Replace Condender

Ok so in my previous post I had no A/C. To make a long story short I found the problem....my condensor has a hole in it and I ordered a new one. The compressor clutch came on after a few seconds of charging the system with a kit from Autozone, but then I heard and saw the "Hisssssssss" from a hole made by a nice sized rock.



Has anyone ever replaced this by themselves? Tips....advice....lessons learned? Swapping in the new one is no big deal, but the need to evacuate/vaccum the system out and all that jazz....kinda sucks. Supposed to have it done by a pro so they can discard the old refrigerant legally, etc.



But here's the thing...I have a hole in mine. All the refrigerant leaked out. Compressor clutch doesn't even engage. So my question is....is it REALLY necessary to vacuum the system first?? Can't I just sawp in the condenser, pop in some new O-rings for good measure, and charge it with another kit from Autozone?

Reply 1 : Replace Condender

Quote:

Originally Posted by dblhelx Has anyone ever replaced this by themselves? Tips....advice....lessons learned? Swapping in the new one is no big deal, but the need to evacuate/vaccum the system out and all that jazz....kinda sucks. Supposed to have it done by a pro so they can discard the old refrigerant legally, etc. But here's the thing...I have a hole in mine. All the refrigerant leaked out. Compressor clutch doesn't even engage. So my question is....is it REALLY necessary to vacuum the system first?? Can't I just sawp in the condenser, pop in some new O-rings for good measure, and charge it with another kit from Autozone?

despite the hole in your compressor, you should still make sure there's no pressure in the system. you are supposed to have it done by someone who's able to dispose of it properly. maybe you could take it to a local shop and only have them discharge the system and then you could still do the disassembly/reinstallation yourself. my service manual is saying that the receiver-drier element should be replaced as well if the condenser is being replaced due to leakage. (idk if a hole in the housing would count as a normal leak though, ya know?)

Reply 2 : Replace Condender

Thanks for the response bro. Do you know if I can swap the current Receiver/drier into the new condenser??

Reply 3 : Replace Condender

well, the receiver-drier should be replaced if you're putting in a new compressor. the receiver-drier is located on the driver's side (right side if standing in front of the car looking at it) right there on the condenser (that's the radiator-looking thing that's mounted in front of the actual radiator). and you don't actually replace the receiver-drier per se, you actually just unscrew the plug at the bottom of it and take out the filter-drier element and replace that. after doing that make sure to lubricate the o-ring on the plug that goes on the bottom of the receiverdrier with R-134a refrigerant compatible (PAG oil) refrigerant oil. you'll need to add some PAG oil to the system since you're putting in a new compressor, if it comes with instructions it will probably say how much you'll need.

Reply 4 : Replace Condender

Actually I'm just puting in a new condenser. Compressor works fine. So I take it I won't need PAG oil since the compressor is good.



Just unbolt the bottom and slip out the filter and put it in the new condenser? The compressor is untouched so the oil level in that will be ok.



I figured, or hoped....LOL...... that I can just swap in new condenser and recharge with a kit from autozone. What's the worst that can happen if I don't evacuate/ vacuum the system first? It should be pretty much empty with that huge hole in the condensor.

Reply 5 : Replace Condender

Quote:

Originally Posted by dblhelx Actually I'm just puting in a new condenser. Compressor works fine. So I take it I won't need PAG oil since the compressor is good. Just unbolt the bottom and slip out the filter and put it in the new condenser? The compressor is untouched so the oil level in that will be ok. I figured, or hoped....LOL...... that I can just swap in new condenser and recharge with a kit from autozone. What's the worst that can happen if I don't evacuate/ vacuum the system first? It should be pretty much empty with that huge hole in the condensor.

wait, what? you say you're replacing the condenser but then list steps to replace the receiver-drier filter... or am I just misinterpreting you?

Reply 6 : Replace Condender

LOL...sorry if I'm confusing . lol



Yeah, I need to replace the condensor,,,,the radiator looking thing in front of the actual radiator. I just assumed the receiver/drier thing is attached to the condensor? I just looked at it briefly in the engine bay and on the Haynes manual.....looked like it was attached to the condensor? After I saw the hole in the condensor I pretty much stopped there because I knew there was nothing I could do until the new part came so I really didn't take a good look.

Reply 7 : Replace Condender

well the housing for the receiver-drier may be attached to the condenser but I don't know if it will come with a fresh new filter element. but yea, If I were you I'd get the whole system flushed just to be safe and then install the new condenser and dryer filter and refill the system. there are refrigerants that you can buy that already come with the oil pre-mixed in the can, if you wanted to do it yourself I'd use that stuff otherwise just have the place that flushed the system replenish it with new refrigerant.

Reply 8 : Replace Condender

Any particular reason I would NEED a new drier/receiver? I mean the system was working great before I got the hole in the condenser fins so I assume the drier/receiver is in fine working condition so that's why I figured I'd just swap it into the new condenser.



I figured, maybe retardedly, lol, that since the old condenser has a huge hole in it, it's probably empty....I can test it by depressing the valve where you recharge on the low side or the high side.....I can just do the straight swap of parts (put new O-rings in there with a bit of oil on them, recharge it with a kit from Autozone and see if it blows cold air. Worse comes to worse I have to have it re-done at a shop.



No? Yeah? lol

Reply 9 : Replace Condender

you haven't tried to run the AC since the hole appeared, have you?

Reply 10 : Replace Condender

Quote:

Originally Posted by TrdSpeed140 you haven't tried to run the AC since the hole appeared, have you?

Well, sort of. I wasn't aware of the hole while I was recharging the AC with a kit from autozone. I figured the compressor wasn't coming on, maybe, because the refrigerant was too low. Relay and fuse were both ok. So maube 3 seconds after I squirted some refreigerant into the low side valve the compressor kicked on and she started to blow cold air. I emptied maybe 1/4 a bottle into it when I started to hear a hissssssssss. Then I look down and see bubbles flowing out of a hole in the condensor (lower driver-side corner).



Well of course I stop recharging and the hissing continued for maybe 30-60 minutes and then eventually fizzled out to nothing now.....of course the compressor won't come on now since the refrigerant is too low.



Any particular reason you wanna know?



And THANK YOU IMMENSELY for the assistance!!!

Reply 11 : Replace Condender

I hope I don't get cancer or have my wiener fall off for breathing in this stuff. lol

Reply 12 : Replace Condender

lol, ya, try not to breath any of it, it's bad mmm kay, haha. I'd get the system flushed since there is the possibility that debris could be scattered thru the system, it's just a precaution so you wont have to replace even more parts cuz debris damaged them cuz the system wasn't flushed.

Reply 13 : Replace Condender

UPDATE:



Well I got the new condensor in the mail. The manual says you gotta drain and remove the radiator. That's BS. I just unbolted it, pushed it back maybe 1 - 1.5 inches and slid the condensor up and out (after unbolting the two A/C lines.



Put two new O-rings on the A/C lines that bolt into the condensor and slid the new condensor in place, bolted it up, secured the A/C lines.



With a recharge kit from Autozone I turned the empty A/C on high, plugged in the recharge kit and within seconds the compressor kicked and started to suck in refreigerant.



Filled it so it was between 30-40....right around 38 actually and BADDA BING! Freezing cold A/C filling the car!



SWEEEET.

Reply 14 : Replace Condender

nice!