While driving yesterday, I turkey flew up from side of the road in front of me and crashed thru the grill of my truck. Aside from the broken grill, the only other damage appears to be minor to the AC Condenser, but enough that it caused a leak and needs to be replaced.

Truck is a 2005 F150 XLT, 5.4 Supercrew. Can anyone provide some insight to this repair? Doesn't look to be too involved, but want to make sure I'm not overlooking something. Are there any other parts that would need replaced as part of this? If I replace it myself, should I be able to take it to a shop to have them charge the AC? I've looked around the forums here and elsewhere, didn't find much related to this truck. Thanks in advance!

 

After replacing the condenser, its important to have the system correctly evacuated, checked for leaks and recharged correctly. While you may save a few dollars installing the condenser yourself, why not let the shop do it with a guarantee for the repairs?

 

any time the system is opened, I would say especially if hasn't been recently replaced, the dryer should be replaced. I would imagine there's a certain quantity of oil that should be added back as well.

 

It's not particularly hard to change out, but for sure the orifice tube should be changed out while you have the system open it's inside one of the tubes you have to undo anyway and it's like a $3 part.


I'm not certain the filter/drier needs to be replaced in a case like this where it wasn't a black death failure... as long as they pull vacuum for a sufficient amount of time any moisture will be pulled from the system.

 

I don't know if this applies to the F150 or not, but when my 07 Expedition developed a serious PS leak that I couldn't track I took it to a reputable shop. I was told the AC condenser doubled as a PS cooler and the condenser was where the leak was. cost a fortune to have it fixed but always the Glass Half Full person I am, I was glad that the work included an AC checkup and fill. My point being there may be extra work and expense involved if the F150 uses the same type system as the Exedition.

 

Not so on the f150. Two separate heat exchangers.