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A/C Broken !!please help!!---- Pictures Pages: 12

jakeup on Fri November 20, 2009 12:02 AM User is offline

Year: 1995
Make: Nissan
Model: PU
Engine Size: 3.0

Hello everyone. I have a problem with my a/c.


My advice would be to not try to pull forward that extra couple feet into a bushy dead tree when you are trying to turn around in a tight spot.

So anyway, on to the A/C. Believe it or not a stick can go through the condenser and puncture the radiator without puncturing the condenser. When I loosened the bolt on the upper right hand corner it hissed and shot out some vapor. I am assuming that means there is still pressure in the system.
My question to the experts is: what chance do I have of bending it back somewhat straight. I am thinking about using a slide hammer from the front connected to a bolt through the hole with a couple of pieces of 3/4" plywood on the other side and hopefully hammering it into submission.
I am a little concerned that it could blow and actually send some metal shards out a me, I don't know how much pressure is in these things. If it doesn't have enough pressure to rip it apart I would cover it with some cardboard to deflect the spray if it broke and go for it. What do you think my chances are at bending it back without cracking it?
I am concerned about releasing the coolant, but I really have no choice. I towed it home with my wife's car and took the broken radiator out. The new radiator will not go in with the condenser bent like that and I am 50 miles from the nearest shop that could capture it.
What do you think?
THANKS
THANKS
THANKS

Edited: Fri November 20, 2009 at 12:04 AM by jakeup

bohica2xo on Fri November 20, 2009 3:48 AM User is offline

Bolt + plywood + cable puller or ratchet strap. Yank that sucker out of the way. If it fails, it fails - it is only 134a

There is only about 125 psi in the system static. If you use the BFH from inside the engine bay, wear a pair of safety goggles.

Great picture, shows just how tough those units are. Be sure you replace the dryer when you replace the condensor.

B.

-------------------------
"Among the many misdeeds of the British rule in India, history will look upon the act of depriving a whole nation of arms, as the blackest."
~ Mahatma Gandhi, Gandhi, An Autobiography, M. K. Gandhi, page 446.

TRB on Fri November 20, 2009 8:49 AM User is offlineView users profile

Looking at the images posted you will have restricted refrigerant flow if it even truly holds refrigerant. Replace the condenser with a new one or a good wrecking yard replacement if money is tight.

-------------------------

When considering your next auto A/C purchase, please consider the site that supports you: ACkits.com
Contact: ACKits.com

Voyager97 on Fri November 20, 2009 9:50 AM User is offlineView users profile

Bin it.

Apart from the hole, you also have a lot of damaged fins which will restrict airflow.

You might also look at replacing those pipes (A/C or brakes, whichever they are) - some heavy corrosion in places.


-------------------------
Vic @ Pennine AutoChill

mk378 on Fri November 20, 2009 10:42 AM User is offline

If the condenser does break and start to leak badly when you try to straighten it, replace it promptly. Don't let a system sit around open with zero pressure. That is an amazing amount of damage to take and not leak. But it may have a small leak you just haven't noticed yet.

Cussboy on Fri November 20, 2009 3:27 PM User is offline

Buy a replacement condenser from the board sponsor.

MikeC5 on Fri November 20, 2009 6:06 PM User is offlineView users profile

That'll buff right out....

jakeup on Sat November 21, 2009 12:22 AM User is offline

Thanks for the quick replies. I like the ratchet strap idea. Much smoother than my slide hammer plan. I am going to go for it and see what happens. I am not to concerned about max cooling. I live in the high eastern sierra with only a handful of 90 degree days per summer and almost no humidity so I rarely use the a/c anyway, but sometimes I drive to California....... I am going to be gone for the Thanksgiving week, so I won't do it soon but I'll let you all know how it goes when I do it about a week from now.
Thanks again, Jake.

TRB on Sat November 21, 2009 1:42 PM User is offlineView users profile

Good luck! That condenser is toast so I suggest someone do a very good job leak checking it before adding any refrigerant.

