Honda Fit Condenser Replacement and AC Recharge

If you found this helpful, you can say 'Thank You Dan' by buying me a cup of coffee. Thanks SO MUCH!
www.buymeacoffe...
Today I replaced the condenser because a rock pinholed it... The process should be simple (if your car isn't salvage). I learned a few important tricks to this and would love to pass them along to you. Please subscribe if you find this video useful and would like to see more as I work on my Wife's 2008 Honda Fit.
Replacement Condenser: amzn.to/2Mm5x1Z
Freon Recharge Kit: amzn.to/2Vp7yyt
Plastic Fastener Removal Tool - amzn.to/31UAa4G
Panel Removal Tools (orange) - amzn.to/2Zl440F
Push Clip 240pcs Assortment - amzn.to/2HiAqD3
Special! Amazon Prime 30-Day Free Trial: amzn.to/2LVOBjZ
These links are Amazon Associate affiliated which means that without costing you a dime, I get a few dimes when you use these links. Thanks so much for the support!
Dan Holt

[@slavinik7613]

Thanks for the video Dan! You can avoid "frost bite" if you open completely the valve on the charging hose before you screw it to the freon can. Then you will turn it in all the way down which gets the needle to pierce thru the seal and zero freon leaks out. Next you connect the other end to the L port, open the valve and start the car as you show

[@pablocamacaro6669]

Great video man. Loved when your wife just took our car.

[@ArianaTheDopest]

i bought this car new when I was 18 still own it 113k miles love it will never sell it only problem I ever had was chipping paint

[@DroisKargva]

mine got 250 000 miles its still runs :D

[@TmRnBn]

Thanks! I had to do this to my '09 Fit--bad compressor but replaced the condenser, too. Your video was invaluable.

[@DansWay]

Simplicius Simplicissimus wow, great job! Love your KZbin name BTW.

[@moparmikesms2774]

The 30" of Vacuum actually boils out the moisture. Water boils in a vacuum. The time allowed for decay depends upon the size of the system, but generally, 10 minutes minimum with 1 minute added per ton is a good guideline.

[@DansWay]

Thanks for the insight there Mike!

[@21jimmyo]

You can get an adaptor that goes on the yellow line and allows you to use those 134a cans. They are under 10 bucks. You back the needle out, and then screw it on the can. Then you turn the needle valve in, and it pierces the top of the can. Then back the needle valve out to allow the gas to flow out of the can.

[@64maxpower]

you handled the I'll fitting condenser well. good job

[@dominiquejoseph6671]

Doing a total AC system replacement on a 2009 Fit. Apparently some difference between the years as a core and lock support brace doesn't exist on the 2009 Fit I'm working on. Didn't remove the bumper cover, just pulled out the fans and coolant recovery reservoir, removed the radiator brackets and condenser brackets, then tipped the radiator towards the engine so I could pull the condenser out. Easy.

[@DansWay]

Yah, looks like you can attack this from the front or rear. I knew I'd be looking at issues with the salvage damage, and I already knew how quick it is to remove the bumper. I've even removed the bumper to work on the engine because then you can stand closer, sit on the crash bar, and make it easier on my back! (yah, call me crazy, but that's dTdW)

[@terrywalters5410]

If you just take out the radiator fans and a couple of miscellaneous things you can move the radiator towards the back of the car and get the condenser out super easy literally 15 minutes

[@DansWay]

Good to know! I like working from the front myself. Also, once you learn how easy it is to remove the bumper, you can work on other engine parts easier. When I did the valve timing I removed the bumper and literally sat on the crash bar. My back always kills me leaning over the engine...

[@hkk3656]

Good video. Helpful. Thanks for posting.

[@mechanic4273]

First off great video, second "this should of took 45mins...2 1/2hrs in" reminds me of "Welcome to the real mechanic life where the parts aren't always perfect.

[@DansWay]

So true! Either the parts are not quite right, or you find more problems, or you spend a ton of time trying to find the specialty tool you purchased to do this job last time...

[@abbas1872]

The reason you got refrigerant burn when you screwed the hose on to the bottle was that the piercing tap was wound in.

[@BrianLife]

Damn. Doesn’t FIT.. that sucks.,thanks for trying. Get some sound editing apps. Basically when editing. You can adjust volume. And on speed , mute. For your mic, get a foam cover. Or film inside. Or get a clip on mic. You’re very good, informative. Thanks

[@AleJFF25]

Thanks for the video. Does the condenser use coolant liquid as well? I'm asking because i had a crash and condenser was bend and there was some lickage, which I dont know if it's coming out of the the radiador or condenser.

[@DansWay]

The condenser is filled with refrigerant not antifreeze. You will need to follow the instructions in this video to recharge the system after replacing your condenser.

