Aircon Radiator

[Gordon F]

Has anyone ever changed the aircon rad / condenser? Where exactly is it, and what does changing it entail? Thanks for any help.

[Terminator]

You will need the system depressurised by and air con engineer. Unless it is empety now.

 

In front of the main rad NS

[Zed]

I changed mine last summer after I had the system re-gassed and all the green stuff started leaking out of it.

 

It's quite an easy job, i'm not a mechanic and had never done anything like this before.

 

Just undo the clips at the top of the radiator, undo the cowling clips around the viscous fan, you might need to do this from under the car after removing the under tray.

 

Undo the coolant hose from the radiator and the wiring to it as well.

 

Once everything is disconnected the radiator will just pull up out of place. Be careful not to damage the fins.

 

I did'nt need to be careful as i decided at the time to replace the radiator as well.

 

The ac condenser sits infront of the radiator and the pipes going into it are a tight fit due to the high pressure under which the system operates. You might need a screwdriver to prise the two sections apart ( after undoing the nut that holds them together)

 

I had everything out in a couple of hours, you just have to be careful that's all.

 

You'll probably save yourself at least a couple of hundred in labour costs which is what the ac condenser costs, and I paid about 250 for the radiator.

 

When I was doing this last summer I went a bit mad and decided to remove the bumper/lights etc and upgraded to an HKS 'S' type FMIC as well.

 

Good luck, I don't expect you'll have any major problems, and it'll be very satisfying once the jobs complete!!!!!!!!!