Quick condenser question?

[blackspaven]

Dealer has diagnosed a leak from my condenser, not from a stone hitting up or owt but from some sort of plastic nut at the end where it attaches to the dryer? Not knowing much about a/c systems other than the theory, does that make sense to where the leak is to anyone and ate they correct in saying the part isn't available separately so you have to replace the whole condenser?

 

I asked if it's anything in the dash that needs getting to and he said it's all angie bay side.

 

Any help would be greatly appreciated. 

[Aston_Bodger]

Hi,

 

You cannot get the condenser with the plastic nut fro the dealers now, not sure what its replaced with now, as it would have cost me £350 just for the condenser.

 

Was also told by the parts man ( I used to work with him at a dealer in Luton years ago) that it has been superseded about 5 times already, so I got mine from eurocarparts for £90 with discount.

 

Hope this helps.

 

Trev

[blackspaven]

(Angie bay side should have read engine bay side before... bloody spellchecker! Lol,)

 

Yeah, fair one, cheers. Got a few quotes back and they’ve come in around £300-380 so not that bad. To be honest, if they're anything like normal rads then the fact mine is 9 years old means I might be just as well off replacing it in case it corrodes some time shortly (do they corrode like rads do??).

 

Also needed a regas anyway so that would have cost me 50 odd quid. Swings and roundabouts. 

 

Anyone used Auto Air Conditioning in knaphill/Woking? Seems to get good reviews and quite reasonable, just wondering if there's anything that you'd need specifically a garage for to do the whole job instead of an aircon specialist so that something else doesn't get ballsed up the ISN'T aircon related. Headlight accuracy/adjustment, just for example?

Edited 13 July, 2017 by blackspaven

[blackspaven]

Just a thought, if the plastic nut bit WAS available aftermarket, could it be changed over without replacing the entire condenser or does the whole thing come as one part regardlesa? Haven't a clue what/where it is exactly or how it attaches so can't get my head around wether there's a cheaper obvious way to sort this if the existing condenser is perfectly fine.

 

Might not even need the front end coming off if it can be swapped off somehow?!

 

Over to the experts... 

[Aston_Bodger]

I've not seen one with the plastic nut as an aftermarket part, hence why I had to change mine, all I needed was the drier pack that hides in there.

Yes the front end has to come off, you don't need to take the rad/radfan pack or the intercooler off.

The thing with the plastic nut is the drier.

 

Trev

Edited 14 July, 2017 by Aston_Bodger

[blackspaven]

Goodo, thanks. Just trying to get my head around where stuff is and how it works (first car ever owned with a/c! ), I had a look at various clips of condensers on golfs and whatnot and came across this bloke explaining how the system worked to give myself a bit more of an understanding.

 

 

So, he mentions at about 3:50 he says that you need to replace the drier cos it kind of might be knacked. Couple of questions from this:

1. Is he talking utter sausages and it's not necessary every single time?

2. Is the drier actually a seperate part if you're replacing the condenser or as you said earlier it's where that plastic nut is, is that drier part of the system therefore automatically going to be replaced when the condenser is swapped?

3. If the leak is from that white plastic hex nut bit, is that not then just the drier that need to be replaced instead or is it indeed as q.2 part of the condenser and not a seperate bit?

4. If it's not in the condenser/part of the condenser kit, is it likely to be common practice that the a/c guy coming out to fit it all will just expect that to be done as part of the price quoted?

 

Sorry for being a bit dim; i've replaced whole engines & gearboxes, dismantled superchargers, but this is my first foray into auto air conditioning!

 

EDIT::

 

Regarding the above questions, I found the clip below and from looking at it clip at about 3:20, the receiver drier on this model golf is removable so am I understanding correctly that it ISN'T on the octy which is why the whole condenser needs to be replaced as it's part of it and there's some sort a replaceable element inside?? That sound about right?!

 

 

Edited 15 July, 2017 by blackspaven

[blackspaven]

Think this is what the dealer is saying is leaking for anyone not following...

 

[blackspaven]

By the look of it though, is there not just a replacement plug available from aftermarket?! Someone on the link below said they just swapped one with a scrappy one and it was fixed! If it's possible to do that, and there's a pic of a replacement internal kit which you'd change anyway, then isn't it likely that the white plug is available somewhere? Frustrating if that's all it is and it can be changed without all the faff of taking the front end off!!

 

https://www.briskoda.net/forums/topic/323654-air-con-leak/

 

[Aston_Bodger]

I have the condenser off my car still, if you want the nut PM me your address and I will pop it in the post.

