A/C Cleaning Dismantling

[mitsumi]

Hi There,

Is there anyone here have tried removing this for cleaning? dont know what its called.



Can anyone show how to dismantle this.

[Top_Fuel]

That is the air conditioning condenser. If it's dirty, it will impact how effective your air conditioner is.

Try spraying it off with some water while it's still installed in the car. It's pressurized with AC refrigerant. Removing it would involve a lot of work and special equipment to do it properly. Then you would need to re-install it and evacuate and re-charge the system properly. Again...all of this requires special equipment. Just clean it off as best you can without removing it from the car.

[mitsumi]

Thanks @Top_Fuel

But the picture is not mine.

I wanted to know how and where is this located so i can remove mine for cleaning. My Odo is nearing 50k and im not sure if i had to clean it too.

[Fummins]

What top fuel said. Unless it's really plugged and all the fins are beat and trashed. In that case just replace it, but as mentioned it's pressurized and could likely cause California if you live in the state of cancer as well as the global warnings or something. Plus you'll have green schmooh all over everything.

[Top_Fuel]

I wanted to know how and where is this located so i can remove mine for cleaning.

A condenser looks like a radiator...and it sits in front of your car's radiator just like in this picture...



You can see it through your lower bumper opening and maybe by looking under the hood.

Cleaning a condenser isn't really a maintenance item. 99% of people never touch it unless it leaks and needs to be replaced.

That being said, if it's gunked up with leaves and stuff, then try to get a hose up in there and shoot water on it. Also make sure there's not stuff stuck between the condenser and the radiator (I'm not even sure it's possible to see this area on a Mirage).

If you are determined to clean it and be extra thorough, you could pull the radiator out of the car and then you'll have pretty good access to it to blast water through the condenser. That wouldn't take too long. But unless you're dealing with an AC problem and you can tell it's covered with dirt and other stuff, you don't need to mess with it.

[klroger]

Just a note, if you are going to clean this, only spray it with a garden hose. They are generally made from aluminum & the high pressure from a car wash / pressure washer hose can bend the fins flat & restrict air flow thru the condenser & rad...

Roger

[Top_Fuel]

Just a note, if you are going to clean this, only spray it with a garden hose.

That's a great tip. 1500 PSI from a car wash sprayer at close range is probably a bad idea.

There are foaming cleaners made just for cleaning condensers and evaporators. Usually you would use these on your home air conditioner, but you could also use them on your car. Here's a video of how they work. You spray them on and they foam up and clean off the dirt. You often times don't even need to rinse them off...

[klroger]

Thanks for showing us that it seems to work really well... I'm going to see if I can find that stuff local, as A/C season is coming. (even if I don't know when for sure) ...

Roger

[mitsumi]

sorry what im asking is... if theres a way to clean it without removing it? Or theres no other way but to remove the dashboard.

[Cobrajet]

sorry what im asking is... if theres a way to clean it without removing it? Or theres no other way but to remove the dashboard.

That is the evaporator. If it is as dirty as the one in the video, the only way to clean it is with major surgery like this.