How much time to fit a new condenser? + other questions

[watlina]

I did the Service Clinic at Cambridge a few weeks ago and ended up with list of stuff to sort.

1. Staining on the air-con condenser. Well this has now turned in to a full blown leak as the pump started to make a noise (hopefully just no gas) and I've now left the air-con turned off. A new OEM condenser is about £150 + approx £60 to re-gas then an independant has quoted 3hrs to do it. Does that sound about right for the time?

2. A split was spotted in the fitting on the end of one of the power steering pipes (see picture of drivers side, behing the wheel)

There are two pipes a feed and a return both of which cost about £90 each but I'm not sure which this is or even if I should even bother doing anything with it if it's not actually broken. I'd guess it's a fairly big job time wise to replace either of these as they run across and underneath the car.

3. A screw was spotted in a front tire but got lucky as it was small and came out without a leak

4. The RMS is again leaking (not bad just damp) but here I'm caught in the not warrantied warranty work trap. I used to have the Porsche Extended Warranty and in January 2009 (about 9,000 miles ago) the RMS was done at the OPC under warranty, but as I didn't pay for it it's not covered by the normal 2 year warranty for work done. If I had paid even 10% of the cost it would be covered :-( so I'll just leave it till it either gets bad or I need a new clutch.

5. To top it all off I went down to the Porshe Racing Legends event at Cambridge OPC this week (it was very good) and used the PCM2 telephone module on the way home with no problem but the next moring the telephone module seems to have packed up. Pressing Tel just brings up "Telephone not avalible". I've had a look at the fuses, well I think I've looked at the right ones but with no joy. I suppose the next thing is to have the drivers seat out to check the plugs on the module?

 

[steveoz32]

OPC in Guildford charged:

Remove Front PU
Replace Nearside Rad
Replace Nearside Condensor
Bleed System
Drain and refill + replace various other bits (seals, o rings etc)

£165.54 + Vat for Radiator
£231.77 + Vat for Condensor
£396.00 + Vat for the labour and consumables

Total £793.31

No doubt an Indy would be a fair bit cheaper.

 

[spyderman]

RPM in Cheddington charged me £600 total.

 

[Richard_Hamilton]

I would get both sides done if I were you. If one has gone, the other won't be far behind. I would go for the Hella ones, as they are original fitment. Book time is 1/2 hour per side, plus PU removal/replacement time (0.9 hours) plus regas (1.0 hour).

As for the telephone, also check the orange fibre-optic cables where they go into the unit. You could also try a 1-4-8 system reset.

 

[DRDT]

Funny old thing. I have just done the 911 clinic at OPC Exeter. Very good value and 1.5 hours of undivided engineer's attention.

They also picked up my Power Steering return pipe. The crimped metal joint where the rubber hose joins the metal pipe has started to split open along its seam - apparantly a known problem as the car gets older (mine is a MY2003 C2). OPC's view was that they do not usually consider it needs doing until the split reaches about 80% of the crimped metal length and the second row of crimps has started tp lose its crimp on the rubber and metal join. A new pipe was about £200(?) plus fitting - and involves removing the underfloor to get at the whole assembly. Mine was about 60-75% split so it can wait a while. Pity it cannot be re-crimped.

Otherwise came out well of the clinic - mostly minor points. For instance the alarm siren had never been activated (not unknown) only the horn aspect - quickly remedied with the PS2. A bit of corrosion on the front brake pipes and all the exhaust bolts, a front steering bush showing early signs of delaminating and the aircon pipe near the front jacking point had received a bit of crushing but not enough to warrant changing (some tyre jack no doubt) and OPC refilled the tyres with nitrogen plus touched up a couple of old underfloor scrapes with wax oil. Overall a thorough check and mind at rest and a big thanks to the OPC.

 

[watlina]

ORIGINAL: Richard Hamilton

I would get both sides done if I were you. If one has gone, the other won't be far behind. I would go for the Hella ones, as they are original fitment. Book time is 1/2 hour per side, plus PU removal/replacement time (0.9 hours) plus regas (1.0 hour).

As for the telephone, also check the orange fibre-optic cables where they go into the unit. You could also try a 1-4-8 system reset.

Thanks Richard,
eurocarparts looks favorite for the Hella condensers at £155 each inc VAT & P&P and I'll see if can get my independant to agree to the times. They where looking at 3hrs + the re-gas at £60 where it should really be 2hrs if they are calling in someone to do the re-gas and not doing it themselves.

For the telephone module do you know the orientation of your photo i.e. are those screwdrivers at the front of the car. Just so I know where to try and poke my fingers in without taking the seat out ;-)

And how do I go about the 1-4-8 reset I'm sure I've seen the detail somewhere but can't find it.

 

[Richard_Hamilton]

The screwdrivers are at the front, and you should be able to see the orange wires if you put the seat all the way forward, and up.