Regarding the questions,

 

1) You should change the drier every 3-4 years, it contains some sort of drying agent and gets soaked in moisture as it takes the water etc out of the system, also when changing compressor.

2) Some cars its a separate item, not on the octy, nope you take the nut out and fish the drier pack out and replace, that's before I found out VAG don't do the drier pack anymore, so you now have to change the condenser, brilliant

3) That will need a new condenser.

4) I have no idea as I did the work myself, being a mechanic.

 

You are not being dim, if you don't know you did the right thing by asking. That's what this forums about.

Not had much to do with new Golfs, I had a MK2 years ago and that had no A/C.

 

Regarding the photo, yes that's where the drier is, like I said you can have the nut I have if you want it, just remember to have the system discharged first.

 

Hope this helps.

 

 

Trev

[blackspaven]

Thanks Trev, much appreciated. Yup, my experience is Mk2 golfs as well, I had a G60 Edition One that I worked on quite a bit and even though that was pretty much the gold standard of Mk2's it still didn't have aircon, very few did... about 15 years after it was built, a VW dealership tried convincing me that it didn't have ABS either cos they had it for a day but didn't know where to find the plug in diagnostic socket which was under the gearstick gaitor!! Phht, kids and their new toys didn't have a clue despite me pointing out the sensors, brain and ABS warning light on the dash: an old school tech at another dealer found it in about 20 seconds!!

 

Thanks for the offer of the hex plug, but I'm guessing then that if there's no replacement kit for the internals then changing the nut won't matter as I'll have nothing to stick back in once I ge tthe old stuff out! Also, it's been ice cold up until now since brand new so never wanted anyone d1cking about with it so it's got 9 years of condensate use to replace! If it's to be changed every 3-4 years ideally, surely that doesn't mean that every 3-4 years you have to replace the entire condenser?!! Will the replacement one have the bolt on cylinder version so that it CAN be changed in future?? Just I know ECP, etc all do a cylinder replacement so it must fit something?!

[Aston_Bodger]

Yeah I'm old school when it come to cars, when I started there was no air bags, ABS, ESP, cars ran on carbs, fuel injection was high end cars, so a lot of changes to get used to for me, but still listen to an engine running and 9 times out of 10 I 'm pretty much spot on as to what's wrong with it.

 

True, blimey 9 years!!!, has it been serviced at all?, ie had the gas replaced?, I did see that one on ECP web site and did wonder what it fitted as the ones listed for octys have them built in as I have an Hella one now and the drier is on the side and not separate, you could talk to them and find out what it fits, that's if they have the time, our one is not very helpful like that, so I just got the one that fit and that was that, if you do find out about it let me know please, just curious that's all.

 

Looks like it every 3-4 years, unless I got it wrong?, I do know if you change the compressor you do have to change the drier, its recommended by the compressor maker, also if the compressor had gone bang have the system flushed out that takes 2 hours usually, to get rid of all the swarf out of the system, if not the poor old compressor wont last long.

 

Trev

[blackspaven]

Yup, all taken on board, cheers.

 

Nope, not had the aircon serviced at all in 9 years. Basically, it was always working as good as day one so my ex-father in law had an old d reg volvo that had the same deal and wouldn't let anyone near it cos he figured if it was working, there's nothing wrong and if you start messing with it it'll only balls it up potentially in the long run! Sounded fairly reasonable so I assumed the same position. If it had lost performance I'd have had it serviced, but it's not dropped a heartbeat since I've had it from new until this leak.

That cylinder refill thing on ECP is available on a ton of other sites so it must fit something. Logic would dictate that newer condensers would have that refillable aspect for that purpose, especially when other manufacturers have seperate driers for that very reason. I'll be making a few calls on monday cos it'll annoy me not understanding how it works.

 

Nice being old school, I can still recognise certain faults by ear too. Even managed to hear something wrong in the wife's Vauxhall Adam on the way to it's last service the day before the warranty ran out... turned out it was the compressor not working properly and got it changed under warranty saving about £800! And I don't drive it much! lol

[Aston_Bodger]

Blimey 9 years!!, I think its long over due for a regas then. As I said it would be good to find out what its supposed to fit as the ECP site is a little vague, I had a look to see what it would fit and got lost with it.

 

You were lucky with that compressor not working how it should. Sometimes you don't need fancy diagnostic stuff just a good ear.

