Contour Enthusiasts Group Archives Forums General Troubleshooting A/C Gone - BALLS!

Hello all-
Went out to the car this morning to go to work, and the idle was all over the place. I figured out that the A/C compressor was short-cycling, and wouldn't blow cold air. After I got home, I started poking around and noticed that my Power Steering cooler had gotten jammed into the A/C coil (the condensor, right?), and there was oily gook (not PS fluid) all over the condensor that wasn't there a few days ago. Suffice it to say, that A/C coil (again, the condensor?) is destroyed.

My questions:
Can these things be repaired?
Do I have the correct name for it? (condensor)
Could I order one up from FordPartsOnline and install it without too much trouble?

Gimme a hand here, any previous experiences to help me out??

where in the engine bay is this? is it the canister next to the radiator or are you talking about the compressor (has the serpintine belt around it)?

It it the aluminum radiator-looking thing that is mounted in front of the radiator.

to tha top...this sounds ugly...

Yup, Condenser.

You can fix it BUT, you need to put a dehydrating level vacuum on it (a refrigeration vacuum pump is needed) to remove the moisture and then recharge it with the correct amount of refrigerant and oil. You also need to leak test it to make sure no other components are leaking. It really isn't DIY if you want it done right. Most people don't have the proper equipment like vacuum pumps andleak testers.

Removing the moisture is important. Any moisture in the system will quickly corrode the compressor and destroy the condenser. Water and r134a combine under heat and pressure to form hydroflouric acid. BAD. The acid will do a number on the components. There is a dessicant (water absorber) in the system, but since the system is exposed to atmosphere, it has probably absorbed all the water it can. The vacuum process will remove the water.

Yeah, I figured as much with the vaccuum pump and all that. But if I replaced it myself and gave it to my A/C guys to evacuate and fill, would I really be saving myself any trouble? Or just causing more trouble than I'm saving?

Update- Called the dealership, and they quoted me $600 to fix. $250 for the part, and 4 hours of labor. Jeez! I asked them why it was so high, and they said it was because Contours are so hard to work on, that all the technicians groan when one comes in.

Thanks, guys. That really makes me want to bring the car in.

Then I called a local radiator and A/C shop that I've used before, and they quoted $325. Probably an aftermarket part (forgot to ask) but they do excellent work.

While you could do it yourself and save some $, I know from a service point of view that I won't warrantee parts I didn't supply. If a fitting started leaking or the new Condenser had a flaw, you would own the problem. Let the shop doing the work have the liability for a faulty part.

A good independent shop is a good choice. Just ask around to see if they have any problems and get a feel for their reputation. some of the independent shops by me are far better in backing their work and making you feel comfortable than the local Dealers.