New AC condenser replacement tips?

RH was 50 to 60% in the general area based on the weather report from my phone (don't have a hyrogmeter).

Yesterday when it was 75°F outside, the air temp at the vent was stuck at 50°F for the first half hour of my trip even on the freeway (which worried me), then dropped to 44-46°F after that and remained in that range for the rest of the day. It seems hold 44-46°F regardless of the change of outside temps.

I mentioned to you before, water actually got into my system during the vacuum check. So I wonder if there is still moisture in the system. I vacuumed for 2.5 hours using a relatively powerful Robin Air 35 micron 5 cfm 2 stage pump.

 

50-60% RH won't affect vent temp much, if at all. You were running fresh air, not recirc?
I can't remember, how did you get water in the system? Water, or water vapor in the air? There is a difference.

 

I was using recirc mostly but there was not much difference in change from fresh air probably because the outside air was only 75°F.

When I was checking for leaks, the soapy water solution got sucked into the high pressure connection at the condenser inlet with the system under vacuum. I messed up the mating surface on the high pressure hose connector trying to get the corrosion off so that's why it was leaking. Then I had to buy a new hose assembly.

 

Glad I found and followed this thread. I’ll be doing my condenser replacement in the next few weeks. The dealer wanted to do it with my frame replacement back in the fall but I declined. They wanted $320 for the condenser. I can definitely do the condenser myself and I’ll try to recharge myself. Even if I end up paying for that I’ll be way under $320. I’d have bought the part myself and given it to the dealer but was informed on the late side of things. Question about the screen filter. Are those of you that have removed it finding it to be dirty? If not it’s one less thing to disturb.

 

Not good. Pressed for time now, will try to answer tomorrow.

 

I'm about to order parts to replace my condenser, shop quoted me $1000 yesterday so screw that. I have a few quick questions before digging too deep into it.

I had the shop evacuate the system, this only removes refrigerant right? Most of the oil should still be in there? If I'm going to take it back to the shop for a recharge do I need to add the 1.4oz of oil to the condenser as noted above when installing? Or will they add oil when they charge it?

Those that got the

$99 Denso 477-0839 A/C Condenser

Denso 477-0839 condenser the drier is part of the condenser right? I only ask because on the rock auto website it say no for "includes drier" in the info chart but wondering if that's just an error since it's supposed to be built in.

Otherwise it seems pretty straight forward, sounds like the big things are install new orings and remember to oil them.

EDIT: Also are people buying full o-ring kits or just the ones they need? If just individuals what sizes are needed?

 

I have a 2015 and the FSM called for 1.4 oz. of pag oil added to the condenser before install. That’s what I did.

I would call the shop and ask there opinion on adding the oil.
.

 

Thanks, If the FSM calls for it then I'll just go ahead and add it.

 

Yea, That’s what I would do.

 

Make sure you look at the parts diagram for your year and get the right O rings. Mine took one O ring and one seal washer. Some of these basic o ring kits only have the green O rings.

 

Probably couldn’t hurt to let the shop doing the recharge know that the pag oil has been added and is correct. Ounce of prevention right?

 

Honestly I didn't realize auto parts stores rented vacuum pumps and gauge manifolds until this morning so I'm probably just going to charge it myself. Only reason I wasn't originally considering charging myself was because I thought I'd have to buy all the tools and at that point it's about the same as having a shop do it. I'll go ahead and put the PAG oil in the condenser when I install it.

I feel better charging it myself so that I can vacuum test it and troubleshoot if anything leaks after the install opposed to the shop just saying "it leaks" and giving it back to me. Not to mention it'll save me another $200

Just ordered the denso condenser and oring kit from Amazon. Was cheaper than rock auto after shipping.

 

I did this job on Saturday installing the Denso unit everyone has mentioned and it was super easy. It took me about 1 beer/1 hour to pull the old condenser and get the new one in. Having a plate bumper probably helped because it made for easy access to all the bolts.

The first time I vacuum tested it didn't hold vacuum for an hour so I unbolted the connections, applied a liberal coat of PAG oil to help the fittings slide and seat up really well, and then retorqued. After that it held vacuum just fine so I pulled vac for an hour and a half before charging, added 22oz of r134 and now it blows colder than when the truck was new.

Glad to get this done with summer heating up and in all the job cost me about $120 for all the parts and refrigerant, much better than the $1,000 the shop quoted me!

 

Just a heads up to anyone ordering a Spectra condenser from Autozone. You'll need to buy new brackets from Toyota (unless you find aftermarket versions) because Toyota decided to change condenser design (I'm not sure when).

Spectra followed suit and updated the design of the condenser. So, your original condenser brackets won't work.

I found out the hard way. I initially thought Spectra quality shit the bed and I wrote them an email to complain. Spectra responded back to me the next day explaining what I mentioned above and sorry for the inconvenience.

Here are the part numbers for the brackets you'll need if you order them from Toyota: 88688-04260, 88688-04270, 88688-04280, 88688-04290.

Before finding out that I had to buy new brackets, I went to AutoZone and told them that original brackets wouldn't fit. No one behind the counter had any clue why. So, I just returned the Spectra condenser and drove over to O'Reilly.



I bought Murray condenser, which was a bit cheaper, from O'Reilly but the condenser came with brackets! If I only went to O'Reilly the first time, I would've saved myself a whole day.

Also, my tacoma's condenser had seal washers (not o-rings) on both low and high pressure lines. The condenser washer kit (usually special order) from Autozone and O'Reilly is a little more than $30 and it comes with an assortment of o-rings and washers, but you only need two seal washers. I was lucky that one of the guys at O'Reilly knew a mechanic nearby who would sell me the two seal washers that I needed.

Side note: Check the condition of your newly purchased condenser before you leave the auto parts store. The condenser that I bought from O'Reilly was punctured. I didn't realize that until I got home. Fortunately, I was able to return the punctured condenser and got a new one within a few hours.



Another Side note: Recharging my a/c was a bit sketchy. The evertough a/c gauge manifold that I rented from O'Reilly did not say which way was to open or close. I followed the instructions on the carrying case, but something wasn't right. So, I'm just going to go a mechanic to have the a/c recharged.

 

All my gauge manifolds are righty tighty = closed
lefty loosey = open.

 

Ok this thread is awesome thanks for all the info posted. I diagnosed my leak in the condenser so I ordered a new Denso unit


The new unit came in today. I unboxed it, and while non of the fins look damaged (and neither was the box), the whole thing looks tweaked a bit. Is this normal? I haven't torn my old one out to see what shape it is but I would think it would be straight. If it's not normal, do you think it's worth trying to mount in and straighten it or return it?

 

Bent. Can’t see ‘em makin’ it like that.

 

Thanks, that's what I was thinking as well. Damn, guess I'll have to order another one and hope it comes undamaged. Good thing is Amazon return policy is easy.

 

Cores are likely made in one plant & ends in another. Who knows were it’s put together. That looks bent. It’s not offset or whatever to fit the application. It’s a fair jag of work gettin’ that in. Be a shame if the part is defective. I’d err on the safe side. Bet the new one’s not like that.

 

I agree, don't want to take everything apart only to find this one ain't gonna work for me. I ordered a new one from WallyWorld for the same price with free shipping and I'll return the Amazon one this week.