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Collision damage to AC Condenser

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Care, Maintenance and Troubleshooting' started by Trafficat, Jul 8, 2024 at 12:15 AM.

  1. Trafficat

    Trafficat New Member

    Joined:
    Wednesday
    17
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    Location:
    New Reno, Nukevada, Merica
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius
    Model:
    IV
    After a collision with a rock, apparently to the passenger bottom of the front, the A/C is now blowing hot air.

    Based on these pictures is it pretty safe to say this AC Condenser is toast?

    My plan is to replace the condenser and figure out how to refill with the gas. I'm guessing I can unbolt this thing and reattach a new one, some on ebay mention they come with lubricant of some kind installed. Then I guess fill with gas. Possibly as simple as buying a thingy and pushing it into a nipple. Or maybe I need some more advanced instrumentation to do it right?

    If anyone has any thoughts after looking at the pictures let me know. Kinda praying at this point I can swap it out and don't have damage to any lines.

    I believe this is showing a large crack between the base where the bolts go gin and the condenser

    1
    upload_2024-7-7_21-1-36.png

    The bolts are kinda smushed. I'm guessing this must have been the contact point with the rock. The only other known damage to the car is that the air intake resonator got torn off.

    2
    upload_2024-7-7_21-2-45.png

    I think there is a crack above the bolt tube on both of them, and my finger came away with black fluid touching the region. So I'm guessing that the system is leaking from those bolts and that it may be the source of my troubles.
    3
    upload_2024-7-7_21-3-56.png

    This tube looking thing from the Condenser is now touching the oil filter... bent I guess, but I am not seeing much damage... still a bit concerning that there could be more damage to this system than just to the compresser. I don't see obvious problems other than bent parts, but I'm not the most trained eye. Not sure what will happen when I need to replace the oil filter, but I'm guessing it shouldn't be a problem.

    4
    upload_2024-7-7_21-4-58.png
    upload_2024-7-7_21-5-44.png

    5
    upload_2024-7-7_21-6-14.png

    6
    upload_2024-7-7_21-6-51.png

    Some kind of fluid leaked out onto the bottom plastic protector. It seemed clear but somewhat slimy.

    Thanks in advance for the help.
     
    #1 Trafficat, Jul 8, 2024 at 12:15 AM
    Last edited: Jul 8, 2024 at 2:24 AM