Had Kwik Fit do a top up a month ago £49- all okay until yesterday when air flow only slightly cool. Just had it checked with them today and they informed me that the dye they put in has appeared at the air con pump. I presume this is the compressor assembly and that a seal/O ring is leaking.
Does anyone know if this seal can be bought as they are talking £1755.45 for a new 'pump' fitted, wouldn't mind paying £10- for a seal !!
I look forward to any suggestions.
George UK XK8 2003

 

Anyone know if these seals/ o rings can be replaced ??
George.

 

I searched this forum looking for any other info about an A/C compressor leak, but I couldn't find anything. However, if it took a month to leak down to the point where the A/C quit working, you can probably seal the leak internally by getting a can of refrigerant that has leak sealant in it. Around here you can buy them at any auto parts store for $10 to $20, and it's super-easy to recharge the A/C yourself. My son had a similar problem a few years ago. We used the leak sealant freon and the A/C worked fine for the rest of that summer. The next summer we had to do it again, and it worked for another summer. Now it seems to have finally quit working for good, but by using the leak sealant we got two more summers of driving out of it.

Also, look to see where the dye is located. Perhaps this shop saw that you had a Jaguar and thought you'd be an easy mark (you know... Jag owner = ******* with money). The dye might be on or near the compressor, but the dye might be leaking out around one of the fittings. Maybe the fitting just needs to be tightened.

 

A few years ago my A/C was not working on my 99xk8 and found a leak in the Condenser. After my examination I found that the condenser had several fractures causing the leak. Replaced it and all was good until the pressure switch failed a year after. Since then I have heard of many condensers being replaced for the same reason. I like Sam think it is worth reevaluating.

 

On another note... freon was much better at conditioning the o rings that seal up the A/c System than is R134A refrigerant. What they do with the new stuff is a add a somewhat less effective conditioning agent to the refrigerant. So, just give this a quick thought. If one of those seals has already gone bad, how far off are the rest of them? I have done one O-ring before and had anther crop up a short time later.

 

Are the “O” rings for the A/C system on a different level than the ones available at the local Hydraulic shop? I only ask because of the availability.

 

You know, that's a hell of a good question. I haven't the slightest.

 

The selection of “O” rings at the hyd shop is overwhelming and if they work it would be faster than ordering from Jag. Well it was a thought.

 

Many thanks for your suggestions guys. She's due for an MOT at the end of the month so will get my local Indy to have a look when he does the pre MOT check.
George.