New a/c condensers

New a/c condensers

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Discussion

drmark

Original Poster:

4,794 posts

185 months

Thursday 16th April 2015
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Just had 2 new condensers (both originals were damaged), new drier and re-gas for £350 all in by a/c engineer. Knows his Porsches and very particular. Took around 3 hours.
No connection other than satisfied customer.
http://www.mistercool.co.uk/porsche_condensers.asp

m444ttb

3,160 posts

228 months

Thursday 16th April 2015
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That sounds very good. I may well need the same as I don't think mine is working. May even be work me going to him!

drmark

Original Poster:

4,794 posts

185 months

Thursday 16th April 2015
quotequote all
Plus I got to clean out, check and corrosion "proof" the bases / frames of the rads, which, fortunately, were in great nick given the huge volume of crud in there. Cooling must be working better now too. smile
My car is 2008 997 by the way. But parts and costs identical to Boxster / Cayman AfAIK

Crimp

909 posts

186 months

Thursday 16th April 2015
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Does he travel to J31 (M1 South Sheffield)
Not that mine needs doing but its certainly worthy of note when the inevitable happens.
Mind you I do need a new coolant rad as I can smell anti-freeze but amazingly the coolant hasn't dropped in a year of ownership.

edc

9,231 posts

250 months

Thursday 16th April 2015
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These ac rads are so cheap now. £47 delivered on eBay from ac specialist for an Ava unit.

drmark

Original Poster:

4,794 posts

185 months

Thursday 16th April 2015
quotequote all
Crimp said:
Does he travel to J31 (M1 South Sheffield)
Not that mine needs doing but its certainly worthy of note when the inevitable happens.
Mind you I do need a new coolant rad as I can smell anti-freeze but amazingly the coolant hasn't dropped in a year of ownership.
I think Justyn limits himself to 25 miles from Derby but am sure there must be others offering similar deals. He does a lot of Porsches though. My Indy wanted £600 for the job. OPC was North of £1k - and I couldn't get involved checking all the bits while the PU etc was off.

996TT02

3,308 posts

139 months

Friday 17th April 2015
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edc said:
These ac rads are so cheap now. £47 delivered on eBay from ac specialist for an Ava unit.
And with relatively basic tools (biggest "issue" is jacking up front as high as possible) it's an easy DIY to swap them out, only needing re-gassing. Don't forget your O-rings...

ajondyh

680 posts

123 months

Saturday 18th April 2015
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Seems I got ripped by 9M theys charged me over £800 for 2 condensers fitted. Didn't fit arch trims back properly and bent a spade connector on the headlight so full beam didn't work on N/S. Not impressed

drmark

Original Poster:

4,794 posts

185 months

Saturday 18th April 2015
quotequote all
996TT02 said:
And with relatively basic tools (biggest "issue" is jacking up front as high as possible) it's an easy DIY to swap them out, only needing re-gassing. Don't forget your O-rings...
No jacking required. And no need to take front wheels off if you have done a few. As I learned wink

Trev450

6,314 posts

171 months

Sunday 19th April 2015
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ajondyh said:
Seems I got ripped by 9M theys charged me over £800 for 2 condensers fitted. Didn't fit arch trims back properly and bent a spade connector on the headlight so full beam didn't work on N/S. Not impressed
I've recently paid my indy £1200 to have both rads, both condensors and some pipework replaced and I thought that was a tad exspensive.

Cerberaherts

1,651 posts

140 months

Sunday 19th April 2015
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Trev450 said:
I've recently paid my indy £1200 to have both rads, both condensors and some pipework replaced and I thought that was a tad exspensive.
Sounds about right. You are comparing a very simple condenser replacement, which anyone half competent could do on his driveway, to a much, much larger job with many more parts involved. I'm assuming the pipes that got replaced were the ones which join across the car (with the metal sleeves that leak) in which case you have to drop the front frame to do it. If so you got it done cheaply!

Trev450

6,314 posts

171 months

Sunday 19th April 2015
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Cerberaherts said:
Trev450 said:
I've recently paid my indy £1200 to have both rads, both condensors and some pipework replaced and I thought that was a tad exspensive.
Sounds about right. You are comparing a very simple condenser replacement, which anyone half competent could do on his driveway, to a much, much larger job with many more parts involved. I'm assuming the pipes that got replaced were the ones which join across the car (with the metal sleeves that leak) in which case you have to drop the front frame to do it. If so you got it done cheaply!
That's good to know. There wre three pipes that required changing, I'm not sure if one of them was the one you mention, but I know the rack had to be dropped to replace one that goes over the top of it.

996TT02

3,308 posts

139 months

Sunday 19th April 2015
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drmark said:
996TT02 said:
And with relatively basic tools (biggest "issue" is jacking up front as high as possible) it's an easy DIY to swap them out, only needing re-gassing. Don't forget your O-rings...
No jacking required. And no need to take front wheels off if you have done a few. As I learned wink
Well the jacking is for the access to the wheelarch liners so these can easily be removed after removing the front wheels.

Come to think of it I always did the job (bumper removal) to replace the (water) rads, it is quite possible that you could perhaps remove the bumper without removing the arch liners (just guessing here) as you are only removing the condensers, making the job even simpler.

Nevertheless my "biggest issue" comment was meant to be ironic if that is the correct term. As long as a half decent trolley jack is available, and decent jackstands, lifting the front is simple because you jack from the rear and the jackstands are simply placed under the front jacking points, simples.

acf69

407 posts

170 months

Sunday 19th April 2015
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Does anyone have a recommendation of someone based in Surrey? I have a leak or issue somewhere on mine as it works fine when regassed, but it didn't stay cold for long frown

edc

9,231 posts

250 months

Sunday 19th April 2015
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Try Eporsch in Bisley.

IknowJoseph

542 posts

139 months

Monday 20th April 2015
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I'd be really grateful if anyone could recommend a similar service down in the central south area, sounds great.

acf69

407 posts

170 months

Monday 20th April 2015
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edc said:
Try Eporsch in Bisley.
Thanks, they are very close to me. I am just wondering if going with an indie will mean paying high hourly rates for a skilled motor engineer rather than going to a skilled aircon place? I think I will pop in to see them and have a chat as the weather is nice at the moment biggrin

CampingGaz

189 posts

142 months

Monday 20th April 2015
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Avacs Ltd in Alton, Hants : http://www.avacs.co.uk/Aircon_Repairs/Porsche.html - down A31 from Guildford - Farnham - Alton.

50 yards from Alton BR station if you need to get back somewhere...

Replaced the condensors & full system check/recharge on mine a year or so ago and done some of our Vans.

Run by a guy who cares about your pride & joy (no association other than V satisified client)

Edited by CampingGaz on Monday 20th April 18:40

edc

9,231 posts

250 months

Monday 20th April 2015
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I bought my own condensers and they fitted them for me and took it round the corner for gas. That was 2 years ago. I think they have their own ac kit now.