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Air Conditioning Condenser/radiator


south_bound
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My recent run of bad luck is continuing, so after splashing out on new tyres after a blow out, timing belt change (OK, that was planned maintenance), diagnostics and new glow plugs, EGR delete and new windscreen, my a/c has packed up and I have been told it needs a new condenser fitted as there is a leak.

The parts themselves don't come too expensive but the garage has quoted me 4 hours labour plus the cost a refilling the system. Total comes in at €450 which is about £320. Does that sound reasonable, especially the labour time? I am tempted to leave it but it does get very hot in the south of France where I spend a lot of time. My other car needs a new compressor which is even more expensive so I have to mae do with openning the windows on that one!

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A new condensor would be about £50 and to get it re-gassed would cost you around 50 maximum so youre looking at around £100 if you can install it yourself

Havent done this job myself before but i cant see it taking 4 hours. maybe that includes the vaccum and re-gas in the time

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Time to remove and fit condenser is 0.6hrs , I've done them before and can confirm thats about the right time, not 4 hrs, then just a case of vacuum and gas, £50 Max for that

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Thanks for that - it sounds far more reasonable. The guy at the garage told me that the front bumper and some associated gubbins need to come off which will take some time, and with the car being 8 years old maybe he has allowed for things being rusted or jammed on?

I could maybe do the condenser bit myslef but then I don't have the equipment to refill the system and would need to go back for that. ECP has a Visteon condenser at £69 or Hella at £141 (which says produced by Visteon in the extra detail!) - the quote includes £100 for the parts.

I don't really want to get in a position of having done the mechanical work and getting it filled by the garage only to find there is still a leak elsewhere in system and each blaming eachother. I would insist that the car be handed back with a fully working a/c. I will maybe suggest I bring the car in with bumper already removed so he can have free access to the condenser.

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You can't drive without a front bumper, well not in the UK anyway!

I would imagine you only need to remove bumper and grill, maybe the coolant radiator as well. It shouldn't be a difficult job to change yourself.

Even if you find another fault will have saved a lot in labour. Plus they'll be buying a cheap condenser and putting a markup on it. The garage won't guarantee the AC works anyway, if there happens to be a damaged pipe as well they won't give you one free of charge.

I would guess you've had a stone puncture the condenser on the motorway due to it's location, so that should be the only fault really. :)

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A leaking condensor is a common problem on the Focus MK2/MK2.5. Due to the large holes of the lower front grill the condensor can be easily damaged by stones or by corrosion. Corrosion is often caused by(wet) leafs entering the grill and get stuck below the condensor. During time a large amount of (wet) leafs can build up below the condensor and cause the condensor to corrode.

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Removal and refitting takes 30 mins , no need for bumper radiator removal. Just 2 nuts for the pipes from above, front under tray off that hides the bottom of radiator, that a few screws, on diesel, intercooler off(that's a 2 min job) the unclip condenser off radiator assy. That's it really . reverse of above to refit. Sometimes it's a little easier to unclip by slackening the coolant radiator lower bracket bolts a few turns to aide removal. It's nothing difficult at all.

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I'll have a look through the Haynes manual this weekend to get an idea of what is involved. Am I right to assume that I can't recharge with refrigirant because of of needing to be certified/regulated in its use?

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You can recharge , but I wouldn't as when you fit a new part to aircon. You need to inject a certain amount oil back in system , condenser I think is 30ml, also good practice is to vacuum for minimum of 20 mins before charging. That all needs doing to do a proper job. If you ring round , I bet you can get it gassed for£35

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Just done this job on mine, £50 for the condenser, half an hour to fit £40 for a refil, it's not hard to change.

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