Technical radiator in front of radiator?

[andy1]

I was following the instructions in the workshop manual to detach the radiator but in front of my radiator there seems to be another radiator which is not mentioned at all

Picture
http://i.imgur.com/GCOpib9.jpg

Any idea what that is?

There is only one electric cable and aluminium pipe going to it (at the bottom)
but I have no idea what will come out of it if I unscrew it.

I wanted to leaf blow the radiator but I have to do it from the back.

 

[jrkitching]

I was following the instructions in the workshop manual to detach the radiator but in front of my radiator there seems to be another radiator which is not mentioned at all

Picture
http://i.imgur.com/GCOpib9.jpg

Any idea what that is?

There is only one electric cable and aluminium pipe going to it (at the bottom)
but I have no idea what will come out of it if I unscrew it.

I wanted to leaf blow the radiator but I have to do it from the back.

That's the condensor radiator for the aircon. You'll need to have the system professionally degassed (and regassed afterwards) if you want to disconnect any pipework.

It's possible you might be able to get sufficient access by unbolting the condenser and leaving the pipework connected, but you will need to be very careful not to put excessive strain on any of the connections.

 

[andy1]

Thanks a bunch!

That's what I am trying now. Between condensor and radiator there is dead stuff I want to remove

I think I will unscrew the fan, get underneath the car and blow air from there (radiator's back).

I thought the a/c was just this one
http://i.imgur.com/pK6SZIh.jpg

 

[portland_bill]

The little one is the intercooler for the air intake. You have a diesel!

 

[andy1]

Unfortunately getting rid of the fan is not as easy as the workshop manual makes you think...
I unplugged the electric cable for the fan, unscrewed it but there are other electric cables which are again not mentioned in the manual...

I only wanted to blow air through the radiator
I will try again tomorrow with the sun.

You have a diesel!

That's right, how did you figure?
2006 but only 42.000km

 

[portland_bill]

The little one is the intercooler for the air intake. You have a diesel!

That's right, how did you figure?
2006 but only 42.000km

Petrol does not have the intercooler, so must be a diesel.


According to my Haynes manual, you should be able to just release the mountings for the aircon condenser, which will allow it to move outwards a little. This will then allow the cooling radiator to be removed upwards. Leaving the aircon still sealed and working.

 

[andy1]

Thanks Bill.
I tried but the left side with the aluminium tubes is too stiff!
I can open like a door the right side but it's not enough to do any good.
The aircon condenser started to change shape (looking at it from above) so in the end I gave up, too scared to break it.
I screwed it back in place and luckily it recovered its normal shape.

At this point I decided to remove the fan instead. This way I could water radiator and condenser from the back with the garden water tube.

The workshop manual says to disconnect the air and cooling system tubes to get the fan out from above.

What I did instead is lower it and get it out from underneath with the help of the car jack. Way easier!

After watering radiator and condenser I dried them with an air blower.

I think demineralized water would have been better but radiator and condenser are made of aluminium right?
I don't think I have caused any damage.

Any thoughts?