My air con was blowing warm so I had a local shop test the system. They hooked up a machine and ran a vacuum test which failed.
They then proceed to hook up a compressed air line to the system, when they pressurized it there was a loud leaking sound coming from the front end of the vehicle just as if a hose was split on a compressor.
I put my hand in the general area of the leak and by pressing my finger against it I could slow it down a little.
He checked underneath and told me it was most likely a faulty condenser and quoted me $1400 to replace it and recharge the system.
Once home I jacked up the vehicle and found a bleed screw on the condenser was loose a few turns; the screw was right in the area the leak was coming from. I removed the screw completely and coolant stared to run out, not a lot about 3/4 pint or so.
I put 500 miles on the car yesterday at 80-95 MPH with no sign of overheating?
My question is: should there be any coolant in the condenser or is a sign I have a leak somewhere in the rad or condenser?
Is it worth filling the system with refrigerant and see what happens? I can get a new condenser for around $200 if necessary.
Thanks,
Karl

 

Are you sure the liquid coming from the condensor isn't refrigerant oil and not coolant. The radiator and condensor do not mix with one another. The fact that you were getting warm air sounds as if you lost the refrigerant through the bleed screw you describe. I would be inclined to tighten the bleed screw (?) and for a few dollars see if it will hold refrigerant.

 

I have not come across a bleed valve on an aircon condenser before.

The only fluids you normally find, apart from the refrigerant which will evaporate once exposed to the air, is the compressor lubricating oil and possibly some leak detection fluid (Usually yellow/green in colo(u)r).

 

Thanks for the replys guys. I will take a couple of photos and post them once I figure out how to attach them.

Cheers

Karl