[@AleJFF25]

@@DansWay Thanks for the reply. I got another condenser from the scrape yard but I don't have the tools and pressure stuff to replace it. Will take it to a machanic next week. Thanks for you help and video!

[@64maxpower]

I changed my condenser today on my Honda. I couldn't have done it without the help of your video after recharge it. I didn't add oil because I didn't have it. Do you feel it's imperative?

[@DansWay]

I'm not really sure, but I prefer to follow the recommendations of the manufacturer...

[@hkk3656]

Hell yes the oil is important. You'll ruin your air compressor. You can still add oil only thru the charge port.

[@mkole3262]

Excellent video! Thanks

[@jimgranite]

Thanks! Very helpful.

[@6996lindz]

Hi, thank you for the amazing video-2013 Honda Fit here! How long did this take you?

[@DansWay]

Definitely took a few hours, definitely need to plan ahead to have the gauges and vacuum pump, refrigerant, and oil. Plan on a whole day and be happy if it doesn't take it... 😅

[@kuznetskiibassein3840]

Great video! Thanks.

[@HelmetVanga]

why does it not fit ? is the replacement an OEM ? or Genuine Honda parts are expensive. I also notices that those clamps, clasps or plastic pins come up missing... I believe when you take your car for service, the guys there take short cuts and miss putting the screws back, I would not know if they do that deliverately or they innocently forget. My car misses many screws and bolts .

[@DansWay]

I'm not exactly sure why it didn't fit right, could be defective, or just a bad cross reference. Those clips often do break when removed which is why I have that kit of parts. It is this one: amzn.to/2HiAqD3

[@ssjlaz4088]

this is the video I need thank you so much sir:)

[@AlsGroove]

Thanks for the video. Getting ready to do this to my 2013 Fit. Why doesn't the oil come out after you put it in? I slowed down the video and I see you weighing it and when you pour it in the top it looks like you block the bottom with something, but then after putting the oil in you remove whatever was blocking the bottom? Thanks

[@DansWay]

There is lots of surface area inside, so it doesn't just drain out the bottom. Also, that bottom manifold connection isn't located such that it easily drains.

[@davidgarzon-limberg2043]

Dan, thank you, this is very useful. I'll replace my condenser tomorrow but I'm wondering where did you put the oil? Did you put it inside the condenser using the opening that connects to the high-pressure line? Thanks so much

[@DansWay]

Yah, you are just replacing the oil that goes away with the old system, so I put it in the inlet of the condenser so it ends up in the body of it.

[@davidgarzon-limberg2043]

@@DansWay Thanks so much for your response!! I appreciate it!

[@davidgarzon-limberg2043]

@@DansWay Thanks so much, I finished the process, took a bit longer than expected as well but now the AC is working properly. Very useful video!

[@DansWay]

@@davidgarzon-limberg2043 you're very welcome! Any other tips you would recommend about the process?

[@davidgarzon-limberg2043]

@@DansWay The only other thing I ran into is that AC cans go bad. Even if there's no expiration date on them, they don't work after you leave them in storage for some time. In my case I thought my whole system was bad as it was not receiving the recharge after I finished the process. It turns out cans had gone bad. Luckily I asked the guy at O'Reilly when I went to return the equipment I had borrowed and he pointed me in the right direction. I had bought the cans last summer and didn't have time to change the condenser until now.

[@protonhead1]

Did the inlet pipe go in ok, or was the bracket the only problem? Great video, nice camera work too.

[@DansWay]

protonhead1, The problem was the conflict between those two parts. By bending up the bracket a bit, and thinning the rubber grommet on the bottom left of the radiator by 1/8" the inlet tube finally cleared the bracket without touching.

[@sofiaoropesa]

why you didnt use the manifold gauge to recharge the system?

[@DansWay]

sofia and john that would work with a professional recharge bottle, or perhaps an adaptor to a consumer bottle. The threads weren’t at all compatible or I most definitely would have.

[@hermangel6988]

Thanks new subs here

[@DansWay]

Glad this was helpful. Did you get yours replaced?

[@shannon3228]

How much pag 46 oil did you use? I could not make out what you said in the vid.

[@DansWay]

I didn't specifically quote it because I wasn't super confident that the amount was correct for all cars. I suggest you do a google search for your particualar year/make/model to confirm the amount of oil to add.

[@shannon3228]

@@DansWay I have the same fit. But it sounds like you guessed. Thanks for responding 😎

[@fruitymuffin69]

Anyone know where the ambient temperature is located before I take my bumper off looking for it please? My dash temperature isn't working so ordered one but would be useful to know where it is before I start

[@HisLoveArmy]

Nice video!

[@DansWay]

Thanks! I hope it helps you work on your car...

[@ErnieStedman]

Thanks for the great video! Very helpful!

