Aircon condenser advice

[KOKSRACING]

Hi all,

i have a 997.2 and recently Porsche spotted the front right air con condenser was starting to leak at the edge. Nothing major but ultimately needs doing.

i was just after a bit of advice as follows.

1. Should you go for Porsche Feb parts or not? I am lucky to have Cameron’s Porsche specialist nearby and the main dealer both who are very good so could go original parts or non gen. for the air con does it really mater. Everything else is porsche gen parts btw.
2. Would you change both at the same times whilst the bumper is off? Only one needs doing but just working out if it’s cheaper in the long run to do both at the sametime

costs are around £500-£650 for one from the dealer and £900+ for both or non-gen is around £500 for both

thanks

pete

 

[Hardy]

Hi Pete,

You should change both as other one will go the same way soon. I posted some info on changing condensors here https://www.porscheclubgb.com/forum/tm.aspx?m=981008&high=condenser a couple of months back on my 987.2 Cayman. It's fairly straight foreward to do yourself, basically you have to take the front bumper cover off, and you'll end up with loads of screws that you need to segregate as they are not all the same if you look closely. You'll need to get the aircon degassed before you start and re-gassed when you have finished.

In summary I purchased Behr Hella condensors from Design911, they were identical to the originals I replaced unlike the Behr Hella ones I had purchased from Eurocar Parts. I got O rings (purple) from my Porsche centre and a drop of aircon oil to lubricate them from my local Indy, same time as the degass.

 

[Lancerlot]

Depends if you want to maintain extended warranty or not. If you do, then it would be safer to fit OEM components. If not, fit after-market and you should be fine. Check the cause of the leak. If it's stone damage, you should be OK just replacing that. If it's corrosion, you need to carefully inspect its mate and may need to replace that too if there's any doubt.

Whist the bumper is off, have all the rads cleaned out and sprayed with a moisture barrier. Give some thought to fitting mesh to the front air intakes (there's a thread currently running on this). []
Regards,

Clive

 

[JCX]

What do you mean by moisture barrier Clive? Wax oil?

 

[Lancerlot]

I use Scottoiler FS365 or ACF 50. Both available online and from "all good bike shops". Bikers love this stuff as it keeps their engines nice and shiny. []
Regards,

Clive

 

[JCX]

Fab clive thx. i'm off to order some now

 

[JCX]

duly ordered... https://www.sportsbikeshop.co.uk/motorcycle_parts/content_prod/25695

 

[JCX]

clive do you spray after a wash too? or just when the bumper if off?

 

[Lancerlot]

[FONT=calibri"]You can get a detailed description of cleaning out the rads [FONT=calibri"]here.
[FONT=calibri"]It’s no. 13 in the Index list in 997 Forum Technical Articles (Members Only section).
[FONT=calibri"]Regards,

Clive.

 

[JCX]

you are almost as good as Siri! Personal search agent

i am going to fit mesh so will spray whiel the bumper if off... but how often thereafter should i spray?

Annually?

 

[JMR]

I had both a/c condensers done at the same time last April on my 987 Boxster. £550 fitted for the pair.
Seals, dye and re-gas.
Mine was stone damage to the near side only, just precaution to get the other side done while the bumper was off.

Following day I fitted the beautiful black Zunsport grilles.
Worth the money at £90 (with the Facebook discount code direct from Zunsport
Look great, fit is spot on too.

I'm not worried about any leaves, debris, stones flying in now

 

[Boxstercol]

I changed both my air con rads last summer on my 987 Boxster. CoolpartsUk for the condensors with a two year warranty & drier unit (eBay - recommended on other Pork forums). Genuine o rings from OPC & got the regas at a local ATS (who have an excellent reputation locally). Total cost was less than £140 all in.

 

[Lancerlot]

you are almost as good as Siri! Personal search agent
i am going to fit mesh so will spray whiel the bumper if off... but how often thereafter should i spray?
Annually?

Depends on usage. There's no need to be obsessive, but crud collects at the very back of the air scoops - even with mesh ffitted. I removed the bumper every year or so to clean out the rads. - the lower rear corners being most vulnerable to corrosion - ACF50 is a bit more resilient as a corrosion inhibitor for those out-of-the-way areas. Use Scottoiler FS365 on the more accessible areas and more regularly.
Regards,

Clive