What are the symptoms of a bad condenser?
2 Answers
There are several symptoms of a damaged car condenser: 1. The most common symptom of a faulty condenser is refrigerant leakage, resulting in the car air conditioning not cooling. Condenser leaks can often be identified visually, such as scratches, impacts, or oil stains seeping from the leakage points. Evaporator leaks, due to lower pressure and external condensation, are usually hidden inside the evaporator box and are generally harder to detect. 2. The most common issues with condensers and evaporators are clogging by debris and leakage. Debris clogging can be cleared by repeatedly flushing with nitrogen or dried compressed air until clean and unobstructed. The surfaces of condensers and evaporators must be regularly cleaned of debris to ensure proper heat transfer performance. Under normal conditions, the surface temperature of the evaporator should be very low, with significant condensation but no frost or ice formation.
A few days ago, there was an issue with my car's condenser. The most noticeable symptom was a sharp decline in the air conditioning's cooling performance. When I pressed the AC button, the air blowing out wasn't cold at all—it felt like the AC wasn't even on. Even in hot weather, the car interior remained uncomfortably warm. I also noticed a pungent chemical smell coming from the vents, resembling a mix of mold and medicinal odor, which was quite unpleasant. Upon inspecting the engine bay, I found the condenser surface was dirty, with greasy spots and damp traces, clearly indicating a refrigerant leak. If not repaired promptly, the AC system could fail completely, and the compressor might also get damaged, leading to higher repair costs. I immediately took it to the repair shop to replace the part, and now it's working normally again. I recommend car owners regularly clean the condenser fins to prevent dust buildup and overheating.
