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[PaulW]

As in the title really, I've got a 'good' A/C condenser (as told) which I need to check before I brave stripping the front end down and attempting to change it...

Any idea how I can test it??

[Big_Roger]

Hi,
If this spare condenser has been off of the doner car for some time and not evacuated and sealed, then you have a problem. The Omega condenser is integral with the filter / drier therefore air, and thus moisture will have entered and contaminated the drier.

If this is the case, first check for what looks like oily or dirt contaminated oily areas as this often means the frig oil has been leaking. If no signs, then simply rig up to pressurise with air, ie blanking hoses and tyre pump and check for leaks with soapy water. this will tell you if you are wasting your time or not. In service the pressure could easily be up to 80 PSI

Correctly, it should be pressurised with Oxygen free nitrogen with leak tracer added and then sniffer tested.
Most Air con specialists (not Kwik Fit or Halfords) should be able to do this for you if you wish, and also, if it has been left free to air so is contaminated, they may be able to either replace the drier, or vac it down for an extended period to try drying out the drier canister.

If I were you, I would go and talk to whoever you intend to get to re gas your system and see what they say before fitting it.

HTH

Roger

[amba]

As Big_ Roger said it needs to be pressure tested to ensure no leaks and if the pipe entries have not been capped off it will have had air/moisture enter,thus contaminating it.
The actual job of removing and replacing it is not too bad but it is a fair amount of work and the extra cost of a re-gas just to find it is leaking .Take a trip to air con specialist and get them to vacuum test it first,then go from there.