I drilled through my AC condenser...

Aelfwine

Aelfwine

New member
I was installing my new set of fogs today. I needed a good ground for the harness so I wanted to use that spot where a wire connects the body and frame with a wire. I took a wrench to it and broke the bolt off... My next move of course is to drill a new hole right beside it. So I'm drilling and going slow thinking not to damage the condenser, still it goes through and I got green allover the place...

Anyways thought I share the story...

How hard is it to replace? The cheapest part on rockauto.com is like $50 which is Denso. I don't know if I should go with this part or get something more expensive?

Is the install fairly straightforward? I want to replace it myself and then get a shop to recharge it for me.

Rust is my biggest enemy... Every time I try to do something, I got broken bolts and more problems to follow...(
 
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Aelfwine said:
I was installing my new set of fogs today. I needed a good ground for the harness so I wanted to use that spot where a wire connects the body and frame with a wire. I took a wrench to it and broke the bolt off... My next move of course is to drill a new hole right beside it. So I'm drilling and going slow thinking not to damage the condenser, still it goes through and I got green allover the place...

Anyways thought I share the story...

How hard is it to replace? The cheapest part on rockauto.com is like $50 which is Denso. I don't know if I should go with this part or get something more expensive?

Is the install fairly straightforward? I want to replace it myself and then get a shop to recharge it for me.

Rust is my biggest enemy... Every time I try to do something, I got broken bolts and more problems to follow...(
Click to expand...

Denso parts = Toyota parts... I think... lots of OEM parts are denso i know and they are a pretty decent company.
 
That blows... Now is the time to evaluate the rest of the components... At minimum I'd replace the receiver dryer in addition to the condenser... If your compressor looks and sounds good I'd leave it... Check your hoses for any signs of oil leakage and replace those if necessary... Rock Auto is a decent place to get these parts I've had good luck with their stuff...
 
Wait, "got green all over the place"?

WTF kind of AC stuff Re you using? Never seen green AC stuff before.

Sure you didn't go through the rad?

Did it come out as gas, make a very pronounced leaking sound? A pop almost?

I've busted a few AC lines, don't ask why or how, but I've NEVER seen anything green come out of them. A bunch of gas, but never anything green.
 
This is when i say...............................................take it someplace to have it done. LOL :doh:
 
Doc2012 said:
Wait, "got green all over the place"?

WTF kind of AC stuff Re you using? Never seen green AC stuff before.

Sure you didn't go through the rad?

Did it come out as gas, make a very pronounced leaking sound? A pop almost?

I've busted a few AC lines, don't ask why or how, but I've NEVER seen anything green come out of them. A bunch of gas, but never anything green.
Click to expand...

I second this! If you drilled through your radiator, you are going to have other major issues (i.e needing a new engine soon). You using green antifreeze?

OP??? Hello? :sleep:
 
I just had to buy a new condenser today because a "mechanic" hit it with a wrench and put a hole in it. That is a good price, I'd give it a try. I had a set of Denso wires that had a bad connection I had to fix in the plug boot. Interesting, read the wicopedia link about Denso and their price inflation. Anyway, it is easy to take out and replace a radiator. It is 4 bolts for the shroud, 4 bolts for the condenser and 2 hoses.

If we are talking about different things, never mind.
 
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Doc2012 said:
Wait, "got green all over the place"?

WTF kind of AC stuff Re you using? Never seen green AC stuff before.

Sure you didn't go through the rad?

Did it come out as gas, make a very pronounced leaking sound? A pop almost?

I've busted a few AC lines, don't ask why or how, but I've NEVER seen anything green come out of them. A bunch of gas, but never anything green.
Click to expand...

amalik said:
I second this! If you drilled through your radiator, you are going to have other major issues (i.e needing a new engine soon). You using green antifreeze?

OP??? Hello? :sleep:
Click to expand...

All A/C systems have a green UV liquid dye in them to find leaks. It only will come out when you cut a line or apparently drill into it lol. Trust me I have done enough "weight reduction" in our race cars to know lol.

