Stone chip on Air Con Condenser

natalie338824

Hi,

I have a ford fiesta zetec and the air conditioning has not been working for a couple of years, I finally took it to the garage for a quote and they have said it will cost just over £300 as the condenser has a leak (most likely caused by a stone chip).

I knew it would be expensive and I don’t mind paying to have it fixed but I’m worried about getting another stone chip, is there any way to protect the new condenser?

I was thinking some kind of metal guard/mesh in front of it, but I don’t know if that’s safe? And also I wouldn’t know where to start with fitting it or even what material to use. Any advice or suggestions would be really appreciated! thanks

colino

It's certainly safe, if a bit unsightly, but it will reduce the efficiency of the unit too. Just one of the problems of squeezing extras into a small package.

worried_jim

Before you spend £300 try this-

RED ANGEL AIR CON SEALER STOP LEAK & CONDITIONER WITH UV DYE PERMANENTLY SEALS

http://www.amazon.co.uk/RED-ANGEL-AIR-STOP-LEAK/dp/B002BG4WX2

Red Angel A/C Stop leak has the ability to permanently seal leaks in condensers, connection hoses, evaporators, gaskets and o-rings. It is an oil based sealer that will not clog or damage the A/C system or recovery unit. Red Angel is a lubricant as well as a sealer and can stay in the system until the oil is reclaimed. Red Angel is now available in an easy one shot application with R-134a.

mattyprice4004

I chucked some cheap mesh in front of the A/C radiator on my last MG ZS, they're a bit of a pig to change so thought I'd try and avoid changing it.

Worked wonders, and cost a fiver. You could hardly see it too!

iNath

I had the exact same issue on a 2006 Fiesta Zetec back in 2009. At the time I stood my ground and argued it must be a design flaw if it's that susceptible to damage, they eventually agreed to replace under warranty.