Hi,

Our 2005 fiesta's AC stopped working last week. It was 1st time used this summer. Although old, car is only 60,000 miles and in v good condition but I dont want to be spending huge money on repairs. Ideally I'd fix it myself then take to garage for vacuum test and refill.

Looked under and found leak (see photos). It has no pressure at all in the system so all gas has leaked out. Does that look like a condenser leak or just the connector?

Hopefully it's just the connector and if so is this an easy fix? Does the pipe just unbolt or is it a welded connection? If I unbolt it, clean it up, apply some O Ring sealer is that likely to work?

Very greateful for any advice.

On balance of probabilities, the connector is much stronger than the condenser. Replacing the condenser (with new o rings, obviously,) is well within the realm of DIY now that the system is empty. No special tools and no access problems.

53 minutes ago, mattgs said:

If I unbolt it, clean it up, apply some O Ring sealer is that likely to work?

No. But worse than that, it probably would hold vacuum when sucked together. And only fail under pressure after the system has been refilled. There are no bodges with AC, it needs to be done properly.

I can't tell whether that leak is on the condenser or the pipe. But I would be hoping it's the condenser. New pipes are very difficult to source for older Fords now.

Thanks. I'd assumed a condenser was much more expensive that it is, only £55

https://www.partsinmotion.co.uk/car-parts/cooling-heating/condenser/nrf-condenser-air-con-conditioning-radiator-35524-detail

Just really annoying cant test for leaks without having an AC machine/going to garage/spending lots for trial and error!

Any chance it's just an O ring that needs replacing?

Two chances: slim and fat.

If the AC has not been used for months, then I would start with a seal...... AC needs to run at least once a month to keep the seals sealing.

Taken another look this morning.

Took front grill off and yellow oil covering top few cms of condenser and dripping down left side pooling around the inlet pipes in previous photo.

Don't know how delicate condensers are supposed to be but by hardly touching it at all the fins buckle/squish like Swiss cheese.

Thanks for advise. It's definitely the condenser itself, just have to work out if it's worth repairing in a car that does little apart from occasional local trips or just cope with no ac. My other consideration is thats its compressor was intermittently rumbling under load, may have been due to low AC gas or may also be worn/on its way out.

.... At least the main car (Kuga) still blowing AC air at about 3 degrees C!

The compressor is regulated by amongst other things a pressure switch which is why its action had become intermittent. It isn't on the way out but leaving the system open may cause intenal corrosion and will almost certainly saturate the drier so iIwould spend the hundred quid it will cost to do it all because it will get more expensive to fix and besides, working aircon is well worth having, particularly in the Winter.

Ordered new condensor.

Can anyone help with the part number for the studs & bolts to attach the AC pipes to the condensor as I doubt the originals will be able to be recovered from the old condensor? I don't think they are supplied with a new condenser. It's an early 2005 (54 reg) 1.4 petrol 3 door fiesta.

They should be supplied when the new condenser.

There's a stud listed as 3043906 but it's not clear whether that is for the condenser pipes or not. No nuts listed.

I like to post updates.

Replaced condenser today, easy job, new one came with new studs and seals. Also added about 30ml PAG oil before reattaching pipes.

Photo attached of cold condenso .... completely had it!

Refilled and working fine again hopefully that will continue.