Hey guys, I am hoping you can help me out here. My fiance nailed a pheasant with her car and as a result part of the grill mounting bracket put a very small hole in the A/C condenser.

There is only one hole, is it possible to solder this up, or repair it somehow? Really dont want to spend money on a new one if it is not needed.

Any suggestions?

Thanks, Josh

 

Most condensers are aluminun, so soldering is out. You may find someone to weld it up for you, but the oinly way to be sure it doesn't leak is to recharge the system and run the AC. If it leaks, you'll be doing it all over again. Yeah, you can pressurize it with air and check it with water, but the system pressure can reach 250-300psi. Personally, I'd replace it. Do it right, and you only do it once.
Have you priced a replacement? What kind of car is it?

 

replacement price isnt bad, i was just wondering if it was possible. 75 used to 175 new. dealer wants at least twice that. btw, its a 2001 Mazda 626, I know on the outside it isnt a ford, but mechanically it is.

Also, what happens when the A/C system is ran dry? the whole was so small we didnt notice it, plus it happened during winter time, so when summer came along and the AC didnt work, we were a little confused.

Are there other parts of the system that would have been damaged from this? I can do the work myself, replacing things and my dad knows how to recharge AC systems (i have never done it before)

Thanks

 

Since it has sat empty since winter, you'll have to do a few things to get it going again.
In addition to the condenser, you are going to need a new receiver/drier. That's what absorbs stray moisture in an AC system. The leak will have allowed moisture laden air into the system and saturated the desiccant. Look for a metal can about the size of a small spray paint can in the line between the condenser and the firewall (the other line comes from the compressor). It will look similar to this:
http://www.ackits.com/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=01&Product_Cod e=37-13262&Category_Code=

Depending on how lucky you feel, you really should flush the system to remove the old oil. There's no dipstick on an AC system and you will have lost some from the leak. How much is a tossup. Flushing will give you a baseline of 0, and you would add the recommended amount shown on the underhood sticker. It will also remove any heavy moisture. Flushing is pretty inexpensive, but it can get complicated because the expansion device and compressor have to be removed.
You'll need to at least add about 3-4 ounces to replace the oil lost in the old condenser and receiver/drier, if you decide not to flush it.
Make sure to pull a long vacuum on the system. For one that has been open this long, I'd say a few hours.
Be sure to replace the o-rings on any connection that you separate.
If you go with a used condenser, flush it for sure. You don't know what may be inside. Pour in some solvent, shake it around and blow it out with lots of compressed air until it's dry. Lacquer thinner works well, just be careful.

Good Luck. If you have any questions, post back.

OBTW. Arizona Mobile Air has a new condenser for $117.
http://www.ackits.com/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=01&Product_Cod e=600126MD&Category_Code=Mazda01_626_2-0

 

Thanks for the info that really gives me a lot of good info on where i need to start, and what needs to be done.

There is just no way in hell that I can justify paying over 800 dollars to a shop to do this when I am capable of doing it myself.

If you have any other information that can help me out, I would really appreciate it.

Thanks again, Josh

Oh, and thanks for the link to the condenser, I had only looked in a few places so far, I new there was probably somewhere out there that had them cheaper

 

I deal with AMA quite a bit. Quality stuff, good prices, great to deal with. You can't beat their prices on new compressors.
If you want to learn more about MVAC systems, they also sponsor a great forum:
http://www.autoacforum.com Check it out.

 

Very nice! Thanks again, i will always be looking for more help, that site should help out! Now i just have to wait till this weekend when she is back from Minnesota.

 

It will be winter up there by then, won't it?

 

haha, actually we have been in a little bit of a heat wave. last few weeks have been around 90. yuck. I wish it was winter

 

oh ya don't ya know.

 

Aargh, another fan of that Evil White Plague! As soon as I retire, my chilly butt is heading South of the Mason Dixon line.

 

Yeah, i will admit that I would choose 30 below over 100 above any day.

You can always put more clothes on, but I have found out that they only let you take so many off...

 

You're just not hangin' out in the right bars.

Did you ever notice how much a cranking engine at -10 degrees sounds like it's saying " scrrrewww....yooouuuu......"?

 

And which bars would those be? I need to know now!

thats when you baby them with the heated garage they like that!

 

"And which bars would those be? I need to know now!"

Now that's a strange comment coming from a feller that cant seem to keep his pants on when things get rolling (re: your sig). Seems you've already found some of those bars locally (insert "Josh with no pants" smiley here)
We need details, son, details!

"thats when you baby them with the heated garage they like that!"

Yea, my Lincolns stay cozier in winter than I do. I know they get going better in the morning when the temp is around 0.

So when is the young lady with the leaky condenser due back? You need to fix that for her, it's called racking up "good guy" points. Remember, If she ain't happy (chillin in her AC), ain't nobody happy.