[themainlegend]

Hi all,

Had my air con re-gassed twice now and both times the refrigerant leaks to zero within 6 weeks.

Had dye put through the system and ultraviolet lights around the system to see where the leak could be. Turned out the condenser was covered in refrigerant and needs replacing.

I am going to get a used one for cheap off eBay but wondered if I can fit it without taking the front end off?? Possible to do it with just front bumper off???

Any help is appreciated.

 

[Sabaselfsit]

You mean the ac radiator? You'll need the bumper off and the beam off...and then I was able to sneak it out.

You should use the opportunity to put a new ac filter with new o-rings on aswell. Like this, here my old one is removed=

 

[strapper]

No he means the condenser. It is called this as the refrigerant changes its state from a vapour to a liquid inside the system.

 

[JMP R32]

The condenser is the radiator-looking part of the system.

 

[Sabaselfsit]

It's a radiator strapper, nothing more nothing less.

 

[themainlegend]

The condenser sits in front of the radiator and is very thin. It takes all stone hits and debris off the road.

I basically need to get bumper off, crash bar off then support radiator from below. I can then unbolt condenser, remove piping and slot new one in hopefully.

Wish me luck.

 

[JamesBaby]

Do a write up tutorial mate.

 

[strapper]

It's a radiator strapper, nothing more nothing less.

Nope it's a condenser

It's does however look like a radiator but does a completely different job ;-)

 

[Sabaselfsit]

I basically need to get bumper off, crash bar off then support radiator from below. I can then unbolt condenser, remove piping and slot new one in hopefully.

You don't have to support the water radiator, it has different fixing and sit tight. Bumper and front beam off, and then pull the frame forward just as much to take the ac RADIATOR out and the new one in. Here I have my new one in place ready to put bumper on again;

 

[themainlegend]

Right, I bought a used condenser from eBay which turned out to be twisted and wouldn't sit flat. Refund pending now.

I called VW and they said a new genuine condenser is over £500!!! I've seen a non-genuine one on eBay for £55 with a 1 year guarantee.

Should I just get this and will it be sufficient for the air conditioning to work properly???

 

[PaulW]

Right, I bought a used condenser from eBay which turned out to be twisted and wouldn't sit flat. Refund pending now.

I called VW and they said a new genuine condenser is over £500!!! I've seen a non-genuine one on eBay for £55 with a 1 year guarantee.

Should I just get this and will it be sufficient for the air conditioning to work properly???

I would imagine so. I would look at it as more of a temporary one until you see another vw one come up? You phones Stevens dismantlers? They're very good at sourcing parts. I would imagine all mk4 condensers are the same?

 

[themainlegend]

I don't want a second hand one as they will all have had stones come at them at speed so there is a chance they could leak slightly.

I think I am going to get a non-genuine one that I have seen. Can't justify forking out £500 odd quid for a genuine one.

 

[PaulW]

There will be a company that does them on a return exchange basis?

 

[Sabaselfsit]

I got a non genuine one (4-seasons); noticable thinner compared to the oem one...but like you said, for the price there was no option really. Mine has worked fine so far.