Boxster air con service port

[N33YOW]

Before I spend a billion quid on whizzing my 986 in for suspected double air con condenser replacement, I'm going to try one of those Interdynamics Super Seal repair and refill kits. It allegedly works in the same way as those puncture tyre seal aerosols but without the bath foam...

Anyway, the instructions say to connect it to the "low side service port" on the air conditioning system, and that if it is connected wrongly there is chance of servious injury if the can grenades.

There seems to be two valves to potentially connect it to, I assume the low side service port is the one that has the same size valve (the smaller of the two), but thought it worth checking on here to ensure that Porsche does not adopt the same upside-down approach to aircon valves as it does to PDK paddle gearboxes (i.e., the opposite way to which you would expect...)

 

[Richard_Hamilton]

I doubt if it will last long, even if it does give a temporary fix. These are the low and high pressure ports - bear in mind that this diagram shows LHD, but it is a mirror image for RHD.

Best bet is to find a decent indy to do the job, and it won't be as expensive as you might think.

 

[N33YOW]

Hi Richard, thanks for the diagram.

I've been quoted about £700 from JMH in Holmes Chapel for the two condensers. I've asked around, and they seem to be a decent bunch. If this temporary fix doesn't work, then I'll get it done. Car's a cracker otherwise, and very much a weekend/fun/trackday car, so not going to spend crazy money.

I've just had a go at the refill, putting the leak detector/sealant in first - no signs of the tell-tale red dye indicating a leak anywhere I can see - and then the refrigerant top-up; pressure is 35psi (which sounds about right), used about a third of the can of refrigerant and it seemed to be making all the right air conditioning-y type noises from various orifices (fans, pumps, idle speed going up and down very slightly) when I switched the a/c on and off. My father-in-law is Canadian and uses the same kit to service the a/c on his pickup, and swears by it.

The true test - whether it feels cold or not - is impossible to carry out, because of course as it is a bank holiday weekend the outside temperature is about 4 degrees C...

Iain

 

[T200]

Iain

Try giving Prosche-apart a call they have new and second hand spares in stock 01706824053

Chris

 

[johnk]

thats quite steep at £700 notes for 2 condensors and a regas, thats more in line with opc...

would have thought more round the £350 mark to £400 through an indy...

 

[sportsandclassic]

YHM

 

[bryno]

I agree about the price being high, about £500 to £550 for parts and labour from an air con specialist, they can source the condensers off the net and any air con spcialist will also change the drier as the system has been exposed to the atmosphere. Most of the labour costs are in getting at removing and replacing the condensers, its quite a faff to remove the front end/bumper to get at them, ok when you know how but it can be a struggle the first time.

 

[Mark_Bennett]

ORIGINAL: bryno

ok when you know how but it can be a struggle the first time.

And even more difficult to get back on!
...and then you realise the rubber cowels around the intakes have dropped slightly and are preventing you sliding the bumper cover back on! [&:]
After that it's easy []