R320 Condenser

[marlowboy]

hi all, 2004 sl350 after a bit of advice! Air Con Condenser needs changing as leaking, is it a diy job, appreciate I can’t regas but it doesn’t look to difficult. I was a mechanic for many years but back then the cars I worked on didn’t have air con! Is it Rad out or can it be left in situ? Love a challenge!

 

[Nick66]

I have used this guide for my W210 - https://www.benzworld.org/forums/w210-e-class/1346822-photo-diy-c-condensor-replacement.html ,I would imagine it is not too different on SL . Condensener is basically a rad with only 2 pipes at the bottom,fiddly part being removing the rubber/plastic cover and condenser together,on w 210 it sits in front of the radiator,not connected to it,so the radiator stays as it is. Mine was completely empty of gas,probably after vacuum test at ATS,which did not hold.As a bodger par excellence I found it relatively straight forward although I managed to cross thread one of the pipe connections and now pondering whether to attempt covering the whole joint in JB Weld epoxy...I mean if I nearly managed it then it is definetely DIY for anybody with a modicum of mechanichal nous that I sadly lack...

 

[Nick66]

Update,today I went to ATS for re gas and so far ( 3 hours ) it works.So condenser can definetely be DIYed by anybody more competent than me ( it is a low bar ).I still toy with the idea of covering the whole cross threaded joint in JB Weld...

 

[marlowboy]

I’ve just changed a couple of Wheel Bearing on my old Jag, pain in the ar** and thinking......I’m to old for all this! Thanks for your Posts Nick, still considering DIY!

 

[Nick66]

I am no spring chicken,first 30 years of motoring I never really worked on my cars,maybe odd oil change...Condenser is really only 2 pipes to be connected (never mind I crossthreaded one),I expected it to be more....I don't know ...difficult,complicated,physical...Other parts of air con are either next to impossible (evaporator) or more difficult/involved (compressor),condenser and dryer are well within DIY...BTW my nissen condenser was about £ 60 ,dryer I had from before ,mine old one was rotten,PAG oil £ 6 ( only to lubricate new seals I asked at regas for extra 30 grams of oil to be added) and about £ 5 for seals...

 

[Nick66]

Update.24 hours after regas my air con stopped working,obviously leaking from the cross threaded joint.Back to the drawing board to see if I i can somehow make strong and permanent seal...

 

[Uncle Benz]

I'll almost wager you didn't cross thread it. More like the thread galled whilst you were undoing it, and attempting to rejoin it got it all messed up. I've seen it before many times. You should have just replaced the pipe, but sadly now you will likely need to replace the condenser again as well as the pipe. If only MB had applied just the smallest smear of lubricant upon assembly the whole sorry mess could have been avoided. Yes, I have been there myself. More than once. Many more.

 

[Nick66]

Thanks Uncle Benz,you make me feel better about failing...

 

[Nick66]

Uncle benz,how would i know whether I damaged just the pipe or condenser as well?

 

[Uncle Benz]

You need to undo the pipe again and examine the thread very closely. Both parts are aluminium. They are very soft.

If you still have the old condenser take a picture of the thread in question and post it up please.

 

[Nick66]

I only have new (messed up ?) condenser sitting in the car...will try to take pics...thanks

 

[Nick66]

Just to update this story:Last Sunday I took my front bumper off to inspect the joint between high side pipe from the dryer to condenser where it cross threaded and where it obviously leaked .Upon disassembling the joint it was obvious that the thread on the condenser pipe was damaged,but it was only about 1 cm or so on the end of the thread ,ie where it meets the pipe from dryer.I decided not to change either the pipe or the condenser and proceeded to force the nut until it bites on the condenser thread . That seemed to work and joined much deeper in then the first time,It seemed solid and the nut seemed to sit at the right angle.Then I mixed some ( a lot ) JB Weld and covered the whole joint over the nuts and pipes.Final touch of this bodge was to cover it in silver kitchen foil which enabled me to press in the goey mass of JB Weld around the whole area.I figured that if it works it works,otherwise I will have to get new condenser anyway(I already had new pipe from dryer to condenser but did not use it on this bodge-up).Next day I used Groupon voucher for 37.99 regas at ATS Euromaster.Six days later it still works,making it my second best run with regas of A/C ( previous best just over 2 months on this car last summer,followed by this,then 24 hours on my first attempt on this car,followed by 1 ( one ) hour on my 1998 E320.Prior to my entry into Mercedes ownership I had 12 years old Ford Escort 1.6 Zetec,given to me for free which had working air con (never serviced AFAIK) for 3 years I had it and it still worked when it went to the scrapyard as 15 year old.If , or perhaps when, my air con on this E240 dies , I will let the world know,LOL

 

[Nick66]

For what is worth my air con still blows,as they say in classified adds,ice cold...

 

[marlowboy]

yours seems ok, hope it lasts! I still haven’t done anything to mine other than buying the Condenser.
It’s very strange, when I bought the car the Air Con worked but not as cold as it should have been. Went to my normal Air Con specialist and he regassed and added Dye. 2 weeks later took it back and with his special light saw Dye around the bottom of the Condenser so ......new Condenser needed. 2 months later......air con still cold! Decorating instead of lying under the car....result! For now.

 

[Nick66]

It still works...