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How do you remove the condenser from the new escape?

26K views 17 replies 9 participants last post by  EscapeTape  
#1 ·
Well, I finally broke down and gotten tired of sweating in bumper to bumper traffic and decided to fix my A/C. Ran some dye, found the leak, and it turns out it's my condenser. I might of damaged it when I was upgrading the intercooler.

Anyways, I look at the condenser and it looks to be attached to the radiator somehow. I see clips that I imagine I can just 'unclip' and slide the condenser out, but they're resistant to remove. I don't want to bust out the pry-bars and end up replacing the radiator with my condenser, so does anyone know how to properly remove the condenser?
 
#2 ·
That's one for a service manual, my friend. You can rent a short term from Helm.
 
#4 ·
What engine do you have since all three are listed under Condenser on the Helm DVD. It looks like it is the clips. It just points to the clips in step 4 of the procedure for the 2.0L.
 
#5 ·
2.0L

Okay, now my problem isn't so much about the clips holding it in. It's so much about the lack of room to lift the condenser off the clips. I'm not exactly sure what I should unbolt, because everything seems to be part of the frame. I guess I'll just wait until the repair manual comes in the mail.
 
#6 ·
My manual says to remove the radiator (2.0) It would be helpful to post your cars details in your signature. 3 diff engines, 2 diff a/c make it difficult for people to try and help.
 
#7 ·
Sadly I still run into the issue of not seeing exactly how the radiator is attached. Normally there's like a bracket you can remove and everything slides out from the top of bottom. In the Escape everything looks to be surrounded by the frame. Oh well, service manual should be here in two days and my condenser won't be here till Friday so I guess I'll have to be patient.
 
#8 ·
Yeah, the first step is a link to the radiator removal procedure. You click on that and the first two steps are links to two other procedures before radiator removal. I didn't go any further. :)
 
#18 ·
He hasn't been on the site in four years, so he's probably not going to reply. You can buy the factory service manual from Helm or buy an online subscription to Motorcraft Service to view it for a couple days.

I would classify it as a moderate/major repair job. You have to drop the entire cooling module out of the car (which includes the cooling fans, radiator, condenser, and intercooler). After draining the coolant and evacuating the A/C system, you have to unhook all the hoses and wires going to it, and then remove all the fasteners and bolts holding the module in the car, and drop it out from under (it won't come out the top). I wouldn't recommend you attempt this repair unless you've worked on A/C systems before and you have experience replacing major engine parts such as a water pump or timing belt that involve disassembly of many components.

FYI the top part of the condenser clips push in, and then you lift out the tabs. You won't have any room to lift it out while it's in the car however, and the intercooler will also be in the way.