-------------------------

When considering your next auto A/C purchase, please consider the site that supports you: ACkits.com
Contact: ACKits.com

iceman2555 on Wed November 25, 2009 10:34 AM User is offlineView users profile

Damn, this has got to be a "JOKE" ! Have been away for a few days.....and came back to check out the site and see this 'joke' post.
Love the statement that I am not to concerned about max cooling. I live in the high eastern sierra with only a handful of 90 degree days per summer and almost no humidity so I rarely use the a/c anyway, but sometimes I drive to California......
Heck who is worried about the cooling, it simply will not exist.....how about the excessive discharge pressures as the result of the damaged tubes...forget the damaged fins....!!!
This is a single tube serpentine condenser....one tube...multiple flow orifices....app .045 to .065 id.....perhaps as many as 8-10 per tube. Check the flow...the inlet tube has a very serious 'deformation' , the second tube in flow has an even more serious problem. It is highly doubtful that this thing will even 'flow' refrigerant....much less offer any cooling.
Bet a good cold soda the clutch burns in the first few minutes of operation.
All the repairs that will be necessary simply because someone is too cheap to replace the failed unit.

-------------------------
The strongest reason for the people to retain the right to keep and bear arms is, as a last resort, to protect themselves against tyranny in government.
Thomas Jefferson

TRB on Wed November 25, 2009 12:35 PM User is offlineView users profile

Ice I agree with you on this. Why anyone would risk using this condenser is just not a sound choice in my opinion. Not trying to be disrespectful to the poster! It's just that this condenser is junk!

Detail of the hole.



-------------------------

When considering your next auto A/C purchase, please consider the site that supports you: ACkits.com
Contact: ACKits.com

bohica2xo on Wed November 25, 2009 12:48 PM User is offline

Yanking the condensor out of the way with a ratchet strap, because you are 50 miles from nowhere & you need to put a radiator in? Absolutely!

Re-using that condensor? Absolutely NOT. It will probably fail straightening it, but that is not intentional venting. Replace that condensor as soon as you can get to a proper repair facility.

As for the comment about "corroded lines".. Wha? Are you looking at the same pictures I see?

B.

-------------------------
"Among the many misdeeds of the British rule in India, history will look upon the act of depriving a whole nation of arms, as the blackest."
~ Mahatma Gandhi, Gandhi, An Autobiography, M. K. Gandhi, page 446.

Edited: Wed November 25, 2009 at 12:49 PM by bohica2xo

JACK ADAMS on Wed November 25, 2009 4:30 PM User is offline

I would just remove it and cap off the lines. Install new radiator and do the condenser at another time when you can. Try and get it done soon for less cost of replacing other parts later. Hell, that thing is no way usable and need to be removed for the cooling of the truck anyway. Just by chance you try and keep it in the truck and use the a/c, you could cause more damage to the rest of the system later.

Good luck…

NickD on Wed November 25, 2009 5:57 PM User is offline

Would be interesting to see more pictures of this pickup, like the front end. I assumed you bumped into something, perhaps another pickup carrying a long pipe? Restricting the air flow to the radiator, assume you are replacing that as well would not be a good idea. Must also have a slightly bent fan blade.

Are you okay?

Voyager97 on Thu November 26, 2009 8:03 PM User is offlineView users profile

Quote
Originally posted by: bohica2xo
As for the comment about "corroded lines".. Wha? Are you looking at the same pictures I see?

Second photo. The lines fitted to the front cross member.

My rear brake lines had to be replaced for the annual inspection, and they were in better condition than those in the pic.




-------------------------
Vic @ Pennine AutoChill

bohica2xo on Fri November 27, 2009 3:30 AM User is offline

Quote
Originally posted by: Voyager97
Quote
Originally posted by: bohica2xo

As for the comment about "corroded lines".. Wha? Are you looking at the same pictures I see?



Second photo. The lines fitted to the front cross member.



My rear brake lines had to be replaced for the annual inspection, and they were in better condition than those in the pic.

You got screwed. Throughly. Those lines are in better shape than most any two year old car in New Jersey.

B.





-------------------------
"Among the many misdeeds of the British rule in India, history will look upon the act of depriving a whole nation of arms, as the blackest."
~ Mahatma Gandhi, Gandhi, An Autobiography, M. K. Gandhi, page 446.

Voyager97 on Fri November 27, 2009 7:38 AM User is offlineView users profile

Quote
Originally posted by: bohica2xo

You got screwed. Throughly. Those lines are in better shape than most any two year old car in New Jersey.
B.

Glad I don't live in New Jersey then. If you get worse rust than that on a two year old car, my 12 year old Grand Voyager would be in the nearest breakers yard!

I didn't think my rear brake lines were bad, but the garage that replaced them showed me what happened when they were cleaned up with a wire brush - they split under light pressure.



-------------------------
Vic @ Pennine AutoChill

HECAT on Fri November 27, 2009 7:41 AM User is offline

Unless we have a bigger problem of rubber hose and clamps on brake lines (see far right of pic); I think those would be maybe vent lines going to the charcoal canister.