Stuff stains clothes like no other too lol
 
Skidmarcx said:
That blows... Now is the time to evaluate the rest of the components... At minimum I'd replace the receiver dryer in addition to the condenser... If your compressor looks and sounds good I'd leave it... Check your hoses for any signs of oil leakage and replace those if necessary... Rock Auto is a decent place to get these parts I've had good luck with their stuff...
Click to expand...

Yep. Dryer for sure. It will also have to be vacuumed to remove all the air before charging. Unless you have the stuff (gauges, vacuum pump), I'd replace the dryer and condensor and then take it somewhere to have it vacuumed and charged (very soon after replacing the dryer).

And I did the same thing on my 98 mounting the transmission cooler. I was thinking 'I should probably but that piece of wood between the brace and condensor, but I'll do it after I drill the small pilot hole'. The bit caught and it was all over. Unfortunately, we're not all rocket scientists. :ohwell:
 
The green was just the dye stuff, not the coolant. Do you guys think I should do the radiator as well while I'm at it? My runner has got 169k kms on it and I have no idea what has been replaced in it or when... I have a hayden trans cooler that I wanted to install and bypass the radiator with it.
 
Aelfwine said:
The green was just the dye stuff, not the coolant. Do you guys think I should do the radiator as well while I'm at it? My runner has got 169k kms on it and I have no idea what has been replaced in it or when... I have a hayden trans cooler that I wanted to install and bypass the radiator with it.
Click to expand...

If the coolant doesn't look contaminated and the radiator isn't leaking I'd leave it be... No sense in opening a can of worms.
 
I did my condenser, compressor, and dryer a bit ago. It is fairly straight forward, nothing too fancy to work through. You'll need to remove your bumper and grill to get space to slide the old condenser out, and more importantly the new one in without bending fins.

Once its all back together, get a shop to re-charge it.

I ordered this:

Amazon.com: Denso 477-0518 Condenser: Automotive

and this:

Amazon.com: Denso 478-0500 Receiver Drier: Automotive.

Use heat and PB blaster (Or 50/50 acetone and ATF if you're fancy) On bolts that look stuck.

Also, yes the AC refrigerant is green, there is dye, and oil in it.
 
yukonrider said:
I did my condenser, compressor, and dryer a bit ago. It is fairly straight forward, nothing too fancy to work through. You'll need to remove your bumper and grill to get space to slide the old condenser out, and more importantly the new one in without bending fins.

Once its all back together, get a shop to re-charge it.

I ordered this:

Amazon.com: Denso 477-0518 Condenser: Automotive

and this:

Amazon.com: Denso 478-0500 Receiver Drier: Automotive.

Use heat and PB blaster (Or 50/50 acetone and ATF if you're fancy) On bolts that look stuck.

Also, yes the AC refrigerant is green, there is dye, and oil in it.
Click to expand...

Good post. I did the condenser (and receiver/dryer) on my son's BMW last summer after he hit a 'coon. You will also need new A/C type O-rings (green) for both and some PAG oil to moisten them with before install.

I was tired of paying ~$100 for an evac. and charge to local shops so I went to Harbor Freight and got a nice set of A/C gauges and a two-stage vacuum pump--about $200 on sale for both. I studied up and now for ~$25 I can evacuate and recharge A/C systems with oil and refrigerant. You really have to educate yourself to do this right; if you don't want to invest the time and mental effort have a shop do it. I just tested the BMW and A/C is fine for the coming season.
 
TheDurk said:
Good post. I did the condenser (and receiver/dryer) on my son's BMW last summer after he hit a 'coon. You will also need new A/C type O-rings (green) for both and some PAG oil to moisten them with before install.
Click to expand...


I've heard the new parts come with a can of oil, don't know about o-rings though. Do you know what size o-rings are they?
 
Benski said:
Interesting, read the wicopedia link about Denso and their price inflation.
Click to expand...

Yeah, I had forgotten about that whole thing...

Denso "fixes" a lot of stuff at Toyota. They have a lot of influence at Toyota, and they basically write Toyota's specs for components they sell Toyota, and they write them so that they are tailor made for Denso products, and other competitor products don't meet the spec. It's all pretty dirty. There are a lot of very incestuous business relationships in Japan.
 
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