Driving down the dual carriageway today, it seems something hit the front of my VRS. It has damaged the black part of the bonnet grille and has made a dent in the workings behind it. Looking at it, it doesnt seem to have punctuired through, but if you look at the pictures it is "dented" quite a bit. Do you think this will cause any problems?

photos here:

Thanks,

Will

Thats the aircon condenser, if the aircon is still working in a couple of days then your lucky and its not sprung a leak. The fins I would not worry about as they are only superficial and in effect hold the horizontal members in place whilst allowing air to flow to the radiator, the big headache are the fatter cross ones that travel horizontally, if one is punctured then the aircon gas will escape.

Hmm. I thought so.

Seems to be ok at the moment. Only had compressor done about 6 months ago..

My air con not working car going into skoda on monday but i ve checked my front panel and its wet some of the little fin s are missing so that must be prob cars only 14 months old gutted should be covered under warrenty.i hope

s

Thats the aircon condenser, if the aircon is still working in a couple of days then your lucky and its not sprung a leak. The fins I would not worry about as they are only superficial and in effect hold the horizontal members in place whilst allowing air to flow to the radiator, the big headache are the fatter cross ones that travel horizontally, if one is punctured then the aircon gas will escape.

They do much more than that, the fins are what transfer the heat from the refrigerant in the tubes. Once the fins lose thermal contact with the tubes or air (i.e a dent like that or the weld seperates) they become inefficient in heat transfer. The heat exchanger manufacturers have spent a lot of effort developing materials and manufacturing brazing techniques to make sure the weld is complete and robust. I worked for an aluminium supplier to the heat ex component suppliers for a few years in the early 90s. Google nocolok.

If it is not leaking, then carefully use an electrical screwdriver to re-open some of those fins to help with cooling

If it is not leaking, then carefully use an electrical screwdriver to re-open some of those fins to help with cooling

Yeah, i'd go with this. Used to have bends in my old Golf rads from even FLIES hitting it at speed through the grille and wedging themselves in!