That condenser is going to need to be flushed (how many of you thought I was going to jump in with that statement)!

Down the toilet, that is (no disrespect intended).

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HECAT: www.hecatinc.com You support the Forum when you consider www.ackits.com for your a/c parts.

FLUSHING TECHNICAL PAPER vs2.pdf 

TRB on Fri November 27, 2009 11:06 AM User is offlineView users profile

Quote
Originally posted by: HECAT
Unless we have a bigger problem of rubber hose and clamps on brake lines (see far right of pic); I think those would be maybe vent lines going to the charcoal canister.



That condenser is going to need to be flushed (how many of you thought I was going to jump in with that statement)!



Down the toilet, that is (no disrespect intended).

As good as the Hecat systems are my friend. Not even your equipment is going to save that condenser!



-------------------------
When considering your next auto A/C purchase, please consider the site that supports you: ACkits.com
Contact: ACKits.com

HECAT on Fri November 27, 2009 8:22 PM User is offline

Quote
Originally posted by: TRB

As good as the Hecat systems are my friend. Not even your equipment is going to save that condenser!


Thanks for the vote of confidence. It's good, but not that good!

-------------------------


HECAT: www.hecatinc.com You support the Forum when you consider www.ackits.com for your a/c parts.

FLUSHING TECHNICAL PAPER vs2.pdf 

jakeup on Sat November 28, 2009 5:31 PM User is offline

Hey Iceman you work on a/c units, right. So chill the **** out. I am coming here asking for help because I do not know about these things. I am not to cheap to fix I just wouldn't if I didn't need to, that is why I wrote this post. Thanks though for the info on the compressor and restricted flow being bad for it, that is the kind of stuff I needed to know.

Thanks for all the replies again. I am thinking now that that I will probably release the pressure and take the condenser out. I'll put a new radiator in and drive it to a shop for a new condenser and recharge.

NickD- My radiator was punctured by the same stick (branch) that went through the condenser first, leaving that hole but no pressure drop!!?? Broken plastic grill and a little dent in the bumper, but that's it for damage to the truck.

HECAT on Sun November 29, 2009 9:27 AM User is offline

Quote
Originally posted by: jakeup
Thanks though for the info on the compressor and restricted flow being bad for it, that is the kind of stuff I needed to know.

Thanks for all the replies again. I am thinking now that that I will probably release the pressure and take the condenser out. I'll put a new radiator in and drive it to a shop for a new condenser and recharge.

Not only would there be internal restrictions causing high head pressures, but there would also be external restrictions blocking good air flow over the radiator. I am glad to hear you have scrapped the thought to try and straighten and reuse this severely damaged component. Keep your A/C system sealed and just move and or tie this condenser out of the way to install the new radiator. Then the shop you plan to use for the A/C service can recover (venting is illegal) the refrigerant and replace the condenser; the filter/dryer should be changed also.

Not knowing these things and bringing your questions here is exactly what this forum is for. But trust me, for those in the know; this post has caused a lot of humor and amazement at the thought of such a ludicrous idea (to reuse). Don't take it personally.

-------------------------


HECAT: www.hecatinc.com You support the Forum when you consider www.ackits.com for your a/c parts.

FLUSHING TECHNICAL PAPER vs2.pdf 

Cussboy on Sun November 29, 2009 11:11 AM User is offline

Quote
Originally posted by: HECAT
Quote



Not knowing these things and bringing your questions here is exactly what this forum is for. But trust me, for those in the know; this post has caused a lot of humor and amazement at the thought of such a ludicrous idea (to reuse). Don't take it personally.

Personally, I thought jakeup was joking.



iceman2555 on Sun November 29, 2009 4:56 PM User is offlineView users profile

I have chilled the **** out......heck...have always been chilled, I guess...at my age...it comes with the territory.....but what the heck.....still think it was a bit humorous!!! However, that may simply be the fact that many brain cells have been starved for oxygen by all the 'freon' that has been 'sniffed' over the decades.

-------------------------
The strongest reason for the people to retain the right to keep and bear arms is, as a last resort, to protect themselves against tyranny in government.
Thomas Jefferson

bohica2xo on Fri December 04, 2009 11:17 AM User is offline

"freon" - is that what you are calling single malt now?

B.

-------------------------
"Among the many misdeeds of the British rule in India, history will look upon the act of depriving a whole nation of arms, as the blackest."
~ Mahatma Gandhi, Gandhi, An Autobiography, M. K. Gandhi, page 446.

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