Hissing 3200

[Jason]

Please accept my apologies if this has been covered elsewhere but I'm stuck for time to search.

When I switched my car off this morning it was hissing.

Hissing in a way where I would have bet my house that when I opened the bonnet I would receive a face full of steam as the puddle of water formed on the road. Instead I was faced with nothing, not a drop. Just a really loud hissing. I traced the sound to somewhere just behind the right hand fan but still no visible sign of anything wrong.

The water temperature gauge was where it should be and the water level has not dropped.

It took about an hour for the hissing to stop.

Please can anyone tell me if they've experience this before, what it might be and whether I can drive it home, to the the dealer or whether I should not drive it at all and get it picked up?

Thank you

Jason

 

[lozcb]

Not an aircon gas leak is it , sounds very similar to me ,


regards loz

 

[Jason]

Thanks for your rapid response loz,


It could well be as the aircon has had more use in the last couple of days than it usually does.
Any idea how I can tell for sure and will it damage the car if I drive it?

Regards

Jason

 

[conaero]

Yep, aircon gassing up was my first thought.

 

[lozcb]

Absolutely no Damage can be caused to the car , just to the enviroment and your wallet, thast if you have gas escaping that is, many places like Kwikfit ( i hate those place with a vengeance) are doing free gas tests , and topped up at a good price

regards loz

 

[Jason]

Brilliant, thank you.

I hated the thought of another one of 'those' conversations with the RAC when you know they won't be able to fix it by the side of the road but they insist on making you wait two hours while they send a man to confirm it. Thus adding to an already stressful and expensive day!

I shall get it into a garage and report back.

Thanks again

Jason

 

[conaero]

Being a turbo car it could well have a small leak or loose hose, but you should notice a significant drop in performance.....if it does not rip your face off, there is something wrong.

DO NOT US KWICKFISTS, MY CAR BROKE DOWN IN A CLOUD OF STEAM WHEN THEY DID MINE, THOUGHT THE THING WAS ON FIRE, TURNED OUT THE SAUSAGED FINGERED FITTERS HAD PULLED SO HARD AT THE EXPANSION TANK TO ACCESS THE AC VALVE, THEY HAD PARTIALLY RIPPED IT OFF....AND 2 MILES DOWN THE ROAD, IT LET GO AND P!SSED COOLANT ALL OVER THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD, COULD HAVE CRACKED IT!

 

[white noise]

Check your secondary air system, the pipe runs behind the radiator and there is a join behind the RH fan.

 

[Nigelo]

Neither the secondary air system nor turbo circuit for that matter, would remain pressurised "about 1 hour" after engine shutdown so both can be ruled out. More likely to be a leak in the a/c circuit in proximity to the condensor. You need to get this looked at ASAP driving the car as little as possible with ECON activated as you can damage the compressor with insufficient gas in the circuit.

hope this helps

 

[BL3200]

In any AC system you have a system pressure sensor. So, if the pressure drop due to leakage, the AC compressor will not start (the AC control system will not allow the AC compressor clutch to engage thus the AC compressor will not run.