I replaced my AC condenser and high side line, it sucked.
06-28-2014, 11:04 PM
#1
Super Member
Thread Starter
I replaced my AC condenser and high side line, it sucked.
I was experiencing A/C hissing from the center console. I took it in the shop and MB stated condenser and high side lines are leaking.
MB quoted 4 hours of work and the following parts:
Condenser W203 500 12 54
High side line A113 230 17 56
O-rings 220 997 02 45 & 020 997 76 45
Compressor Oil A 001 989 08 03
Refill & recharge
$1275, Ha! Yeah, not paying that.
I found a write up for the procedure. Attached below.
Ordered the parts off ebay $155 total, including $31 of O-rings I ended up not needing.
Any remaining A/C needs to be discharged before any work.
Had to take the bumper off, I've done it before so it wasn't a big deal.
Take the underbody tray off, front part of both wheel-wells, 2 small bolts by the headlight assemblies, 3 mesh pieces from the front of the bumper, 2 small bolts by the fog lights, temp sensor by pass-side fog light. Inside the wheel well were the bumper and front quarter panel come together there's a small "C" shaped part held in by a torx screw holds the panels tight.
Whole assembly pulls straight forward.
Next comes the top front cross member. Had to remove the 2 hood latches/release cables, remove horn, unbolt small power steering radiators, remove 2 10mm bolts from the back side of the silver impact bumper, unclip some black plastic things across the top to release some hoses and plastic air shroud. Then it came up and out.
The black plastic air shroud is the last thing in the way and it was a pain. There are 2 hidden push-in retainers on the back of the silver impact bumper which were difficult to remove. Then you have to work the entire assembly down the front and out the bottom.
Once that's out you can start the actual work!
Make sure any remaining AC is discharged, remove the single 10mm nut holding the 2 lines attached at the bottom of the condenser. Both lines pull straight back. Condenser should then unclip at the top, then slide down about 1/2", then come forward and be removed.
New one goes in easy.
The high-side line A113 230 17 56 I had to replace was difficult with the 5.5L V8 taking up the whole ****ing engine bay. A single 6mm bolt holds it to the AC compressor, the problem is the power steering pump directly in the way. Finally got it swapped out, oiled up both ends and tightened it up.
Slowly added ~35ml of the compressor oil through the low and high side fill holes with a toothpick
then charged the new system with a bottle from AutoZone to about 40psi, ran for a bit, filled some more after the AC compressor kicked on.
AC is now cold! Ran it all day today and no leaks yet.
Old condenser and high side line:
MB quoted 4 hours of work and the following parts:
Condenser W203 500 12 54
High side line A113 230 17 56
O-rings 220 997 02 45 & 020 997 76 45
Compressor Oil A 001 989 08 03
Refill & recharge
$1275, Ha! Yeah, not paying that.
I found a write up for the procedure. Attached below.
Ordered the parts off ebay $155 total, including $31 of O-rings I ended up not needing.
Any remaining A/C needs to be discharged before any work.
Had to take the bumper off, I've done it before so it wasn't a big deal.
Take the underbody tray off, front part of both wheel-wells, 2 small bolts by the headlight assemblies, 3 mesh pieces from the front of the bumper, 2 small bolts by the fog lights, temp sensor by pass-side fog light. Inside the wheel well were the bumper and front quarter panel come together there's a small "C" shaped part held in by a torx screw holds the panels tight.
Whole assembly pulls straight forward.
Next comes the top front cross member. Had to remove the 2 hood latches/release cables, remove horn, unbolt small power steering radiators, remove 2 10mm bolts from the back side of the silver impact bumper, unclip some black plastic things across the top to release some hoses and plastic air shroud. Then it came up and out.
The black plastic air shroud is the last thing in the way and it was a pain. There are 2 hidden push-in retainers on the back of the silver impact bumper which were difficult to remove. Then you have to work the entire assembly down the front and out the bottom.
Once that's out you can start the actual work!
Make sure any remaining AC is discharged, remove the single 10mm nut holding the 2 lines attached at the bottom of the condenser. Both lines pull straight back. Condenser should then unclip at the top, then slide down about 1/2", then come forward and be removed.
New one goes in easy.
The high-side line A113 230 17 56 I had to replace was difficult with the 5.5L V8 taking up the whole ****ing engine bay. A single 6mm bolt holds it to the AC compressor, the problem is the power steering pump directly in the way. Finally got it swapped out, oiled up both ends and tightened it up.
Slowly added ~35ml of the compressor oil through the low and high side fill holes with a toothpick
then charged the new system with a bottle from AutoZone to about 40psi, ran for a bit, filled some more after the AC compressor kicked on.
AC is now cold! Ran it all day today and no leaks yet.
Old condenser and high side line:
Last edited by ambit; 06-29-2014 at 04:25 PM.
