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Welshdragon

Member Since: 20 Jan 2012
Location: here and there...but not where I should be
Posts: 1899

2003 Range Rover Vogue 4.4 V8 Monte Carlo Blue

Air con condenser removal

Please note you must have the air con system completely empty before you start this how too take your vehicle to be de-gassed prior to opening up the aircon system as venting out to the atmosphere is illegal

I thought as summer is nearly upon us I would share this how too.

I wanted to regas the FF as the air con was not as cold as it should be last week, but the garage couldn't do it
as the gas was leaking out near the bottom of the condenser, big time

So new condenser bought from Autoairconparts for a reasonable price, £72 plus vat.

An easy job to do if your brave enough with your spanners and shouldn't take more than 1 hour 30/45 min....if you don't have a dog that likes your tools though

Pic 1 and 2
Remove all the small m6 bolts that hold the grill and bonnet catches.
Remove the 4 ( 2 each side of slam panel) m8 bolts.
Remove all 3 smaller screws that hold the plastic covering that's under the slam panel.

Pic 3 and 4
Bonnet catches undone and plastic panel is only snap fixed in place, remove this will expose the condenser.

Pic 5 and 6
Air condenser is locked in place by these, just un screw and comes apart, there is a rubber thread part to the bolt.

Pic 7
I took the air filter housing off and engine cover ( needed to get to the jubilee clip) as it made undoing the bolts for the pipe work that fit in the condenser easier.( just be mindful that a clip can fall down the engine bay ......

)

Pic 8
Air con bolts, these where alan screw bolts and are tight, there is also a self tap screw under the lower pipe ( red arrow)

Click image to enlarge

Pic 9
Just slide the condenser out as its between the radiator and oil cooler

Pic 10
As you can see its a tight fit, so care is needed when fitting a new one

Click image to enlarge

Pic 11
New condenser fitted, but I had to trim a couple of mill off the plastic trim in front of the condenser as it was touching the fins while sliding down into place.

Pic 12
The old condenser pipes that go into the core had corroded, the bottom one been the worsted pipe.

Pic 13
All done and just need to regas and then be cool in the cabin!

Hope it all makes cense

If it dont work.......burn it!

If the IId tool cant fix it.......burn the FF.

If the FF cant be fixed......buy a Land Cruiser!

If the LC cant be fixed..............................................BUY a horse !!

Last edited by Welshdragon on 29th Jul 2014 7:06pm. Edited 1 time in total

7th Jun 2014 8:56am

stan
Site Moderator

Member Since: 13 Jul 2010
Location: a moderate moderated moderator moderating moderately in moderation
Posts: 35510

5 minutes after posting and its in the wiki, boy i'm on the ball today

excellent 'how to' ... - .- -.

Y. O. L. O.
.

7th Jun 2014 9:02am

Welshdragon

Member Since: 20 Jan 2012
Location: here and there...but not where I should be
Posts: 1899

Thanks Stan If it dont work.......burn it!

If the IId tool cant fix it.......burn the FF.

If the FF cant be fixed......buy a Land Cruiser!

If the LC cant be fixed..............................................BUY a horse !!

7th Jun 2014 9:07am

Prop

Member Since: 26 Sep 2012
Location: Gloucestershire
Posts: 675

Nice job Welshdragon, its sure to help others.

7th Jun 2014 9:37am

Joe90

Member Since: 29 Apr 2010
Location: Hampshire
Posts: 6416

My job this week, will let you know how it goes .
Experience is the only genuine knowledge, but as time passes, I have forgotten more than I can remember
Volvo V70 P2 2006 2.4 Petrol 170bhp Estate SE
MG Midget Mk1 1962

Previous: L322 Range Rover TDV8 3.6 2008; L322 Range Rover TD6 3.0 2002; P38A Range Rover V8 1999

29th Jul 2014 2:40pm

stan
Site Moderator

Member Since: 13 Jul 2010
Location: a moderate moderated moderator moderating moderately in moderation
Posts: 35510

if a numpty like me can do it tim then i think you'll have no problems.. ... - .- -.

Y. O. L. O.
.

29th Jul 2014 2:42pm

Welshdragon

Member Since: 20 Jan 2012
Location: here and there...but not where I should be
Posts: 1899

Simples to do TIM, won't take you long, the hardest part was finding the tools my dog nicked! If it dont work.......burn it!

