Porsche Cayman, Boxster and 911 Condenser Replacement.

REPLACING CONDENSERS ON REAR ENGINED PORSCHE MODELS.

If the air conditioning system on your rear engined Porsche has a leak then it is most likely one or both of the condensers at fault. Most vehicles have a single condenser located at the very front of the car just behind the bumper. Due to the sleek design of the Cayman and other rear engined Porsche models it was necessary to have twin condensers - one on either side just below the headlights. It is extremely difficult to diagnose a leak in one of these units without removing the bumper unless it happens to be leaking right at the bottom. As you can see from the cut away picture below there is a plastic shroud in front of the condenser which makes it impossible to inspect thoroughly without disassembly.

A leak in a condenser can often be spotted with a simple visual inspection as oil from the A/C system stains the area around the point of failure. The two condensers pictured below were taken from a four year old Porsche Cayman and the one on the right had already been diagnosed as leaking by a main dealer. You can clearly see the oil stain circled in yellow. After removing the front bumper and plastic covers it became obvious that the other unit was also leaking - this time at the top where it is also circled in yellow.

Condensers can be damaged by stones or debris hitting them but more often they simply rot away once they reach about eight years old. The newer style units fitted to the 991/981 models seem to be less robust and often don't last much more than four to five years before starting to leak.

The Boxster (986) from 1996 to 2004 and some models of 911 (996) from 1997 to 2005 used the style of condenser pictured below where the two pipes connect up parallel to each other. Mister Cool can supply and fit two new condensers plus a receiver drier for an all inclusive price of £350. This price is for Nissens OE quality parts. If you would prefer OEM Behr Hella condensers we can source these as well but they are significantly more expensive. Please contact us if you would like a quote for Hella parts.

The next design of condenser was fitted to the Cayman (987) from 2005 to 2012, Boxster (987) from 2004 to 2012, 911 (997) from 2005 to 2012 and some models of 911 (996) from 1997 to 2005. These units have a pipe connection on either side. The price is exactly the same as the earlier units mentioned above.

The condensers fitted to the 911 (991) from 2012 onwards, Boxster (981) 2012 onwards and Cayman (981) 2012 onwards were made by Modine rather than Behr Hella and as mentioned earlier seem less robust. Modine condensers do not appear to be available on the aftermarket so we recommend OE quality Nissens units instead. The all inclusive price for two condensers and a drier on these models is £400.

We also see our fair share of Panameras (970) which have a more traditional single condenser with built in drier. The price to replace this with an OE quality Nissens unit is £300.

Our guide on how to change the condensers on a rear engined Porsche shows the steps we follow when carrying out this repair.

If you have a rear engined Porsche in need of an air conditioning repair please contact us now for a friendly, no obligation chat.

We cover all areas within a 25 mile radius of Derby including Ashbourne, Burton on Trent, Castle Donington, Long Eaton and Uttoxeter.

Vehicle Specific Information

• Porsche Condensers

• Qashqai J11 / X-Trail T32

• Renault Trafic 3 / Vivaro B

Tips and Advice

• Changing Porsche Condensers

• Leaking Condensers

• Checking the A/C on a car you're buying

• Don't suffocate your A/C system!

• How to change a pollen filter

• How to stop those steamy windows

• A/C not cold enough - 3 case studies

Testimonials

"I received a horrifying quote from Porsche for the replacement of damaged condensers. It was approximately double the cost of two new Porsche branded Hella condensers and two hours of Porsche labour! Therefore, I decided to find an alternative. Living just north of London I was disappointed to find that Mister Cool was in Derby. However, I am so pleased I decided to drive there for Justyn to do the job. His quote with Hella condensers was just over one third of the Porche price. I decided to use Nissen condensers, which he recommends as being the same quality as Hella, and saves a considerable amount. The service was excellent. Justyn is very knowledgeable, as his site demonstrates, he worked quickly and efficiently and I enjoyed a much cooler return to London. Another delighted customer." - Philip Prettejohn, London.

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