AC Condenser replacement thoughts?!

Hey friends, the other day I noticed my AC suddenly stopped blowing cold. So I figured maybe the refrigerant was low so I bought one of those fill bottles with the valve and gauge and filled it back up. Worked fine after but then I went for a drive and parked and could hear a noticeable leaking sound from bottom left of the engine where the condenser is. It's the original condenser with 410k miles on it! Is it a pretty big job replacing it? I wish I would have done it when I did the timing belt myself. Any tips?

 

The condenser is in front of the radiator .

I think you mean the compressor on the right front corner of the engine.

This might get expensive if you also have leaks in your evaporator core.

You will need to pull a vacuum and hold it a few hours

 

Yessir I meant compressor, my brain is fried from the heat.

 

Its a good time to dye.

Not sure how you would get the UV dye in with just a fill bottle Maybe pour it in the filler hose before charging it back up. Or undo one of the rubber AC hoses and pour a few drops in the system. Then you’ll be able to see the leak, not just hear it. Don’t forget the UV flashlight.

 

It is really rough trying to Trouble Shoot AC without Manifold gauges and a vacuum pump.

I would think a hose cracked or o ring failed before the compressor leaked

 

I just had my compressor fail and send shrapnel throughout the system. I had to get the compressor, dryer, condenser, and expansion valve replaced. At 24 years old and 200k miles I figured it was about time. If one component fails, you will usually have to replace others since contaminants will get into the system.