Myriad automotive components are checked for leaks, including turbochargers, oil filters and radiators. However, leak testing doesn’t end with the suppliers of those components. After final assembly, automotive OEMs are apt to leak-test air-conditioning systems, fuel lines, battery packs and other subassemblies in situ as one final check of quality.
Such testing is typically done with a handheld sniffer probe positioned at various connection points. While that may sound simple, the process is a little more complicated than one might imagine. For consistent and accurate results, the probe must be held at a specific distance from the part, for a specific period of time, and, in some cases, moved along the part at a specific speed.