Air Con Condenser

[Hannu]

Hi, Just had my 2000my 986 serviced and found that the R/H air condenser is leaking and needs replacing. It not been fridging for about 4 months now. Dealer quoting £850+ to replace both condensers and recharge.
Replacing both makes séance but the cost, well maybe not.
Can pick up the units for about £130 each and have some mechanical knowledge so think I'll have a go at changing them myself.

Anyone carried out this operation and are there any pit fall to be aware of ???? []

 

[johnk]

you need to have the system vacuumed if their is any gas in it whatsoever , other than that its just the bumper off and their they are , you also need to take cowlings off the condensors and the pipes are connected to condensors vis 6mm allen screw.... i presume you have an a/c compnay at hand

 

[Paul Fraser]

You'll need a dryer/dessicator (£45ish) as well as the condensers. I'd also visit an aircon firm to get the seals rquired once you have the bits off -- the small seals for the dryer are about a fiver each from Porsche and you need two. The larger ones for the condenser are available from ECP and about a quid each (4 needed).
Check under the right hand side of the car to check the aircon pipes haven't gone as well. It is frustrating when you get a pressure test after putting all the new stuff on and find that it is leaking from under the car. Ask me how I know...
Might be worth investing in a mini torque wrench as the condenser bolts only need about 20 Nm and it is quite easy to overtighten them and damamge the seals (again, ask me how I know...)
Once you are done you need someone to pressure test, vacuum and refill the system (about £50).
There is a heap on info in the workshop manual and on Renntech.org if you need more help.

 

[Black80XSA]

This link might be of usefor disassembly too..

http://www.realtime.net/~rentner/Porsche/Radiator/Radiator.html

 

[Hannu]

Many thanks for the info guy its much appreciated, I am how starting to think however if I know which Condenser is leaking why would I replace both ? If I do the job myself, a re-gas cost £45 ish and each condenser is £130ish that could be £175 instead of over £300 !!
Or am I just penny pinching ?

 

[johnk]

usually you can guarantee that when one has gone the other will not be far behind and whilst its stripped for the sake of a condensor may as well replace otherwise you'll be paying for strip down twice regas twice

 

[piperboxster]

I used to work in air conditioning design for a well known car company, so for once I am qualified to talk )

Replace both, a no brainer.

Replace the condensor, very important.

Make sure the system is pressure tested with nitrogen to make sure its sealed. Your system may pass a vacuum test as the test will suck the seals in, a pressure test pushes them out a little like a working AC system will.

Make sure when the system is filled they go through the following process... 40min vacuum minimum, recharge gas along with fresh oil to replace that which would have been in the condensor, then run the car with the air con on for 30 mins, then de-gass, vaccuum for another 40min, recharge again with any oil removed during the second vacuum.

The double pass ensures contaminants are removed from the system, and the moisture in the system is boiled off during the first two passes.

 

[Hannu]

I used to work in air conditioning design for a well known car company, so for once I am qualified to talk )

Replace both, a no brainer.

Replace the condensor, very important.

[8|] Piper ! Sorry dont understand this part of your reply,

 

[piperboxster]

Sorry, I did mean "replace both condensers, a no brainer" and "replace the receiver dryer, very important"

 

[Shapesman]

My 4 year old Boxster with 39500 miles has just been for a service and both condensers are leaking "" an £800 fix. I was shocked that they can corrode so soon but it was reported that this is not unusual. One of the cam covers is also weeping. The Boxster had a new engine at 12000 miles (transfer shaft) and, of course an RMS about one year later. It is garaged and treated fairly gently with most miles on motorways.

Can anyone comment on this early failure?

Incidentally, my son's MX5 lasted 12 years and 150000 miles without any major problems!

 

[Glyn]

If you are ready to do the job yourself (its not difficult) i would tackle it somewhat differently to what has been said.
I do agree that there are benefits of doing all of the above and one big negative - the cost.
I guess you need to be prepared to do the job more than once but as we agree it is a simple job then its only a bit of time you would waste.

I personally would just change out the one condensor, however you can inspect the other one once the bumper is off, just remove the plastic cowling and have a poke around, if its leaking you will see the flourescent trace discolouring the metalwork around the leak (this dye is put in for this purpose)
The condensor is attached to the refrigerant lines by one bolt, check around the joint for flouescent trace, however i ordered the seals for a few pence when i had my new condensor so i changed them anyway.
I dont know how important the dryer is but i didnt change that and my car was a 97 model but after changing just the one condensor and calling a mobile aircon company for regassing all was fine and i kept the car for another three years after that with no other problems.
For piece of mind i guess you could do all of the above - one big hit and be pretty much guaranteed not to have another problem with it, but at the end of the day the choice is yours

 

[Shapesman]

Glyn

Thanks for your thoughts. Both condensers are leaking, I understand that it is not unusual for them both to go in quick succession.

I remain a bit pi**ed off because I did not expect yet another problem with a 'quality' Porsche. I am lucky enough to have a 993 C2S which seems to be realtively bullet proof. It's enough to make me a confirmed air cooled fan (pun intended).