Omega Owners Forum

Omega Help Area => Omega General Help => Topic started by: Shackeng on 12 July 2013, 16:28:40

Title: Help required with 3.2 AirCon condenser removal
Post by: Shackeng on 12 July 2013, 16:28:40
Hi guys, having got my Dowty seals and 'o' rings, I've just started stripping the 3.2 to remove the condenser, and I see a third small radiator in between the condenser and main rad. Am I correct that this is the ATF cooler? It does not appear in the how to on the 3.0. If so, I assume this will also have to come out before the condenser. any advice on this? :-\ :-\ :-\ :y
Title: Re: Help required with 3.2 AirCon condenser removal
Post by: RobG on 12 July 2013, 16:32:36
ATF cooler Chris, bolted at the 4 corners to main rad. Remove as one unit with radiator but just be careful when undoing the ATF pipe block at cooler end that you retain the rubber "O" rings. Block with "O" rings highlighted
(http://i190.photobucket.com/albums/z257/belisensis/6af71dad-06fd-4dba-a92d-b1e872ceb12b_zps8a53d441.jpg) (http://s190.photobucket.com/user/belisensis/media/6af71dad-06fd-4dba-a92d-b1e872ceb12b_zps8a53d441.jpg.html)
Title: Re: Help required with 3.2 AirCon condenser removal
Post by: Shackeng on 12 July 2013, 16:35:43
ATF cooler Chris, bolted at the 4 corners to main rad. Remove as one unit with radiator but just be careful when undoing the ATF pipe block at cooler end that you retain the rubber "O" rings

Thanks Rob. I am impressed with your rapid reply!!!

Cheers Mate. :y :y :y
Title: Re: Help required with 3.2 AirCon condenser removal
Post by: RobG on 12 July 2013, 16:36:13
Edited with a pic
Title: Re: Help required with 3.2 AirCon condenser removal
Post by: Andy B on 12 July 2013, 16:41:15
Edited with a pic

as it should have been in the first place ..........  ;)  ;)  ;)
Title: Re: Help required with 3.2 AirCon condenser removal
Post by: RobG on 12 July 2013, 16:41:39
Edited with a pic

as it should have been in the first place ..........  ;)  ;)  ;)
:P
Title: Re: Help required with 3.2 AirCon condenser removal
Post by: Shackeng on 12 July 2013, 16:44:41
Edited with a pic

as it should have been in the first place ..........  ;)  ;)  ;)

It was already good, but now even better :y

I presume the fan attached to the main rad comes out with it? :-\
Title: Re: Help required with 3.2 AirCon condenser removal
Post by: RobG on 12 July 2013, 17:16:59
Edited with a pic

as it should have been in the first place ..........  ;)  ;)  ;)

It was already good, but now even better :y

I presume the fan attached to the main rad comes out with it? :-\
Easier that way Chris
Title: Re: Help required with 3.2 AirCon condenser removal
Post by: Shackeng on 12 July 2013, 17:20:13
Thanks Rob :y :y :y
Title: Re: Help required with 3.2 AirCon condenser removal
Post by: RobG on 12 July 2013, 17:21:03
Don`t forget the thermo switch connectors :)
Title: Re: Help required with 3.2 AirCon condenser removal
Post by: Shackeng on 12 July 2013, 17:58:33
Already done, but thanks for heads up, just struggling to access the clip on the bottom rad  pipe connection at the moment :y :y :y

Edit: Now got it off. ::)
Title: Re: Help required with 3.2 AirCon condenser removal
Post by: dbug on 12 July 2013, 22:59:39
Start waggling ;)
Title: Re: Help required with 3.2 AirCon condenser removal
Post by: Shackeng on 13 July 2013, 08:31:13
Now waggled! The clip was just slightly in the wrong place to access with any of my various clip removers, but all OK now thanks. Just going out for round 2, as I only had a couple of hours on it yesterday. :y :y :y
Title: Re: Help required with 3.2 AirCon condenser removal
Post by: ted_one on 13 July 2013, 09:22:01
Having followed this thread with interest as I had planned to do all three of mine as the condensers are all original and are not holding the gas for very long....BUT....having seen how much patience is going to be needed to do the job then as I  have had a patience bypass it looks like they will be heading to the local A/C place in Slough,had a quote for £800 for each car.
Seems a lot but hey ho it's got to be worth it not to be involved ::)
Title: Re: Help required with 3.2 AirCon condenser removal
Post by: Andy B on 13 July 2013, 09:23:42
Having followed this thread with interest as I had planned to do all three of mine as the condensers are all original and are not holding the gas for very long....BUT....having seen how much patience is going to be needed to do the job then as I  have had a patience bypass it looks like they will be heading to the local A/C place in Slough,had a quote for £800 for each car.
Seems a lot but hey ho it's got to be worth it not to be involved ::)

