Air Con Rad - replace or leave?

Bongo-Bubble · Post by **Bongo-Bubble** » Sat Mar 06, 2010 5:40 pm

Just wondering if anyone can advise and inform me, so I can make a decision on whether to replace my air con radiator.
In the recent icy weather I had a front end bump, which caused damage to my front bumper, which pushed my air con radiator. The air con radiator has a slight bend to it, it doesnt appear to be leaking. I am claiming on my insurance and they have given the go ahead to get both fixed. The garage who is doing the job has asked if I can get hold of the parts, so am busy researching this but in the meantime was wondering whether it might cause more problems and open a can of worms replacing the air con radiator, it if there is nothing wrong other than a bend? I seem to remember reading on here that tampering with the air con can cause all sorts of problems with bleeding it and getting it right again. I may add here that I dont use the air con and have no probs living with a bend in the rad. However is this goin to deteriate and cause problems elsewhere? which brings me to my biggest query - Is the air con, a total seperate system to the water cooling stystem? Is it an easy job to replace? Would I need to order anything other than the rad...i.e Hoses, etc?
Any advice, info apprecited...
Regards and respect

mikeonb4c · Post by **mikeonb4c** » Sat Mar 06, 2010 5:47 pm

Hard do answer that one but it might at least be worth getting a spare aircon rad. if one can be got cheap from a breaking Bongo (BF members ebygum32 and tonic are both breaking Bongos at present - you could try PMing them). It oughtn't to be a big deal putting a new one on and recharging the system esp. if all the work is being done under insurance anyway. I'm surprised you don't need aircon for at least demisting at times but in any case when time to sell comes round functioning aircon is something a buyer might value

wishmaster · Post by **wishmaster** » Sat Mar 06, 2010 7:49 pm

mikeonb4c wrote:Hard do answer that one but it might at least be worth getting a spare aircon rad. if one can be got cheap from a breaking Bongo (BF members ebygum32 and tonic are both breaking Bongos at present - you could try PMing them). It oughtn't to be a big deal putting a new one on and recharging the system esp. if all the work is being done under insurance anyway. I'm surprised you don't need aircon for at least demisting at times but in any case when time to sell comes round functioning aircon is something a buyer might value

Sound advice there from Mike, if i were looking to buy a bongo, a fully working aircon system would be a must

I'd get it fixed as its being done through the insurance

Izzy

missfixit70 · Post by **missfixit70** » Sat Mar 06, 2010 8:24 pm

I think you're getting cooling system bleeding confused with the aircon system, should just be a matter of refilling with the correct amounts of gas & oil AFAIK. Get it done & leak tested if insurance are paying for it.

Bongo-Bubble · Post by **Bongo-Bubble** » Sun Mar 07, 2010 12:37 am

Thanks for the replys so far...I'm not very good at these techie things so all advise and info is well appreciated...keep it coming.
(Missfixit70 for putting me right on my confusion with coolant and air system bleeding)
(Mike and Izzy on re selling with working air con)

I did forget to mention that as far as know the air con works perfectly, its just a bend in the rad.

I think getting a 2nd hand one shoudn't be a problem but am thinking they may insist on using new parts so as they can guarantee the work for insurance purposes, I will ask the garage I'm using.
If new ones arn't available and I can only get a 2nd hand one, is it really worth the hassle of changing it for another one, perhaps like Mike said "get a spare one and hang on to it" and in the meantime stick with the devil I know.

Having looked around on various bongo shops on the internet, I've managed to locate a new bumper but no luck finding a new air con rad, are new ones available?? any ideas where to look or how much???

Post by **Bob** » Sun Mar 07, 2010 12:53 am

I got a second hand one from Bongobits in Plymouth.

missfixit70 · Post by **missfixit70** » Sun Mar 07, 2010 1:08 am

Try the club partfinder service if none of the usual suspects, bongobits, bellhill, AVA, etc can hold of one.

Post by **Simon Jones** » Sun Mar 07, 2010 10:38 pm

Any air con specialist should be able to put in a special dye & then pressure test it for leaks. If there's nothing wrong with what you've got, then it's probably better than an unknown second hand part.

mikexgough · Post by **mikexgough** » Mon Mar 08, 2010 8:15 am

I echo others advice, get an air con specialist to check for leaks, if not then there are good straight ones available.... usual suspects have been named and there is one near Bath just now.
I changed mine after it was punctured after a pheasant smashed through my front grill....the shards of broken plastic punctured the air con rad - it's a very simple job to change....we it was for me as I didn't have to empty the air con as the R134a had escaped

when the rad was punctured, all in all....... 2 top brackets and the large inlet and drier bottle outlet (if that is the right way round but you get what I mean) anyway there is also a support bracket in front of the Air con rad....simple 4 nuts to undo and take out.....then full access to the rad.....
Then off to the Air con place for a refill...... well it was for me....

dom_e · Post by **dom_e** » Mon Mar 08, 2010 2:19 pm

I replaced our a few months ago. We got a second hand one from Bell Hill Garage (nr Bath), I fitted it myself (be aware of remaining pressure in the system when undoing th e components and lines, but otherwise, easy) and had it topped up by a mobile AC specialist. Total cost was around £115.

Alacrity · Post by **Alacrity** » Mon Mar 08, 2010 2:29 pm

Change it. No brainer as far as I can see. The insurance are paying so why not? If it is bent then it will be unduly stressed & will probably fail in time due to this.

It is a simple job to re-gas & oil the system & you will probly find it works better than before anyway. These systems tend to loose gas over time & need topping up once in a while, I re gassed my last Bongo & it made a big difference.

mikeonb4c · Post by **mikeonb4c** » Mon Mar 08, 2010 6:06 pm

Alacrity wrote:Change it. No brainer as far as I can see. The insurance are paying so why not? If it is bent then it will be unduly stressed & will probably fail in time due to this.

It is a simple job to re-gas & oil the system & you will probly find it works better than before anyway. These systems tend to loose gas over time & need topping up once in a while, I re gassed my last Bongo & it made a big difference.

My thoughts entirely

Air Con Rad - replace or leave?

Air Con Rad - replace or leave?

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Re: Air Con Rad - replace or leave?

Re: Air Con Rad - replace or leave?

Re: Air Con Rad - replace or leave?

Re: Air Con Rad - replace or leave?

Re: Air Con Rad - replace or leave?

Re: Air Con Rad - replace or leave?

Re: Air Con Rad - replace or leave?

Re: Air Con Rad - replace or leave?

Re: Air Con Rad - replace or leave?

Re: Air Con Rad - replace or leave?