10-23-2009, 09:12 AM
While replacing the clutch, I noticed the A/C condenser had a bunch of pebbles and grass stuck in it and some bent over fins. Figured I would go ahead and fix those problems
First I purchased an inexpensive fin rake. It had interchangeable heads, so I was pretty confident one of them would fit. My condenser was 8 fins/in.
Then I read up on and removed the bumper cover. It was easy to do, even with no one to assist.
After removing the cover, noticed the oil cooler had a bunch of trash in it, so I sprayed it with detergent and blew used low pressure air to blow it out from the rear. Most of the junk came right out.
The condenser had two places that looked like oil had run down fron the top. Since it was not wet with oil and the A/C was working, I hoped it was just an old spill.
I started with the undamaged fins and raked the pebbles and other junk out of them. Looked a lot better. Then I worked on the bent fins. They straightened out nicely.
The fins that were folded over more severely took a little work. With a couple of teeth on straight fins and rocking the rake back and forth slightly, those too were soon back in place.
With some of the fins, mostly across the bottom, which probably don't really affect the condenser, but since I was already there, I had to use a thin piece of metal to carefully fold those over. I found that a group of 4 or 5 at a time was easier, then separating them afterwards.
I did take pics, but all were larger than 500k, and I could not figure out how to make them smaller than that. Know to adjust camera next time.
After cleaning the cover, I used spray glue to hold the piping in place. The piping had never fit well, so I figured the spray glue would hold it in place well enough. The piping still does not look the way I think it should. Probably will buy new ones to see if they fit any better.
Cover went on without much fuss. Lost one screw somewhere, but had one in the spares bin that fit.
Now, on to the next thing, whatever that may be.
First I purchased an inexpensive fin rake. It had interchangeable heads, so I was pretty confident one of them would fit. My condenser was 8 fins/in.
Then I read up on and removed the bumper cover. It was easy to do, even with no one to assist.
After removing the cover, noticed the oil cooler had a bunch of trash in it, so I sprayed it with detergent and blew used low pressure air to blow it out from the rear. Most of the junk came right out.
The condenser had two places that looked like oil had run down fron the top. Since it was not wet with oil and the A/C was working, I hoped it was just an old spill.
I started with the undamaged fins and raked the pebbles and other junk out of them. Looked a lot better. Then I worked on the bent fins. They straightened out nicely.
The fins that were folded over more severely took a little work. With a couple of teeth on straight fins and rocking the rake back and forth slightly, those too were soon back in place.
With some of the fins, mostly across the bottom, which probably don't really affect the condenser, but since I was already there, I had to use a thin piece of metal to carefully fold those over. I found that a group of 4 or 5 at a time was easier, then separating them afterwards.
I did take pics, but all were larger than 500k, and I could not figure out how to make them smaller than that. Know to adjust camera next time.
After cleaning the cover, I used spray glue to hold the piping in place. The piping had never fit well, so I figured the spray glue would hold it in place well enough. The piping still does not look the way I think it should. Probably will buy new ones to see if they fit any better.
Cover went on without much fuss. Lost one screw somewhere, but had one in the spares bin that fit.
Now, on to the next thing, whatever that may be.
(This post was last modified: 10-23-2009, 03:13 PM by 968 GUY.)
