Replace Condenser

[woody81480]

Well my a/c condenser is smashed at the bottom and i need to replace it. I was wondering if i can drive fine without it ruining anything internal or other components in the a/c system. And could i just remove it and just not be able to have air conditioning for a while until i fix it? Also, i know its under pressure but how much and would i be fine doing it on my own, or should i just take it to a dealer to install since i'm unsure about it?
I have to install my new radiator (old one got smashed too) and i cannot fit the new radiator in because the condenser is bent back toward the fan. My main question is if i remove it will i be fine to drive without it

 

[CDW6212R]

Is the freon already gone? If it can be left in place until you get it fixed, do that. Pull/bend it back in place if needed, rather than removing it. You will need a new dryer anyway because of the moisture, but it will lessen how much gets in. Don't take it off until you are going to repair the AC. Good luck,

 

[cjones101812]

what cdw6212r said is spot on...

also, you can do most of the repair yourself. if the condensor is cracked then there won't be any pressure or freon. when you go to repair it, if you can, have a shop recover the freon. your truck should have R134a which for now is safe for the enviroment (BTW how can something (R12) that is heavier than air get to the ozone layer?? small rant).

after you do the repairs (don't forget the AC oil) take the truck to have the AC system properly charged (evacuated, pumped down and held in vacuum for 20-30 minutes then charged)

 

[woody81480]

Well ive been trying to bend it back a little to straighten it out to fit the radiator in but i cant. Would it be alright and not cause any more problems to take it out for like a minute or two to straighten it out and then re install it? im sure it would be much easier to bend when its not installed. Anyways thanks for the help

 

[CDW6212R]

The whole point is to stop or reduce contamination into the AC system. If you have opened it up by removing any of the AC, or do it now even for a short while, it's done. From that point you don't need to reinstall anything which is off. The whole system will need very thorough vacuum service, plus the new dryer and oil. Moisture is what kills AC systems, bolting on a bunch of separate parts usually doesn't last long. Occurrences like that should have freon and oil and vacuum added, the system run, then evacuated and done again. No one does that, that is titrating in technical terms, cleaning out the system, and it would not be cheap to have the work done multiple times.

The best answer is to not remove anything until the AC will be properly serviced, keep it all assembled. Good luck,

 

[woody81480]

Well i have to get a new condenser anyways and obviously have the a/c system cleaned and recharged and all that but i cant do that without taking it to a shop to do the work. Should i order a condenser and install it on my own then take it somewhere to have it 'put into operation'? And when i do install the new condenser, wont moisture get into the system then anyway?

 

[mattferkey]

the reason moisture ruins ac systems is because when the refridgerant is combined with moisture it becomes costic and eats out the system from the inside.

 

[mattferkey]

you install the drier last before pulling the vacuume which removes most of the moisture and the desicant in the drier removes the rest. when the system is left open for extended periods the desicant saturates and cant remove any more moisture.

 

[CDW6212R]

Yes, the damage is accumulative, doing the work in one day is great, that's what is recommended. I've done the mechanical labor several times, and driven to a trusted AC shop for the vacuum/freon work.

If you have a tiny hole or holes in the system, moisture will not get in it fast and do much damage in short order. But if you open it up and don't service quickly, the openings that you create will greatly increase the speed that moisture gets throughout the system.

That's why I suggested saving the old condensor until you are ready to do the servicing. It's not that strong, surely you can pry it out as needed, carefully. Regards,

 

[woody81480]

So if i did get a new condenser i just need to install it within several minutes or as quick as i can? And i assume an a/c shop or a dealer would be able to replace the oil, the dryer and other components that would need fixing? The thing pissing me off the most is i cannot bend the condenser or straighten it out. Im worried the hoses and tubes on the side will bust if i dont do it carefully and its at such an awkward place to reach and pull on. Thanks for the help guys.

 

[CDW6212R]

You really only need to worry about the two lines going into the condenser. Those are aluminum, and they can be bent into and out of shape. They can take a little tweaking, which is good. Can you take and post some kind of picture. Surely we can help to suggest how to bend it out of the radiator's way, how bad is it?

 

[woody81480]

Ill go get some pics now but can i post them without being Elite, or do i just need to use flickr or something

 

[CDW6212R]

You can post the URL, from a hosting site like that.

 

[woody81480]

http://www.flickr.com/photos/22767882@N07/2190693106/in/photostream/

The first one is from the front to show you the crease/dent in it.
Any tips would be helpful

 

[CDW6212R]

Okay, that looks fairly good for the whole truck. How did the radiator come out, it looks like you have replaced some parts already?

The AC lines are on the left side, those look very close to where they should be. You will need the condenser lower mounting bracket, that had to be bent a lot. It looks like you should be able to pull it out right along the bottom, using just some good gloves. If it hasn't blown freon out(still pressurized), cover the area where you pull on it. Do that while being mindful of where your face is, don't allow anything to get into your face or eyes. If you cannot get a good angle or leverage, you might need to remove the bumper(four bolts) to get at it better. Regards,

 

[woody81480]

Yeah i already took out the lower mounting bracket for it, that is completely bent and mangled. Im not sure what the bumpers or bolts are you are talking about. The hardest part about trying to straighten it is the condenser isnt actually bolted down or into anything, like the radiator support. Well ill keep trying news ways of pulling it and trying to straighten it but it is surprisingly strong.
As for long term, should i order a replacement condenser and install that then drive to an a/c shop to have it charged?
Thanks for all the help

 

[CDW6212R]

The bumper itself is large and partially in the way there. I removed mine recently to allow me access to the same area, for a transmission filter. I think that without the bumper, you could sit on the ground, and bend the condenser with your two hands. It may take another person to hold one end or side/corner.

You can buy a new or used replacement, plus the bracket, and you can see that it isn't hard to swap. If you're AC shop is reasonable I'd let them install it and the dryer. But if you haven't lost freon, and don't before getting to an AC shop, the dryer doesn't have to be changed. Some are not expensive so it's best to replace them anyway, your call then.