AC condenser replace diy

[Uncle86]

I made a boo boo recently that resulted in my ac condenser taking a hit. Long story short my jack wasnt correctly seated at the front jacking point and it slipped. Is it an easy replacement?

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[soundman98]

not entirely. the once the condenser is replaced, the system must be re-charged. you can't use the a/c-in-a-can stuff, as it's got hole-fixer gunk that will screw up most properly-running a/c systems.

[Uncle86]

Originally Posted by soundman98

not entirely. the once the condenser is replaced, the system must be re-charged. you can't use the a/c-in-a-can stuff, as it's got hole-fixer gunk that will screw up most properly-running a/c systems.

but the replacing part is not as involved as replacing the radiator? I mean if thats the case I might aswell throw in a koyorad

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[humfrz]

Originally Posted by Uncle86

I made a boo boo recently that resulted in my ac condenser taking a hit. Long story short my jack wasnt correctly seated at the front jacking point and it slipped. Is it an easy replacement?

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don't do that no more.

Jack the vehicle up proper next time.

It's an easy replacement. Just take your car up to your local AC qualified auto shop and they will fix your car up while you sit in the customer service lounge and drink coffee and read car magazines -

OR, iffen you are old, stand outside and smoke cigarettes and tell back in the day stories with the other old coots that shouldn't have been messen wich their car.

[WildCard600]

Originally Posted by Uncle86

but the replacing part is not as involved as replacing the radiator? I mean if thats the case I might aswell throw in a koyorad

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Considering you need to pull down a vacuum to evacuate the system and verify there are no leaks prior to recharging the system with the correct amount of refrigerant, I would say it's more involved than a rad unless the rad is welded to the front subframe on these cars.

[Bonburner]

Are there any stronger aftermarket AC systems out there? The stock ones are so weak, that on a hot day they barely cool you down.

[humfrz]

[QUOTE=Bonburner;3371064]Are there any stronger aftermarket AC systems out there? The stock ones are so weak, that on a hot day they barely cool you down.[/QUOTE]

Well, NOT everyone lives where the temperature gets up to 110 and you're surrounded by forest fires -

[WildCard600]

Originally Posted by Bonburner

Are there any stronger aftermarket AC systems out there? The stock ones are so weak, that on a hot day they barely cool you down.

I think the bigger issue is the blower fan is poo.

[Bonburner]

Originally Posted by humfrz

Are there any stronger aftermarket AC systems out there? The stock ones are so weak, that on a hot day they barely cool you down.[/QUOTE]

Well, NOT everyone lives where the temperature gets up to 110 and you're surrounded by forest fires -

Hahaha, in all fairness, it really only hits 100°F at the most where I am. I consider ≥90°F a hot day.

Originally Posted by WildCard600

I think the bigger issue is the blower fan is poo.

You mean the fan at the front of our car? Is it really that bad? I mean our coolant is so well cooled that I'm doubting it's the fan ...

[DarkPira7e]

Originally Posted by Uncle86

I made a boo boo recently that resulted in my ac condenser taking a hit. Is it an easy replacement?

You need to essentially remove the front of the car to do it without damaging anything else. Will take about an hour to get everything off the front. Did anything spray out after you hit it?

Regardless, you'll want to have this done at a place that can recover/recharge the A/C refrigerant; if you pull off one of the hoses and there's still pressure, you're going to be breathing some nasty stuff and it coats everything in the area (Guess how I know?)
For a regular shop to do it, I would bring the car there with the bumper off, and you can expect to pay about 3 hrs in labor and likely $120-$150 for an A/C recharge, unless shops are charging a lot more these days.

Taking everything off yourself will take maybe an hour if you decide you're going to get it all out yourself. But be aware, a lot of technicians don't like starting in the middle of someone else's mess- it's better to bring it to them all together so they can understand how it goes back together, rather than trying to guess.

[Uncle86]

Originally Posted by DarkPira7e

You need to essentially remove the front of the car to do it without damaging anything else. Will take about an hour to get everything off the front. Did anything spray out after you hit it?

Regardless, you'll want to have this done at a place that can recover/recharge the A/C refrigerant; if you pull off one of the hoses and there's still pressure, you're going to be breathing some nasty stuff and it coats everything in the area (Guess how I know?)
For a regular shop to do it, I would bring the car there with the bumper off, and you can expect to pay about 3 hrs in labor and likely $120-$150 for an A/C recharge, unless shops are charging a lot more these days.

Taking everything off yourself will take maybe an hour if you decide you're going to get it all out yourself. But be aware, a lot of technicians don't like starting in the middle of someone else's mess- it's better to bring it to them all together so they can understand how it goes back together, rather than trying to guess.

surprisingly no, its still working with no leaks. Ill do the front bumper removal first (doesnt take long). Thanks

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[humfrz]

Originally Posted by Uncle86

surprisingly no, its still working with no leaks. Ill do the front bumper removal first (doesnt take long). Thanks

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So, then, why are you worrying about it?

[Dave-ROR]

You can rent a manifold set and vacuum pump from several auto parts stores. It's easy to vacuum out a empty system, check for leaks and then fill it through the manifold. Proper oil amt has to be added to replaced components of course.

However since it's no leaking.... you'd have to get it evacuated with proper equipment first if you really care about fixing it.

IMO if it's not leaking and the radiator wasn't damaged I'd just ignore it.

[NoHaveMSG]

Originally Posted by humfrz

So, then, why are you worrying about it?

Exactly what I was thinking. For the amount of effort it takes to do, run it till it doesn't work. A good amount of the front of the car has to come apart.