Member Since: 15 Jan 2016
Location: GL
Posts: 10360
if your not going to take it thru water.
on other cars I have just drilled holes below where the issue is.
vERY effective when the cars get old
Needs to be a large hole really, at least 5mm
8th Jul 2019 5:35 pm
gstuart
Member Since: 21 Oct 2016
Location: kent
Posts: 13598
Many thks as always pete
Measured it and tube size is 7mm id, so u saying 5mm should be about right
So thinking then I could just drill the bottom one as that’s where most of the condensation is, drivers side is fine
Just using windscreen washer type hose as it’s cheap enough , wondering if it’s worth about drilling all 3 x holes , joining them together with those plastic barbed fittings with single vent pipe pointing down off the x3 so gets plenty of air flow inside
8th Jul 2019 6:04 pm
gstuart
Member Since: 21 Oct 2016
Location: kent
Posts: 13598
Just been searching through condenser threads,
May i ask is there favourite spot where these leak at plse , just wondering if I’ve missed somewhere
Tested , connections at, bulkhead , both high and low valves, connectors by the screen wash bottle , entire front of the condensor , o ring where the dryer joins onto the condenser, large nut on top of the AC pump
Suppose wondering about injecting some dye into the system, have got an ultraviolet torch , but think the system has to have some gas still left in the system to go round ??
Many thks
8th Jul 2019 6:46 pm
Pete K
Member Since: 15 Jan 2016
Location: GL
Posts: 10360
I’ve not found a tube necessary.
And with headlamps coming out frequency could be a
Pain.
If the ac label on the slam panel has dye on it
It already has dye.
Go over it with Uv
and yeah it needs gas in it to push the dye around
8th Jul 2019 7:33 pm
gstuart
Member Since: 21 Oct 2016
Location: kent
Posts: 13598
Gotcha , hidden between the condensor and rad
Can just see the bubbles , so new condensor it is
Also tried an ultra violet torch , can just see the bubbles
Happy days as at least it’s proven 100% that’s at fault
Plus saved a few hundred quid as well from garage quotes I had
Think it was DM that done a write up how to replace the condenser
8th Jul 2019 8:02 pm
gstuart
Member Since: 21 Oct 2016
Location: kent
Posts: 13598
Well this is far as I’ve got
Heeeeeeelllp , can’t get those large T40 torx to budge , have soaked them in plus gas and will leave them over night
Any tips please apart from cutting them off with a dremel plse
8th Jul 2019 9:03 pm
gstuart
Member Since: 21 Oct 2016
Location: kent
Posts: 13598
Wondering if this would work on the torx bolts , is 240v / 450 nm
Also just looked at the torx 40 , got to try and find another one now
8th Jul 2019 9:44 pm
Pete K
Member Since: 15 Jan 2016
Location: GL
Posts: 10360
they aren't easy!
I don't have the answer though
P.S Are you sure its leaking there and not paint bubbling up
8th Jul 2019 10:40 pm
gstuart
Member Since: 21 Oct 2016
Location: kent
Posts: 13598
Hiya
Ant that the truth , plus seeing there’s 6 x torx s that needs to come out , at least it’s not wishbone bolts
definitely leaking from the condensor , can see the soapy. Water bubbling , really hard trying to get a clear pic
See the bolts protrude about 1/4-1/2 inch so wondering if I can get a dremel in there to at least try and clean the threads
Suppose if I can’t get them out will have to try and cut the heads off the torx , remove the front panel and then drill the bolts out
Never know the plus gas may help or impact gun ???
Thks as always
8th Jul 2019 10:49 pm
Pete K
Member Since: 15 Jan 2016
Location: GL
Posts: 10360
You can get thread cleaners.
They are like a nut or die.
But if you can’t get any movement it won’t help
8th Jul 2019 11:03 pm
gstuart
Member Since: 21 Oct 2016
Location: kent
Posts: 13598
Have got a tap and die set which is a good thought to see if I can run one down the thread
The only one I was able to crack loose a little bit was the one of the far right , think also half the issue is the original torx I used twisted so useless
Got some mini steel wheels for the dremel along with the flexi shaft so just maybe might be able to get onto the back of the threads , thought if I can crack them loose enough to get more plus gas down the threads
Of course don’t want to go down the route of having to cut the torx heads off
Wonder if after I clean all the threads if it’s then worth using the impact gun, inc if the vibration of the impact gun would aid getting them loose or if will just strip them
Managed to find another T 40 but not sure of the quality
Another thought if I ended up in trouble was using the dremel to make a few flat sides to try and get a socket on them
Will sit down tomorrow and take my time in trying to get them out
Also going to look how much new ones are just in case I need them or better still replace them with some stainless steel bolts which I think I may have , think there M8 x 1.25 x 30mm
Bless u and many thks as always pete , am so grateful
Ps, just wondered I’ll disconnect the battery because of the impact sensors
8th Jul 2019 11:47 pm
gstuart
Member Since: 21 Oct 2016
Location: kent
Posts: 13598
Just thought , got a hot air gun, maybe heat the bolts up to see if it helps to loosen them
9th Jul 2019 12:03 am
Pete K
Member Since: 15 Jan 2016
Location: GL
Posts: 10360
Impact may help.
In any case order a snap on t40 from eBay.
9th Jul 2019 12:58 am
gstuart
Member Since: 21 Oct 2016
Location: kent
Posts: 13598
Cheers
Will look on amazon cause I can get it delivered by weds so at least in the mean time I can clean the threads up and also add some more plus gas , will get some impact 1/2 inch torx bits which in theory should be stronger
Will let u know how it goes
Many thks
9th Jul 2019 2:31 am
gstuart
Member Since: 21 Oct 2016
Location: kent
Posts: 13598
Thought I would try and do abit more today
Blimey getting those 3 x bolts off the condensor are fun , bottom bolt I used a long bar and ratchet , top one used a ratchet spanner , all 3 x bolts are 8mm , got new stainless steel bolts and new O rings
Progress so far
Fitted a temp hose on the expansion bottle to save loosing any antifreeze
Sanded the plastic down in order the torx would sit flat and flush against the torx bolt head
Now back to these T40 torx, found another torx so will see how it goes
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, plus seeing there’s 6 x torx s that needs to come out , at least it’s not wishbone bolts 