At that price I'd definitely do it myself & then get the specialist to fill the system.  :y
Title: Re: Help required with 3.2 AirCon condenser removal
Post by: Shackeng on 13 July 2013, 09:38:42
Quite fiddly getting rad out, but only 3 spanners difficult (Haynes scale). I'll let you know how the rest goes. I can say that the 3.2 seems slightly different to the 3.0 in the how-to, and will add amplifications on completion. :y :y :y
Title: Re: Help required with 3.2 AirCon condenser removal
Post by: pscocoa on 13 July 2013, 10:28:42
Having followed this thread with interest as I had planned to do all three of mine as the condensers are all original and are not holding the gas for very long....BUT....having seen how much patience is going to be needed to do the job then as I  have had a patience bypass it looks like they will be heading to the local A/C place in Slough,had a quote for £800 for each car.
Seems a lot but hey ho it's got to be worth it not to be involved ::)

How much are parts of that quote?
Title: Re: Help required with 3.2 AirCon condenser removal
Post by: ted_one on 13 July 2013, 14:33:13
1 car examined for the quote and specified that it was the condensers on the three cars that were to be replaced,they said not a problem,and rang me later with a quote for the three jobs at £800-£850 per car to include new condensers/new seals/receiver/re-gas etc.Yes a lot of money and normally I would try to get Daz to do them but I'm back working full time and can't afford the time going up too him,and also I don't want my cars in pieces on my drive when I find out that I've bitten off more than I can chew :o in a diy attempt. Rule one..know your own capabilities.Rule two recognise that I will undoubtably cock it up and pay even more than originally quoted ::)
Title: Re: Help required with 3.2 AirCon condenser removal
Post by: Andy B on 13 July 2013, 14:54:59
1 car examined for the quote and specified that it was the condensers on the three cars that were to be replaced,they said not a problem,and rang me later with a quote for the three jobs at £800-£850 per car to include new condensers/new seals/receiver/re-gas etc.Yes a lot of money and normally I would try to get Daz to do them but I'm back working full time and can't afford the time going up too him,and also I don't want my cars in pieces on my drive when I find out that I've bitten off more than I can chew :o in a diy attempt. Rule one..know your own capabilities.Rule two recognise that I will undoubtably cock it up and pay even more than originally quoted ::)

I completely understand, but it still seems very expensive to me.
IIRC my condenser & drier were around £250 via a link from Mark ( ....... cue RobG  ::)) and a couple of hours fitting it. Fiddly in places maybe, but not hard.
Title: Re: Help required with 3.2 AirCon condenser removal
Post by: RobG on 13 July 2013, 14:58:00
1 car examined for the quote and specified that it was the condensers on the three cars that were to be replaced,they said not a problem,and rang me later with a quote for the three jobs at £800-£850 per car to include new condensers/new seals/receiver/re-gas etc.Yes a lot of money and normally I would try to get Daz to do them but I'm back working full time and can't afford the time going up too him,and also I don't want my cars in pieces on my drive when I find out that I've bitten off more than I can chew :o in a diy attempt. Rule one..know your own capabilities.Rule two recognise that I will undoubtably cock it up and pay even more than originally quoted ::)

I completely understand, but it still seems very expensive to me.
IIRC my condenser & drier were around £250 via a link from Mark ( ....... cue RobG  ::)) and a couple of hours fitting it. Fiddly in places maybe, but not hard.
Just over £100 http://www.carcooling.co.uk/products/Condenser_Vauxhall_Omega_B_All_cc_1999_03_09_99_08_03_All_Man_Auto_PF_system_622_432_25mm_1850049_15OL329-120655-2348.html

So 3 cars app £300
3 x re-gas app £150
£450 is a hell of a difference to £2400-2500
Title: Re: Help required with 3.2 AirCon condenser removal
Post by: Andy B on 13 July 2013, 15:14:21
1 car examined for the quote and specified that it was the condensers on the three cars that were to be replaced,they said not a problem,and rang me later with a quote for the three jobs at £800-£850 per car to include new condensers/new seals/receiver/re-gas etc.Yes a lot of money and normally I would try to get Daz to do them but I'm back working full time and can't afford the time going up too him,and also I don't want my cars in pieces on my drive when I find out that I've bitten off more than I can chew :o in a diy attempt. Rule one..know your own capabilities.Rule two recognise that I will undoubtably cock it up and pay even more than originally quoted ::)

