Beesel
12-07-2007, 08:02 PM
Not sure how many do their own maintenance. Had a leak in my A/C condenser on my Beesel so I replaced it. Beesel is a term that one of my coworkers came up with. I drive a Beetle Diesel. I like the term so I now refer to my car as a Beesel. :lol:
They say it is a 6 hour job but it took me 12 hours. It is not difficult but it is time consuming. It was taking a long time getting all the fasteners out so I end up using my 1/4" drive air ratchet.
The first thing you must do is remove the front fender assembly.
http://img212.imageshack.us/img212/5984/pb100006cf7.jpg
You can see the lock carrier and bumper laying on the floor in the background. The manual says that it is a two person job to remove and reinstall but I did it by myself without issue.
This is what it looks like when you get to the condenser right before you remove it.
http://img212.imageshack.us/img212/2351/pb100001ce1.jpg
Here is another shot at a different angle. The car is on JACK STANDS.
http://img489.imageshack.us/img489/3995/pb100002gu9.jpg
The bumper and lock carrier out of the car. The Bentley Manual says to put the carrier lock in the service position. The long bolts on the floor will do that but I think it was easier to just remove the assembly.
http://img489.imageshack.us/img489/667/pb100005cz0.jpg
The condenser is now out of the car.
http://img340.imageshack.us/img340/5250/pb100003tf3.jpg
The new condenser waiting to go in.
http://img212.imageshack.us/img212/5559/pb100004is6.jpg
I did get everything back together and working perfectly. The biggest problem was getting the left (driver's side) head lamp back in. There was dirt in the locking mechanism. I end up taking the mechanism out of the car, disassembled it, clean it with soap and work, then reinstalled.
I am told that taking the front end off the car is necessary to change out the alternator, A/C, radiator, and condenser. It is a time consuming job but not difficult.
Hope these photos help others see that it can be done by someone that do not work for the dealer and why it cost so much when you take it to the dealer.
They say it is a 6 hour job but it took me 12 hours. It is not difficult but it is time consuming. It was taking a long time getting all the fasteners out so I end up using my 1/4" drive air ratchet.
The first thing you must do is remove the front fender assembly.
http://img212.imageshack.us/img212/5984/pb100006cf7.jpg
You can see the lock carrier and bumper laying on the floor in the background. The manual says that it is a two person job to remove and reinstall but I did it by myself without issue.
This is what it looks like when you get to the condenser right before you remove it.
http://img212.imageshack.us/img212/2351/pb100001ce1.jpg
Here is another shot at a different angle. The car is on JACK STANDS.
http://img489.imageshack.us/img489/3995/pb100002gu9.jpg
The bumper and lock carrier out of the car. The Bentley Manual says to put the carrier lock in the service position. The long bolts on the floor will do that but I think it was easier to just remove the assembly.
http://img489.imageshack.us/img489/667/pb100005cz0.jpg
The condenser is now out of the car.
http://img340.imageshack.us/img340/5250/pb100003tf3.jpg
The new condenser waiting to go in.
http://img212.imageshack.us/img212/5559/pb100004is6.jpg
I did get everything back together and working perfectly. The biggest problem was getting the left (driver's side) head lamp back in. There was dirt in the locking mechanism. I end up taking the mechanism out of the car, disassembled it, clean it with soap and work, then reinstalled.
I am told that taking the front end off the car is necessary to change out the alternator, A/C, radiator, and condenser. It is a time consuming job but not difficult.
Hope these photos help others see that it can be done by someone that do not work for the dealer and why it cost so much when you take it to the dealer.