a/c condenser

Range Rover 4.0 2000 41k miles. According to dealer new condenser required
for A/C system. cost fitted: £658. I am not amused.

Is this a normal occurance for this part to fail at just 5 years old? I am
not aware that A/C systems are so short-lived. Is there an alternative? Will
these units repair?

Thanks for any advice

David

"David Haggas" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> Range Rover 4.0 2000 41k miles. According to dealer new condenser required
> for A/C system. cost fitted: £658. I am not amused.
>
> Is this a normal occurance for this part to fail at just 5 years old? I
> am
> not aware that A/C systems are so short-lived. Is there an alternative?
> Will
> these units repair?
>
> Thanks for any advice
>
> David
>
>
David,

They do go. They corrode usually. I've had one go on mine.
I bought a new one for £130 via eBay & fitted it myself, along with a new
receiver/dryer which cost me £40.
Easy to do assuming it's already degassed itself due to leak.
Hardest part was removing front bumper. You'll need a torx socket.
Probably a couple of hours work at most.

I had mine flushed oiled & gassed by a local company who does
air con for £60 inc using dye in case further leaks develop. It' been done
for last 4 months now & all ok.

I've seen them on eBay for buy it now price of £99

Gerry

In message <[email protected]>
"Gerry" <[email protected]> wrote:

>
> "David Haggas" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> news:[email protected]...
> > Range Rover 4.0 2000 41k miles. According to dealer new condenser required
> > for A/C system. cost fitted: £658. I am not amused.
> >
> > Is this a normal occurance for this part to fail at just 5 years old? I
> > am
> > not aware that A/C systems are so short-lived. Is there an alternative?
> > Will
> > these units repair?
> >
> > Thanks for any advice
> >
> > David
> >
> >
> David,
>
> They do go. They corrode usually. I've had one go on mine.
> I bought a new one for £130 via eBay & fitted it myself, along with a new
> receiver/dryer which cost me £40.
> Easy to do assuming it's already degassed itself due to leak.
> Hardest part was removing front bumper. You'll need a torx socket.
> Probably a couple of hours work at most.
>
> I had mine flushed oiled & gassed by a local company who does
> air con for £60 inc using dye in case further leaks develop. It' been done
> for last 4 months now & all ok.
>
> I've seen them on eBay for buy it now price of £99
>
> Gerry
>
>

<shameless plug>

STC3679 Aircon Condenser (No Fans) - 38a Range Rover £158.62 inc VAT

</shameless plug>

Richard

--
www.beamends-lrspares.co.uk [email protected]
Running a business in a Microsoft free environment - it can be done
Powered by Risc-OS - you won't get a virus from us!!
Helping keep Land Rovers on and off the road to annoy the Lib Dems

>>>>> "David" == David Haggas <[email protected]> writes:

David> Is this a normal occurance for this part to fail at just 5
David> years old? I am not aware that A/C systems are so
David> short-lived. Is there an alternative? Will these units
David> repair?

They're not repairable but a local A/C specialist should be able to
get it much cheaper. Mine was about 300 quid, fitted, 2 years ago.

Andy



--
Andy Cunningham -- www.vehicle-diagnostics.co.uk
"For a successful technology, reality must take precedence over public
relations, for Nature cannot be fooled."
--- Richard Feynman

Mine got a hole in it and lost all it's gas. Got a new condenser & receiver
dryer from www.autokool.co.uk. He happens to live round the corner from me
(really nice helpful chap!) and he got me the bits at a really good price
(£200 for the condenser, the receiver dryer and the re-gas). I fitted the
condenser without taking the bumper off as once I'd removed the bolts (used
a standard socket not a torx driver and out came the bolts ok). Problem was
that the bumper wouldn't shift with any amount of swinging on it! Still the
only reason you need to take the bumper off is to get at the bottom two
bolts of the condenser. I managed to get these out by using a 10" extension
bar from my socket set and squeezing it though the vents in the bumper to
get to the bolts. The rest was a dodle, just remember to replace the 'o'
ring seals on all the joints. Whole job probably only took a couple of
hours and that includes the time taken to drink a coffee!

Have a go - it's not difficult

Marcus

"David Haggas" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> Range Rover 4.0 2000 41k miles. According to dealer new condenser required
> for A/C system. cost fitted: £658. I am not amused.
>
> Is this a normal occurance for this part to fail at just 5 years old? I
> am
> not aware that A/C systems are so short-lived. Is there an alternative?
> Will
> these units repair?
>
> Thanks for any advice
>
> David
>
>

Marcus wrote:
> Mine got a hole in it and lost all it's gas. Got a new condenser & receiver
> dryer from www.autokool.co.uk.

Pity his sales website only works with Internet Exploder.

Steve