Airconditioning Condensors

[RockyF75]

Looking at mnine today and it is really clogged up and a lot of fins are bent, If I wanted to replace it can I just remove it and replace it then get re-gassed? Is there a special way to release the refrigerant before removing it or do I just crack the nuts and let it slowly seep out?

I'm going to want to find out how much a new one is first anyways, so I'm kinda trying to decide if its better to replace it or try to clean it out myself.

[thehanko]

do not just release it. it is terrible for the environment.

Go to the place that will be regassing, they will remove the gas, then fit the new condenser, then get regassed. while your at it might as well do the drier ( i think its the drier) it needs to be done fairly often and is cheap.

[RockyF75]

Well I've got the front of the car in bits at the moment so I can't drive it anywhere, I thought it was only that old gas that's now illegal that was bad? Might just try and clean it an straighten the fins instead.

Where/what is the drier?

[thehanko]

all refrigerant is bad, the old stuff was worse.

i would try cleaning it up.

if thats not a good result then - i copied this from another forum:


Officially i think you are supposed to replace drier every time the system is opened. But in reality this is not required unless the system is opened in very moist ambent air. Moisture in the system freezes as it passes through the expansion valve blocking it.

or open for a few days etc.

They look like a canister say 5 - 7 cm diameter about 15cm long usually vertical in the ac gas lines.

Assuming its for a rocky?

I couldnt find anything on them in a quick search but this might give you an idea.

http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Drier-6-Flar ... 648wt_1139

[ledgend80]

mate see if you can find a mobile guy to come and do it for you. the shit you have to go throught to get you ac licence is a pain. but as said before replace your reciever dryer as well , but don't fit it untill u are ready to gas the system up again. even i would leave the condensor disconnected untill ready to gas.

[RockyF75]

Thanks guys. I'll ring around tomorrow and find out how much a new one will cost, and go from there. Any reccomendations for a mobile guy in the blacktown-parramatta area?

And it's a 60 series landcruiser.

[georgey]

driers arent cheap.
Youll get fined if someone sees you airing the gas.
All we did when i worked at an air con place was blown the condensor and evap out with air,replace o-rings and drier and leak test it.

[ledgend80]

for my 80 series i think it was $50 for a new tx valve and dryer can't see a 60 series being much different unless it use some weird type dryer

[thehanko]

driers arent cheap.
Youll get fined if someone sees you airing the gas.
All we did when i worked at an air con place was blown the condensor and evap out with air,replace o-rings and drier and leak test it.

the universal one i posted is $13.90 As far as car parts expecially a/c parts go they are very cheap.

[KiwiBacon]

If it's clogged and bent, wouldn't waterblasting and straightening be the best plan? Replacement sounds a little drastic.

[zuffen]

You can buy "fin combs" for straightening the bent fins.

A Gernie will get rid of the muck.

Try Repco (or equivalent) for the comb.

[RockyF75]

fin comb coulda been helpfull before I tried straightening em one by one with a flat screwdriver

Gave it a good spray down with degreaser and a light wash with the gernie and its come up pretty good for now. Was only thinking bout replacing it cause its a pain to get to, and everything was out already anyhow.