If the IId tool cant fix it.......burn the FF.

If the FF cant be fixed......buy a Land Cruiser!

If the LC cant be fixed..............................................BUY a horse !!

29th Jul 2014 5:17pm

Andy_J

Member Since: 14 Nov 2011
Location: Muir of Ord
Posts: 479

2007 Range Rover Vogue SE TDV8 Java Black

Just a point to note that it is illegal to release the gas from the aircon into the open atmosphere. So unless you know that the system is completely empty you should take your vehicle to be de-gassed prior to opening up the aircon system 56 TDV8 Vogue SE
9 Freelanders, 2x 2002 TD4ES, 2001 TD4, 2002 1.8GS, 2000 XEDI, 2x 2000 1.8ES, 2004 1.8 & 2000 1.8 GS (rolled)
91 Lotus Carlton (sold)
90 Lotus Elan (BRG)

29th Jul 2014 5:32pm

Contraband

Member Since: 08 Nov 2010
Location: FIFE
Posts: 3697

^ just beat me to it. There was obviously gas in the system as it was still working.
At the start of this how to it might be an idea to state that the gas should be removed legally before work starts. Previously..
Vogue SE TD6
Defender 90 2.4
Defender 110 TD5
Vogue 3.5 EFI

29th Jul 2014 5:36pm

Welshdragon

Member Since: 20 Jan 2012
Location: here and there...but not where I should be
Posts: 1899

Re: Air con condenser removal

Welshdragon wrote:

I wanted to regas the FF as the air con was not as cold as it should be last week, but the garage couldn't do it
as the gas was leaking out near the bottom of the condenser, big time

NO garage will fill the air con system up when a leak has been detected, no matter how big or small it is, well a good garage wont.

I have eddited as some on here might not know about de-gassing. If it dont work.......burn it!

If the IId tool cant fix it.......burn the FF.

If the FF cant be fixed......buy a Land Cruiser!

If the LC cant be fixed..............................................BUY a horse !!

29th Jul 2014 6:56pm

Joe90

Member Since: 29 Apr 2010
Location: Hampshire
Posts: 6416

I put the ffrr into an air con specialist to find out what was wrong. I also checked with them that it was empty and safe for me to replace my condenser.

Do I need a new drier as well? .
Experience is the only genuine knowledge, but as time passes, I have forgotten more than I can remember
Volvo V70 P2 2006 2.4 Petrol 170bhp Estate SE
MG Midget Mk1 1962

Previous: L322 Range Rover TDV8 3.6 2008; L322 Range Rover TD6 3.0 2002; P38A Range Rover V8 1999

29th Jul 2014 9:18pm

Welshdragon

Member Since: 20 Jan 2012
Location: here and there...but not where I should be
Posts: 1899

I didn't do mine, just the condenser as those brazed pipes where the problem, the lower one been the worst. If it dont work.......burn it!

If the IId tool cant fix it.......burn the FF.

If the FF cant be fixed......buy a Land Cruiser!

If the LC cant be fixed..............................................BUY a horse !!

29th Jul 2014 9:21pm

stan
Site Moderator

Member Since: 13 Jul 2010
Location: a moderate moderated moderator moderating moderately in moderation
Posts: 35510

@tim, is the dryer not part of the condenser? [right side as you look from the front] ... - .- -.

Y. O. L. O.
.

30th Jul 2014 6:21am

Joe90

Member Since: 29 Apr 2010
Location: Hampshire
Posts: 6416

^^^

That is what I thought ?? Must have a look at RAVE again .
Experience is the only genuine knowledge, but as time passes, I have forgotten more than I can remember
Volvo V70 P2 2006 2.4 Petrol 170bhp Estate SE
MG Midget Mk1 1962

Previous: L322 Range Rover TDV8 3.6 2008; L322 Range Rover TD6 3.0 2002; P38A Range Rover V8 1999

30th Jul 2014 8:44am

steve9bug

Member Since: 25 Aug 2013
Location: sunderland
Posts: 356

2004 Range Rover Vogue Td6 Zambezi Silver

cool might give mine a go soon

30th Jul 2014 8:00pm

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