worth a shot AIR CON
Turbo Mini Forums

Hi everyone someone may be able to help me girlfriends got a mini tartan japaneese import with air con, problem is the condensor is bust, tried all the usual part suppliers with no joy suppose its gonna be an import job from japan, does anyone no of where may stock em or import one for me cheers lads

love that straight cut scream!!!
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Give Bat a call, he is an automotive AC technician and might be able to source one to fit, and perhaps re pipe it if the condenser conections are different. http://www.birminghamautotech.com/climate.htm

have a search on Ebay for a condenser of similar size.

With the amount of cars in scrapyards with aircon you should be able to find a condensor of a similar size and make fit. But be warned, too larger core and you may have issues with over condensing (subcooling) or too small and suffer with undcondensing causings flash vapour to excist in the liquid line to the expansion devise, both senarios wil cause running issues with the system.
Shane

Just to add, if you are going to go scrapyard hunting for a coil, as well as matching the core size pay attention to the no of passes in the core, also the discharge (inlet) and liquid (outlet) pipe size. Variations in these will lead to varying requirements to system charge and also running pressures. If the fan on the mini cuts in to regulate the head pressure for arguments sake 13bar to 16bar, a size change in the core will possibly move the running pressures outside the parameters of the mechanical switches. What refrigerant does the system run? Typically moddern ac's use r134a, but older systems used r12 or a drop in called r413a. if there are traces of oil still in the coil (replacement) interchanging coils may cause "waxing" restricting flow through the expansion valve. If a suitable coil is found Id advise plotting all running temps and presure on the relative enthalpy chart for the refrigerant used. (to ensure correct opperation) If I can be of more help, please ask.
Shane.

Edited by shane on 27th May, 2010.

excellent cheers guys all have a scoot about the scrapers gassing up isnt a problem as me brother in law is a aircon engineer never crossed me mind to look for something from another car, past them all off thinking there wouldnt be out that small.

love that straight cut scream!!!
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I have yet to experience waxing with mineral oils and HFC refrigerants, and that is on systems that are charged with 90 litres of mineral oil and 500Kg of HFC R422d (large percentage is R134a)

Waxing is mythical on anything but low temp applications. Oil return is the real problem.

HFCs and mineral oil do not mix, but live happily together, add some POE oil and the problem goes away:) Gone are the days of spectometers and mutiple oil changes to reduce the mineral oil content below 2%

Oh and while I am on my soap box, there is no such thingf as a 'drop in'. such refrigerants create their own problems that will ultimately lead to the demise of one or another component in the system. By all means use this 'drop in' but at least change the oil to POE, that will reduce that likely failure of the conpressor due to lack of lubrication.

As for the size of the condenser. you might find it hard to find one as small, but you will at least find one that is not much bigger, I would be looking at small cars such as the Matiz, Micra, KA and so on, maybe even the Smart.

Call Beachgrove engineering in Leighton Buzzard he should be able to sort you out 01525 382968

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