Well, it's time to replace the condenser. At about 40,000 miles it developed a tiny leak and we massaged it through an entire year with a couple cans of refrigerant. Well, on our 300 mile trip this weekend we got a 4" disk-shaped piece of metal lodged at least 1/2" straight into the condenser. No basic "stop-leak" is going to fix or work for a few months with this one!
Has anyone had an aftermarket condenser installed? They're readily available for $100-180, vs. $255 or so I found online for a Honda unit. Given how fragile the Honda one is, I can't imagine aftermarket condensers are any weaker (and in fact may be stronger). Of course, after this hit I'll be installing gutter guard along with it.
While I'm at it, has anyone done this themselves apart from having a professional A/C shop draw a vacuum and then charge the system? I have the Odyssey repair manual and the replacement looks very easy for my 2007. Nothing major to remove to get at the few things that need to be detached from the condenser. The only thing that doesn't make it completely drop in is you need to replace the o-rings, and I'll probably have to buy a new drier filter if whatever condenser I buy doesn't come with it already (OEM does but otherwise it depends on what and where you buy an aftermarket one from). I'm assuming I shouldn't re-install the existing one.
Skipping self-install entirely, has anyone had an independent A/C shop handle the replacement for them? What did it cost? What parts did they use or did you have them use?
Thanks!
Has anyone had an aftermarket condenser installed? They're readily available for $100-180, vs. $255 or so I found online for a Honda unit. Given how fragile the Honda one is, I can't imagine aftermarket condensers are any weaker (and in fact may be stronger). Of course, after this hit I'll be installing gutter guard along with it.
While I'm at it, has anyone done this themselves apart from having a professional A/C shop draw a vacuum and then charge the system? I have the Odyssey repair manual and the replacement looks very easy for my 2007. Nothing major to remove to get at the few things that need to be detached from the condenser. The only thing that doesn't make it completely drop in is you need to replace the o-rings, and I'll probably have to buy a new drier filter if whatever condenser I buy doesn't come with it already (OEM does but otherwise it depends on what and where you buy an aftermarket one from). I'm assuming I shouldn't re-install the existing one.
Skipping self-install entirely, has anyone had an independent A/C shop handle the replacement for them? What did it cost? What parts did they use or did you have them use?
Thanks!