Bonny's A/C Issue

[JamesT5]

Attachment 25825
like so. do you want it
you literally just said youll be buying them payday lol

I'll PM you.

[LeeT5]

Purely an optional repair this but I'd like to get it done at some point....

I've been rummaging round today having a look for any obvious reasons why the A/C is leaking on the D5. ATS did a pressure test on the system with O2 free Nitrogen and the machine detected a 'leak' (the reason for system not working then ). So, they were unable to charge it back up for obvious reasons (legal and common sense) and I wouldn't want them to if there was a leak even if they could. They did the UV wand test and couldn't see any dye leaking anywhere although I think it was a superficial look and they didn't charge me for the 'service'.

So before I cart it off to an A/C 'specialist' for the proper dye treatment, I thought I'd have a look in case the solution was smacking me in the face. I visually checked as much of the pipework as possible, I noticed what appears to be an A/C related pipe going along the bottom of the radiator, I/C, Condenser assembly to the Condenser itself and this looked rather rusty on the surface but nothing obviously rusted through.

I also noted the condenser has seen better days and on a side note, there is a bolt missing from the lower n/s that holds the 3 units together so I wonder if the assembly has been completely apart at some point in the past, and something damaged during reinstallation. Another thing I noted is that the condenser seems to be 'bowed' which may indicate that it's damaged and will need replacing, PFV sell them for around £165 although I imagine it's a bumper off job, radiator drain and complete disassembly to change the units over (in other words a PITA).

A photo of the bottom of the condenser, perhaps this is normal but it doesn't look right to me. By comparison, the unit on the T5 looks nearly new by the way!

Look James, I know we've not seen eye to eye in the past but I'm beyond all that. The fact is, you've already said what you should be doing first! (I have Highlighted above). It appears that your going to start buying parts and stripping the car down and fitting them in the hope that they fix you leaking air con, first!
You can tell me to Piss off if you like, but surely the best thing to do (if you really insist on fixing the leak) is to have a specialist fill the system with a slug or two of dye and then investigate where it's leaking from?
What your about to undertake by replacing the Air con condenser is not an easy job and other valuable parts may get broken or damaged in the process. Yes you will need to drain the radiator (although it can be done without doing that - but it lightens the load on the rad pack, making them easier to handle) and the front bumper will have to come off.
When it comes to removing the condenser you will need a second pair of hands or you WILL damage the radiator fins and intercooler.
I have just recently done this job so I know what your about to undertake. It's not an easy job. Infact, it's a total PITA and one I will not want to do EVER again. I took steps to ensure that I would not have to do it again which meant buying other parts and spending more money - one I feel you will not do.

I'm not posting to have ago, but I am expressing my concern that you are once again not listening to what ppl are saying. I understand you want the a/c fixed (don't we all!) but it seems fruitless on this car and a total waste of money that you could plough into the T5 (if you really must).

I will also say that the air con dryer pipework on that part your about to be given for free, looks very bent (mine was not bent like that). If you try to bend it back it will most probably crack because it is alloy. This also means, if you don't bend it back, you probably won't get the front end back on because there just isn't the clearance!

Say what you like James, I don't care.....but seriously think twice about trying to replace that condenser. The chances are, once you have the car checked out by an air con specialist, it will probably not be the condenser that's leaking anyway!!

[stephenevans99]

I will also say that the air con dryer pipework on that part your about to be given for free, looks very bent. If you try to bend it back it will most probably crack because it is alloy. This also means, if you don't bend it back, you probably won't get the front end back on because there just isn't the clearance!

The only thing I would like to add is that ANY receiver drier that has been off the car and exposed to the atmosphere for more than a few days is going to be knackered tbh. They contain a desiccant whose job is to absorb moisture - once left 'open' to they tend to saturate beyond recovery. Just something to be aware of.

[T5RatherAmusin]

fwiw the ac rad in pic is a google img....
also imo what looks to have happened is is the ic had blown its load and got its ££££ over everything-
y the ic looks in better nik than the other 2 rads; as its been replaced....