[@aldrinlubiano6193]

Where i can find the aircon dryer?

[@DansWay]

Are referring to the vacuum pump, or the actual dryer canister? Both should be available at your local car repair place.

[@sofiaoropesa]

did the condenser came with a dryer?

[@TheKuemyster]

Either he's using slicks on that Fit or he needs some new tires...

[@DansWay]

Haha, yah... Definitely overdue. The edges were burned through for sure! Classic small front-wheel-drive problems...

[@paulsi1234]

Using a gram scale to measure the ounces 😂. Much simpler everywhere else in the world where we just use metric 👍. BTW, diy airconditiong is not legal in Australia, must be done by a suitably licensed person, we have a lot regulation to contend with!

[@sofiaoropesa]

❤️

[@shahzaibjabbar9665]

hi where is the article number of the old condenser?

[@DansWay]

The part numbers are in the description of the video. The replacement I used was this one: amzn.to/2Mm5x1Z

[@wakeupmrchen]

Does anyone know the size of the o-ring on the connection to the condenser?

[@mikehawver91]

Can you get the link to the rental kit?

[@DansWay]

www.autozone.com/loan-a-tools/loaner-a-c-tool

[@mikehawver91]

@@DansWay yeah they don't have them in my area

[@departmentofdoody]

Hey thanks for the video! What was the yellow plug down at the bottom by the tire and bumper? I had my condenser replaced at a shop and now my compressor isn’t kicking on and freeon comes out of the low valve. Idk what they could have done but all that was working before they replaced the condenser. Is there something they could have not plugged back in? Thanks

[@DansWay]

Well, Freon coming out of the low-side valve is always a bad thing... That valve can be replaced (or screwed in tight) to fix that leak. If the Freon level is low the compressor will not cycle, so that could be all there is to it. I'd take it back and get them to fix it.

[@DansWay]

That yellow plug goes to the front airbag collision detector (accelerometer). Definitely have the battery disconnected when you work on a project like this!

[@zardiw]

If you close the valves, you can't tell if your system has a leak.........lol.......You have to open one again to see if your system has a leak.............Z

[@DansWay]

That is what I thought at first, but the valves only connect the AC system to the vaccum. If you leave them open, it will bleed down through the vaccum (ask me how I know...). The gauges always show the actual value of the system side of the high-side and low-side connections.

[@tsogoogendenpel797]

how much oil you put in?

[@dontsplatmatt]

Great video ,Dan! Which product did you order off Amazon that didnt fit?

[@DansWay]

It was this one: Klimoto Brand 3593 New Condenser For Honda Fit 2007 2008 1.5 L4 www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07B4LQG1B/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

[@kevinbautista1970]

How could you tell if it’s the condenser vs compressor ? Also blowing hot air on a fit. Thank you !

[@DansWay]

Kevin Bautista I knew because I put a gauge on the low side and it was very low. If there wasn’t a leak and the compressor was just bad then I would assume the system pressure would look ‘normal’ when the engine is off. There are a lot of possibilities to work through. The pressure switch could also be an issue as well keeping the compressor from cycling.

[@mkrp4]

Nice car and clean engine! Are you planning to make more Fit videos?

[@LukenotLucas]

So does the condenser you linked in the description fit?

[@DansWay]

It is the one I used, under the assumption that it was a manufacturing defect... You can try it, just check it out and return to amazon before you even start the project. Same story for anything you buy like this. Try to see if everything is right before you start when possible. Sorry I can't be more specific. I just wasn't willing time wise to start over after all the teardown. Everything still works fine today years later.

[@CHIBA280CRV]

Good job 👍 also if you unscrew the puncture pin first and then put on the bottle on , and then puncture the bottle , and then unscrew the puncture pin , good grief , you won’t get any freeze burn on your Hand ...got it.. it’s sort of a if woody would have gone to the police , non of this would have ever happened ! ,,thanks 😂

[@everythingunjerthestring6857]

Is the condenser a laminated one or not

[@DansWay]

Sorry, I’m not sure what that means, laminated...

[@jlogue751]

How did you turn a honda fit i to a toyota yaris?? Amazing!!

[@DansWay]

jason logue, that’s too funny! Yah, my wife (Fit) and daughter (Yaris) like their small cars...

[@jlogue751]

I’m about to do the similar repair on my car it’s a 2009 Honda fit I appreciate your video definitely getting me pointed in the rightDirection

[@MrHukd]

You need to bend the pipe/plug in order for it to fit! Do you even know what you're doing?

[@DansWay]

I'm not sure when you saw me bend the pipe... I had to bend the bracket to get it to fit (vs. ship it all back and start over, which I also mentioned...) I didn't have to (nor would I) bend the condenser lines themselves.