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Tips for finding vacuum leak

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Old 07-25-2007, 06:06 PM
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Default Tips for finding vacuum leak

Tried searching, guess how that went... Just wondering if anyone has any good tips on how to locate a small vacuum leak. This isn't for my Firebird, it's my DD Escort. I'm pretty sure it has a small vacuum leak somewhere, because A: It's knocking, and B: sometimes I lose HVAC controls when enough throttle is applied, which are vacuum operated. I have tried to listen for a leak but I doubt I would be able to hear it over the sound of the engine.
Old 07-25-2007, 06:09 PM
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Here, check this site out. Lots of different ideas there.

http://www.aa1car.com/library/vacleak.htm
Old 07-25-2007, 10:32 PM
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Originally Posted by Formula413
Tried searching, guess how that went... Just wondering if anyone has any good tips on how to locate a small vacuum leak. This isn't for my Firebird, it's my DD Escort. I'm pretty sure it has a small vacuum leak somewhere, because A: It's knocking, and B: sometimes I lose HVAC controls when enough throttle is applied, which are vacuum operated. I have tried to listen for a leak but I doubt I would be able to hear it over the sound of the engine.
Spray bottle of water, when you hit the leak you will know it.
Old 07-25-2007, 11:33 PM
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use break cleaner or something of that sort and spray it around, your idle should change when it goes by the leak.
Old 07-26-2007, 12:21 AM
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Originally Posted by krayzie7th
use break cleaner or something of that sort and spray it around, your idle should change when it goes by the leak.
Then when the engine catches on fire, he won't have to worry about the leak.
Old 07-26-2007, 12:44 PM
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LOL.... WD-40 works good for this too.
Old 07-26-2007, 12:54 PM
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Originally Posted by GOaT Cheese
Then when the engine catches on fire, he won't have to worry about the leak.
i guess i need to stop doing that hahah.
Old 07-26-2007, 02:07 PM
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Originally Posted by GOaT Cheese
Then when the engine catches on fire, he won't have to worry about the leak.


the auto-igniton point of brake clean is over 500 degress up to 1000.... plus there is no reason to spary brake clean anywhere near the headers.
Old 07-26-2007, 03:40 PM
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Originally Posted by azxic


the auto-igniton point of brake clean is over 500 degress up to 1000.... plus there is no reason to spary brake clean anywhere near the headers.
LMFAO at your signature!!!

One of the tips I read on that site was to use propane to find the leak, that seems kinda dangerous too. It also said you need to unplug the idle air control motor or it will automatically correct the idle and you won't notice the change. Has anyone actually done it that way?
Old 07-27-2007, 12:10 AM
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Originally Posted by azxic


the auto-igniton point of brake clean is over 500 degress up to 1000.... plus there is no reason to spary brake clean anywhere near the headers.
Thanks for the chemistry lesson. Of corse we all know that there is never a stray spark from a coil or plug wire, or a loose starter cable that arcs from time to time. How about we just keep HIGHLY FLAMABLE vaporized chemicals away from running engines. I've been a G.M. tech for 15 years, and have personally flamed 3 customer vehicles using brake cleaner when I shouldn't have, one was a real nice white '93 vette. Yes...It took three times for me to learn my lesson. One time I simply set a can of brake cleaner on top of a battery, well, I knocked it over and the can managed to land across the two posts, talk about fireworks, it looked like one of the flaming Chinese pinwheels dancing around under the hood.
Old 07-27-2007, 01:36 AM
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Originally Posted by GOaT Cheese
and have personally flamed 3 customer vehicles using brake cleaner when I shouldn't have, One time I simply set a can of brake cleaner on top of a battery, talk about fireworks, it looked like one of the flaming Chinese pinwheels dancing around under the hood.
Old 07-27-2007, 02:28 AM
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He isn't lieing either.....




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