Zafira air con

[bennyhill63]

I have had my air con topped up each year in the last 3 years.(My car is a 2001) The garage say it has not got a leak but this seems excessive to me. (By the end of the summer it doesn't work much!).
Have any other owners experience of this?

Yes - I know it's freezing outside. Just want to know if I'm heading for lots of expense!

 

[Stivino]

All air con systems leak, a little. Reading some of the links might answer your questions.
http://www.autoclimate.co.uk/welcome.html
http://www.autoaircon.net/car-air-conditioning.html
http://www.coolcaraircon.co.uk/questions.htm
http://www.airconditioningforcars.co.uk/ACpage08.htm#howlong

 

[mrcabrach]

any 1 who says that your air con needs topping up every year needs a kick in the teeth
look for a vehicle Ac specialist that can pressure test your system with nitrogen first NOT QUICK SWICK (this shouldent cost too much) to find the leak
zafiras are prone for the condenser leaking behind the front radiator fan where the leaves and dirt off the road collect

 

[Avocet]

I agree that sems excesive. When you do get a decent specialist to re-gas it (having found and rectified the leak) you could ask them to put tracer dye in as well. If you get another leak, they can usually find it with an ultraviolet light - which causes the dye to show up all around the place where the leak is.

 

[mrcabrach]

most vauxhalls have the dye put in the system at birth think that started around 2003 though
The thing is that the dye dosent allways leak out with the gas + the dye can get washed off if the condenser leaks at the front of the car with spray off the road