[blackspaven]

Every year I thought about a regas but it just did not get any warmer so logic seemed to dictate there was no loss from what is effectively a closed system!

 

Yup, real stroke of luck. JUst heard a whirring noise every now and then, nothing too innocuous, just didn't sound right to me. Mrs didn't really seem to understand how lucky she was for both financial reasons and for the hassle of not having aircon. Daft how normal it is for everyone now and only a decade ago it was a real luxury item!

[Aston_Bodger]

Yeah I know what you mean "if it ain't broke don't fix it".

 

I'm a mechanic and like I said boy have I seen some changes to cars since I started working on them at 16, now 49,and I have worked on race cars including BTCC the proper ones I mean the super touring type of the mid 90's, did that for 2 years as a NO1 tech, then went on to run 2 cars in a single make championship, build £1/2 million rally cars only for them to get smashed up, then moved to Aston Martin in the prototype dept, built the first 4 door rapide's and V12 vantage's, now I make the rotors for ERS system motors for F1.

 

Trev

[pikpilot]

9 years with no air con service? My 03 mk1 car air con was still working perfectly when I sold the car after 12 years with no air con service. If it ain't broke don't touch it.

 

Maybe I was lucky or perhaps it was because I exercised it every month and also used it on cold wet days for humidity control together with the heater.

 

[blackspaven]

Hah, sounds like an interesting line of work Trev. Bloke I used to hang round with worked as a mechanic for formula ford teams or summat and had Damon Hill as the whipping boy to make tea whilst Damon was actually the driver! lol Rite of passage I guess.

[Muzza80]

Is this not what you're after?

 

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/GENUINE-AUDI-Q3-VW-CADDY-GOLF-SEAT-LEON-OCTAVIA-AIR-CON-DRYER-INSERT-5K0-298-403-/191076946912?epid=1716999111

[blackspaven]

Depends if it's made by Modine or Showa and I think mine's that latter. Also, I don't think this includes the white plug which is the main bone of contention, annoyingly.

[Aston_Bodger]

9 hours ago, blackspaven said:

Hah, sounds like an interesting line of work Trev. Bloke I used to hang round with worked as a mechanic for formula ford teams or summat and had Damon Hill as the whipping boy to make tea whilst Damon was actually the driver! lol Rite of passage I guess.

Its different that's for sure, I'm used to mechanical work, this is working with very high power magnets, and yes they do hurt if you get 2 stuck together and your fingers are in the way, you don't do it twice LOL:).

[Inex]

The workshop found the same on my car just now..... Any progress on this? 

 

They tried removing the nut but it's jammed in there. I do hope this is a removable part... :(

[blackspaven]

Pot luck if you can get it off but once you do you can't get a replacement, hence the complete condenser job.

[blackspaven]

Got the condenser replaced with a Hella one. No stupid white nut, all sealed up so nothing to be a weak point. Got a new pressure switch at the same time as a precaution and cost £343 all in, couldn't bne happier with the work. The guy is a mobile aircon mechanic in Woking, http://autoairconditioningltd.co.uk/ Absolutely top notch, had it replaced in about a hour 45 which was incredible considering other garages were quoting between 3 and 4 1/2 hours labour!!

[Aston_Bodger]

Just answered your other post, that's a good price, and quick too, I could do it quicker next time probably now I know what needs to come off.

 

It's an easy job but a big one, mine come off quite easy once I got the A/C connection off.

 

 

Trev

[blackspaven]

Yeah, he said he's done so many he knows exactly what to take off in what order. Repetition makes an expert I guess and he's an aircon specialist so one would expect him to be good at that end of the car especially when the VAG platforms are all so similar and the numbers he must see coming through. To be fair, I was a little twitchy but soon realised he knew what he was doing when literally in the time it took me to make him a coffee, he'd got the headlights and most of the bumper off!!

 

Yup, looked pretty straightforward, just pipes and bolts, but good to have it done for that price, AND he came to my home so I didn't need to do anything! As I said, it didn't need the pressure switch doing but it's a 9 year old car, the hella replacement has obviously been updated as it's alot thinner (and he said they'd redesigned it to withstand the hot/cold changes better), and for the sake of £30 it made sense to do it when there's always the possibility of it going in a year or two, possibly even a month, who knows, all of a sudden I'm without aircon AGAIN, and it'll cost the same £30 PLUS the diagnostic finding out, regas and getting someone to fit it cos you're not supposed to do it yourself cos of the environment laws and stuff. No brainer.