Just press the 1, 4 and 8 buttons at the same time, and it will do a system reset.

 

[watlina]

No joy yet with the telephone module. I could get at the MOST fibre optic and on clipping it out could see red light shining out the cable but didn't see anything coming out of the unit which I thought I might so it could still be a power problem with the module. I'll have a better look at the fuses this weekend. I've seen a second hand one at £199 so that's an option.

I also tried a 1-4-8 reset but it didn't work.

I've ordered two condensers and a desicator (for good measure) from Design911 in the end. It's booked in to be done at TWG Peterborough for Nov 2nd.

The power steering pipes are a bit more than I thought

Front Return RHD 2WD
996.347.450.06 £129.27 inc VAT

Front Pressure RHD 2WD
996.347.452.08 £144.54 inc VAT

so I'll probably leave it for a while and see what happens

 

[Richard_Hamilton]

My brother has a PCM2.0 phone module he removed from his Cayenne when he put a Tooki unit in. I'll do a bit of research and see if it is compatible with the 996 one. Let me know if you don't have any luck with fuses.

 

[watlina]

Richard,
looks like a the Cayenne, 996 and the 997 all share the same module. There's a crossover where some early units aren't in the Cayenne list and some later ones aren't in the 996 list but I guess just about any one will fit.

996 Module precedence
996.642.207.01
996.642.207.02
996.642.207.04
996.642.207.05
997.646.207.01
997.646.207.02
997.646.208.13

Cayenne Module precedence
996.642.207.05
997.646.207.01
997.646.207.02
997.646.208.13
997.646.209.00
997.646.209.01

 

[Richard_Hamilton]

You are in luck. It is 997.646.207.01. Check out the supply and fuses, etc, and if you need it let me know.

 

[watlina]

I've had the condensers turn up now. They came from Design911 for what seems like a good price.

I bought

2x Hella branded condensers @ £129 each
1x Aircon Desicator @ £28.50
2x O-ring for the Desicator @ £1.16 each

Then Design911 do 5% discount and free postage (worth £10) over £250 for PCGB members (it's normally free postage over £500)
http://www.design911.co.uk/blog/index.php/porsche-club-gb-members-benefits/

So total inc VAT and delivered was £322.40 (£24.44 Discount)

 

[philippe]

Andy

I just put a post up about this subject, good timing i think i have to follow suit, looks like you have done your research, who do you use for fitting this kind of thing.

P.S - Car seat has been great.

Phil

 

[watlina]

ORIGINAL: philippe
Andy

I just put a post up about this subject, good timing i think i have to follow suit, looks like you have done your research, who do you use for fitting this kind of thing.

P.S - Car seat has been great.

Phil

Phil it's booked in to TWG Peterborough for Nov 2nd I've never used them before but there always seems to be plenty of Porsches on the forecourt and their labour rate is about £50/hr so a lot cheaper then the OPC.

P.S. Glad the child seats been ok. I've got another one of the same M&P model you can have for nothing if it's any good to you. It's been in the garage to months as the youngest has grown out of it.

 

[philippe]

Hello Andy

I have a local garage who specialize in BMW, real top lads, the owner has a 996 C4s which he has done quiet a bit of work on such as the condensers i poped in today and they said that they have done a few and at £47 labour rate per hour i thought this would be a good way forward, condensers will be ordered next month on your recomendation, so good work.

Thanks for the offer of the child seat, very tempting, however i only have one child at present.

Cheers Phil

 

[Rodney Naghar]

Hey Phil,

Who are where are they?

 

[DRDT]

Reference the Power Steering pipe. OPC Exeter have quoted £750 inc parts, labour and PCGB disc. Apparently the main cost is labour as the front undertray and front sub-frame has to be lowered to get at the pipework. Then, on reassembly the front tracking has to be re-checked. Still considering whether to take the plunge of not.

 

[steveoz32]

I've heard about this fault, and I can't imagine why all that work just to replace a joint.

Is there no way to have the pipe cut and joined much in the same way as a fuel line or something similar? Or to put a supporting crimp or clamp on the failing part?

I'm all for maintaining cars and spending out on whatever needs to be done, but £700 for a split joint on a pipe?

 

[watlina]

I think I'd come to the conclusion of just leaving it. I did think about putting a stainless jubilee clip round it to try and stop it splitting any further but worried that by squeezing it it might make it worse.

If it goes I might try taking it to a hydraulic specialist as they have all the kit to make in-situ repairs for these sort of joints

 

[philippe]

Hi Rod

They are based in Royston North Hertfordshire, it's a small industrial unit pretty basic, but the two guys that run it are very helpful and the one that has a 911 Barney, is as mad about them as us lot, and looks after a few, to be honnest i wouldn't get them to service my car but for this sort of job they are just the job. They are called Royston Autocare i dont have there number but if you want it i can dig it out.

Cheers

Phil