A/C condenser replacement issues
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 3,923
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From: Chandler AZ
A/C condenser replacement issues
I got the condenser out, still have more to remove, hoses, water pump, compressor, drier, flush evaporator coil and remaining lines
Old condenser has 2 foam strips to seal edges to plastic shroud, new condenser doesn't, I'm thinking of carefully removing them and glue them to new condenser.
The condenser I just pulled out has a sticker showing September 2000, my car is 1999, so apparently it has had a condenser replacement already.
The old condenser has 2 plastic bolts that the shroud sits on, and 2 metal almost flat washer/nuts, they were near impossible to get off (the washer/nut things) and I had to use force to get them off.
Again the new condenser doesn't have these parts, and it doesn't seem the plastic bolts are able to be removed from the old condenser, they are sandwiched on, and will have to be broken to removed.
I need a way to secure the shroud to the 2 condenser mounting points, maybe a hardware store will have something, speedy nuts might work, but not sure if they would touch radiator.
Old condenser has 2 foam strips to seal edges to plastic shroud, new condenser doesn't, I'm thinking of carefully removing them and glue them to new condenser.
The condenser I just pulled out has a sticker showing September 2000, my car is 1999, so apparently it has had a condenser replacement already.
The old condenser has 2 plastic bolts that the shroud sits on, and 2 metal almost flat washer/nuts, they were near impossible to get off (the washer/nut things) and I had to use force to get them off.
Again the new condenser doesn't have these parts, and it doesn't seem the plastic bolts are able to be removed from the old condenser, they are sandwiched on, and will have to be broken to removed.
I need a way to secure the shroud to the 2 condenser mounting points, maybe a hardware store will have something, speedy nuts might work, but not sure if they would touch radiator.
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Do you happen to have any pictures of the new condenser with all the things you had to install on it from the old one? I'd love to see what you had issues with as I'm going to be doing this when it cools are again.
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 3,923
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From: Chandler AZ
For future removal to make it easier, I would cut the push nuts with some snips, vs using a flat head screwdriver to pry it off, one just broke as you can see in the picture, the other took a lot of work and chewed up the plastic bolt thing.
I tried to buy new foam, as these have rips, but couldn't find anything the same size and same density so I'll reuse them.
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 3,923
Likes: 385
From: Chandler AZ
It really isn't issues, I just wasn't sure if the parts attaching condenser to shroud were available and kinda tore them up, but now knowing they are available new and easy to find, no big deal.
Once condenser is out you can get the plastic bolt things out by sliding it to one side and push the ear through the hole of condenser with a screwdriver.
Or just buy new ones and only transfer the foam pieces.
The condenser I bought through Amazon was right under $80.00 with free shipping, and including sales tax.
Maybe more expensive condenser like AC Delco has new foam strips and the mounting hardware?
I'll try to get pictures of new condenser before putting it in the car.
In June I tried washing the radiator and condenser out, backwashing from engine side to front, spent a lot of time, also got between radiator and condenser and backwashed best I could.
The condenser is still plugged up with sand and tiny rocks from going down the road, putting a light under one side shows how plugged it is.
Once condenser is out you can get the plastic bolt things out by sliding it to one side and push the ear through the hole of condenser with a screwdriver.
Or just buy new ones and only transfer the foam pieces.
The condenser I bought through Amazon was right under $80.00 with free shipping, and including sales tax.
Maybe more expensive condenser like AC Delco has new foam strips and the mounting hardware?
I'll try to get pictures of new condenser before putting it in the car.
In June I tried washing the radiator and condenser out, backwashing from engine side to front, spent a lot of time, also got between radiator and condenser and backwashed best I could.
The condenser is still plugged up with sand and tiny rocks from going down the road, putting a light under one side shows how plugged it is.
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Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Jul 2010
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From: Chandler AZ
Ok guys, there was a big delay due to some major family issues, to sum it up I have been dealing with a older brother who is schizophrenic and refuses treatment, showed up homeless with his wife due to getting kicked out his apartment in Texas due to freaky behavior (apparently broke in or pushed his way into someone else's apartment thinking there is a huge conspiracy of people out to get him) and dropped in on me in August.
Kinda like Cousin Eddy on Christmas vacation only 10 times worse, carries a loaded pistol with him with hollow points, lots of talk of murdering or hurting his imaginary people, to be honest it's scary.
Apparently you can't force mental health on someone, and the police won't do anything about the threats since it wasn't directed at a real person.
Getting back to Corvette I'm about to pull off wheel to see if I can access lower compressor bolts, this is first time removing wheel off car myself (never had a need to until now, and made jacking pucks and bought new low profile jack) it's a little weird compared to a regular car or pickup.
Does this look safe? Drivers front wheel still on rhino ramp.
Last edited by 1999corvettels1; Nov 7, 2018 at 05:36 PM.
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 3,923
Likes: 385
From: Chandler AZ
Old strips carefully pulled off old condenser and gorilla glued to new condenser, not easy to do because old surface was flat, new surface round, used random things to hold weight on strips, took a lot of balancing and rebalancing.
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 3,923
Likes: 385
From: Chandler AZ
Gorilla glue dries extremely hard, probably should have used something else that would allow these to be peeled off again if needed in the future.
This was a cheap condenser for 80.00 on Amazon, if any of you are replacing one try to see if any have the foam strips already included, to save time.
This was a cheap condenser for 80.00 on Amazon, if any of you are replacing one try to see if any have the foam strips already included, to save time.