I completely understand, but it still seems very expensive to me.
IIRC my condenser & drier were around £250 via a link from Mark ( ....... cue RobG  ::)) and a couple of hours fitting it. Fiddly in places maybe, but not hard.
Just over £100 http://www.carcooling.co.uk/products/Condenser_Vauxhall_Omega_B_All_cc_1999_03_09_99_08_03_All_Man_Auto_PF_system_622_432_25mm_1850049_15OL329-120655-2348.html

So 3 cars app £300
3 x re-gas app £150
£450 is a hell of a difference to £2400-2500

Your links rings a bell  :y perhaps it was my compressor that was £250   :-\
Title: Re: Help required with 3.2 AirCon condenser removal
Post by: RobG on 13 July 2013, 15:22:12
1 car examined for the quote and specified that it was the condensers on the three cars that were to be replaced,they said not a problem,and rang me later with a quote for the three jobs at £800-£850 per car to include new condensers/new seals/receiver/re-gas etc.Yes a lot of money and normally I would try to get Daz to do them but I'm back working full time and can't afford the time going up too him,and also I don't want my cars in pieces on my drive when I find out that I've bitten off more than I can chew :o in a diy attempt. Rule one..know your own capabilities.Rule two recognise that I will undoubtably cock it up and pay even more than originally quoted ::)

I completely understand, but it still seems very expensive to me.
IIRC my condenser & drier were around £250 via a link from Mark ( ....... cue RobG  ::)) and a couple of hours fitting it. Fiddly in places maybe, but not hard.
Just over £100 http://www.carcooling.co.uk/products/Condenser_Vauxhall_Omega_B_All_cc_1999_03_09_99_08_03_All_Man_Auto_PF_system_622_432_25mm_1850049_15OL329-120655-2348.html

So 3 cars app £300
3 x re-gas app £150
£450 is a hell of a difference to £2400-2500

Your links rings a bell  :y perhaps it was my compressor that was £250   :-\
Sounds about right
Title: Re: Help required with 3.2 AirCon condenser removal
Post by: Shackeng on 13 July 2013, 15:27:21
1 car examined for the quote and specified that it was the condensers on the three cars that were to be replaced,they said not a problem,and rang me later with a quote for the three jobs at £800-£850 per car to include new condensers/new seals/receiver/re-gas etc.Yes a lot of money and normally I would try to get Daz to do them but I'm back working full time and can't afford the time going up too him,and also I don't want my cars in pieces on my drive when I find out that I've bitten off more than I can chew :o in a diy attempt. Rule one..know your own capabilities.Rule two recognise that I will undoubtably cock it up and pay even more than originally quoted ::)


I really found it not difficult to remove the condenser, fiddly, yes, but nothing terribly difficult. I took about two hours - with breaks to ask for advice on here, (Thanks again Rob and others), - to drain the coolant, remove the bagpipes, remove the air intake box ( easier access to bottom rad pipe), then remove the main radiator, then condenser. Once these are all out, the compressor is also easily accessible, and despite my concerns, I removed it in about 30 minutes. I am 77 this year so if I find it easy....... :-X :-X :-X
Title: Re: Help required with 3.2 AirCon condenser removal
Post by: ted_one on 13 July 2013, 21:11:20
I agree that it may be a fairly straight forward procedure...but I really dont want to spend my time chasing my tail with something that just may in my case turn out to be a cock up.So in all honesty I wont be going there,but more power to you for having a go and as you can see you'll be saving a shed load of money by doing it yourself :y
Title: Re: Help required with 3.2 AirCon condenser removal
Post by: jb on 13 July 2013, 21:17:25
Yes,agree with others here 850 per car is rather rich since the parts cost is 100 max,a regas is typically 50 quid so there is what looks like 700 quid of labour for 2-3 hours work......
This is not a specialised job and most small garages have the ability to regas so I would say shop around for the labour element supplying the condensor yourself from the link earlier.
Title: Re: Help required with 3.2 AirCon condenser removal
Post by: Shackeng on 13 July 2013, 21:48:43
I agree that it may be a fairly straight forward procedure...but I really dont want to spend my time chasing my tail with something that just may in my case turn out to be a cock up.So in all honesty I wont be going there,but more power to you for having a go and as you can see you'll be saving a shed load of money by doing it yourself :y

The big difference - apart from massive savings - is you know if it is done properly!!! :y
Title: Re: Help required with 3.2 AirCon condenser removal
Post by: ted_one on 13 July 2013, 22:46:03
Certainly will shop around for more quotes,but even the local aircon guy with a small unit on a farm near me makes no secret that he charges £110 an hour on A/C jobs :o
Title: Re: Help required with 3.2 AirCon condenser removal
Post by: Andy B on 13 July 2013, 23:02:46
Certainly will shop around for more quotes,but even the local aircon guy with a small unit on a farm near me makes no secret that he charges £110 an hour on A/C jobs :o

MB always charge that!  ::)