Techniques to finding AC leaks?
 

I had a long battle with my 300TE where I got really proficient with my vac pump and guages.

Our CLK320 has developed a leak 10 bar to 5 bar overnight.

Instead of me taking to a shop to find the leak I would like to learn the best technique and or tools to get this fixed.

Any advice here?
Thanks

Dye and a black light its the best technique I know of. At the rate you're loosing refrigerant you should be able to hear it hissing in a really quiet environment. I used a free amplifier app on my android to find a leak on the old 190.

Leak dye is the most sensible and logical option. Hopefully not the AC evaporator.

Electronic "sniffers" are another option if you can find them cheap, although the can sometimes be confused on a freshly charged car residue left after the charge throwing a false flag.

I don't want to put any dye that has any conditioners of any kind. Can I be assured I could find one at a local parts store?

Maybe...IF the car is filled with r134. If it's still R12, no.

I think Harbor Freight has a cheap freon detector that might work for you:

Electronic Freon and Halogen Leak Detector

Dye can be bought and injected using refrigerant as a push, autozone has just dye and injectors, I do not know if it plays nice with r-12 though.

r134a so no issue.

If the CLK has the same evaporator as the W210, I would suspect it has split inside the dash.

I am sure it does...I am hoping this is not the problem. If it is...I have a joyous weekend approaching.

I have a verrry baaaad feeling I am right behind you on my W210. First warm day in Columbia last weekend this spring and the ac is weak again...

are you pressurized with nitrogen during this leak test, or is the car charged with refrigerant?

10 bar, is a temp of 105... is it this hot where you are? or is the car just warm during this measurement ?
5 bar is a temp of around 75, this would be the temp outdoors...

I have a leak on my car that I suspect is the evap. I'm sure it's been a problem for quite a while because when I add refrigerant, I can see evidence of dye in the charging port.

I bought a dye injector from Autozone and looked around with the flashlight and glasses but I see nothing. That's what makes me think it's inside. I have this vision in my mind of taking the whole dash apart and finding the air box awash in neon yellow poo.

Oh and one other thing. I think Harbor Freight has electronic sniffers for not much money. It might be worth it to invest in one.

If you suspect an evap leak, look with the light at the condensation drain for the yellow die.

Works sometimes, but not always.

Paul

Yup I have had that bad dream too. Have you seen the YouTube video where they do a time lapse on a 210 dash teardown and even at hyper speed it takes like 10 minutes.

Do the HF sniffers detect 134a? I thought vstech told me something about the fact that a sniffer can't smell 134, you have to evac and then charge up with N2 and 4 oz of R22 for the sniffer to find it.