CHANGING CONDENSER - Do I need to do Drier too?

[EDWARD757]

Hi,
Planning to change leaky conderser on the AC system. Do I need to do the reciever Drier at the same time. Only issue is the condenser supplier can not source any driers for my car.
Anyone have any good sources?
2000 W reg 406 2.0 HDI estate manual.
Kind regards,
Ed

[Welly]

On the 406 the receiver/drier is built into the side of the Condenser (at the top, on the drivers side if I recall) so you will get the drier anyway with the conny.

[Busman]

Yep, Wellys right. Its on the off side of your new condensor. Big long tubular thing.

[EDWARD757]

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/PEUGEOT-406-6 ... 2a0737b8c1

This is what I was going to get - i know the arguement about the cheaper ones but at this price I can live with a shorter life.
The drier lives in the tube on the left side of the photo but I am assuming it will be empty. The supplier just says they are not available and one would guess would know whether they are integral?
Kind regards,
Ed

[Busman]

Thats a bargin. Never heard of the drier being empty, so fingers crossed and you'll be happy.
I would assume or hope that it will be in there.

[EDWARD757]

you are right boys, it is an integral unit and the supplier has learnt something today...
I thought it was quite cheap so will get one, replace the o-rings, Kwik-fit the vacuum test/regas and hopefully cold air for the summer...unless the compressor has packed up in the meantime...

[EDWARD757]

Condenser changed.
The how to guide in the Knowledge base was excellent. The grill, slam panel and fan assemly came off easily. I also took out the offside headlight and a small bracket (10mm socket) for better access.
The biggest ballache was getting the AC hoses off. Eventually I had to reconstruct the car a bit, go to car factors, buy Freeze-release to try and convince 10yr old pipes to come out. The pipes go into the condenser and have a ribbed section to which a bracket slots into - this bracket is a separate part and has a hole, which a thread goes through for a nut to tighten on and push the pipe into the condenser. When I got the hoses out I found (as apparently service box suggests) a double bump 0-ring. I suspect this is how she leaves the factory but I replaced them with two 0-rings.
In the meantime, before the pipes came off I removed the pressure sensor lead and began to unscrew the sensor...suffice to say the condenser part (soft alloy) snapped off (17mm spanner).
After plenty of freeze-release, WD-40 and jiggery-pokery (involving bashing away with a screwdriver socket, hammer and wood) the engine side pipe released.
Then I carefully removed the condenser (I found I had enough room) rotating around the still attached bumper side hose. The rotation heled but it too was a bugger to remove.
The radiator and casing were all minging and she has clearly had a birdstrike or two. Where does all that straw come from? A good hoover and it was much better.
I cleaned up the hose ends with a wire brush/wool, put on new 0-rings and fitted the pressure sensor to the new condenser. I also had to transer the threads for the pipe nuts to clamp onto.
The new condenser slotted in OK and the pipes seemed to go in OK. Put the car back together again.
I did take the reciever/drier apart for interest and will try and upload the photos later. The condenser (including the drier) as £39.95 delivered...
Next is to get someone to pressure test and as the system. The old condenser began to disintegrate as it was removed - completely shot.
Was going to take her to Kwik-Sh*t for the regas but have now thought better of it and found a chap that will come out, N2 pressure test, vac test and gas for £68+VAT. Somewhat more than the Kwik-sh*t deal (£29.99) but at least twice less likely to completely balls the job up. Whilst reseaching regassing I found a wonderful post in some forum. ' my wife is a special needs teacher and finds many of her ex-pupils at Kwik-fit when she goes for tyres' - says it all - even the 'idiot-proof' AC regas machines they manage to cock up...
Anyhow the How to guide on this forum is great to give you a heads up and the job took 4 hours (including 40min run to get the Freeze-release). The pipes are a pain but with prior knowledge and kit they are possible...
Best of luck...

[Welly]

Did you say you've fitted two O-rings instead of the double-ribbed one? think you might have trouble there to be honest.

The aluminium mating faces and O-rings have to be super-squeaky clean and preferably assembled with a dab of refrigerant oil. The system can reach 250PSi on a hot day and the O-ring is the only bit holding it back.

If you can I'd get the genuine O-rings from the dealer, or get advice from a decent mobile a/c guy before you start with the re-gassing etc.

[Busman]

Did you say you've fitted two O-rings instead of the double-ribbed one? think you might have trouble there to be honest.

The aluminium mating faces and O-rings have to be super-squeaky clean and preferably assembled with a dab of refrigerant oil. The system can reach 250PSi on a hot day and the O-ring is the only bit holding it back.

If you can I'd get the genuine O-rings from the dealer, or get advice from a decent mobile a/c guy before you start with the re-gassing etc.

I did fit two o rings instead of the ribbed double one on mine, and it's still ok 5 years later. The two o rings came from the dealer. They fitted in the grove on the union very nicely and it does two years between a/c services, so I think it's fairly gas tight.
I think the big thing is to use proper a/c grade o rings and to keep all the mating serfices spottlessly clean.

Looking forward to seeing these pictures, never took the condensor or air dryer to bits, so it will be good to see inside.

[Welly]

Ok cool, it sounded to me like he'd just boshed in two O-rings instead of the 'proper' one that's all.

Cheers busman.

[Busman]

Did sound that way didn't it?

[EDWARD757]

Too be fair it did sound that way but it was in response to the how to guide findings. The o-rings are from ax supplier and fitted nicely. We shall see when it all gets tested on Thursday.
Kind regards,
Ed

[406loon]

I fitted a new condensor on mine. The old one had a 4 inch hole in it and you could poke holes in the cooling fins with your fingers it was that brittle. That and the pile of mouldy stinky sludge at the bottom of it.

I Didnt use the guide on the forum (wish I had). The garage I took the car to told me the condensor was leaking when they tried to regass it then they said it would be £367 apparently it was a bugger of a job to do and they would have to take the bumper off - nonsense! so I bought the condensor myself from unipart (£75.00) then £45+vat to regass, job done.

[EDWARD757]

Nice one matey...

[EDWARD757]

http://www.flickr.com/photos/74171186@N ... hotostream
http://www.flickr.com/photos/74171186@N ... hotostream
http://www.flickr.com/photos/74171186@N ... hotostream


Three photos of the knackered condenser with integral drier.