D5 SE Sport Geartronic (Current)

Apr 20th, 2019, 17:27	#2
Dancake Premier Member Last Online: Today 01:01 Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Belfast	Once you have disturbed the seals they are unlikely so seal again. Get yourself a UV torch or blacklight and shine it over all of the aircon components. You will see where it has been leaking from as it will glow under the UV light. The seals are very expensive due to the material they are made of, so I'd be inclined to only replace those that need to be replaced. __________________ 1996 850 T5 - Sold 2003 S40 1.9d - Sold 2004 S60 D5

Apr 21st, 2019, 18:13	#3
pierremcalpine Premier Member Last Online: Jan 3rd, 2024 14:43 Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Toronto Canada	Have to agree with that. AC seals they have never been touched are not prone to leaks. But any they are disturbed for part replacement should be replaced. They are really not cheap - think 8-10x more than you think an o-ring would cost you. __________________ 2003 V40 1.9T B4204T4, 197,000miles (sold but alive!), 2004 S60 2.5T, 160,000miles, 2010 V70 3.2, 125,000miles, 2002 V70XC 2.4, 175,000miles Click here for my x40 and V70 P3 repair guides

Apr 21st, 2019, 20:22	#4
barrybritcher Flaccid Member Last Online: Apr 15th, 2024 16:09 Join Date: Nov 2016 Location: Norwich	Ok. So what I have to assume is the UV dye from October is present on the compressor as though it's seeping out between the two halves. Does it have a large seal in the middle? Ie it's all around the large body of the compressor __________________ 2001 Volvo S60 T5 SE 2.3 Geartronic (Scrapped) 2007 Volvo S60 T5 SE 2.4 Geartronic (Sold) 2008 Volvo V70 D5 SE Sport Geartronic (Current)

Apr 22nd, 2019, 09:15	#6
MarvinMitt Senior Member Last Online: Nov 1st, 2021 21:18 Join Date: Sep 2016 Location: Tartu	If the compressor doesn't engage and there is an UV-visible leak then it doesn't mean all the refrigerant has leaked. Not sure about the compressor seam leak, but my condenser had a leak that happened only when it was on operating pressure, then when it lost some of the refridgenant, the compressor couldn't pull the operating pressure anymore and only comes on for a second when I start the car to check for operating pressure. If I had opened the system myself I would have lost all the refrigerant and would had to pay more to complete refill than had a workshop pull the refrigerant, replace the condenser themselves and top up some of the refrigerant. __________________ 2002 V70 D5

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