OEM 2004 Dodge Ram 1500 A/C Condenser

2004 Dodge Ram 1500 A/C Condenser Parts and Q&A

• Q: How to Remove and Install an A/C Condenser on 2004 Dodge Ram 1500?

  A: First, isolate the battery's negative cable and then remove the refrigerant from the refrigerant system to take out the condenser HVAC. Take out the nut attached to the discharge line fitting at the condenser inlet port and separate the discharge line from the condenser, tossing away the seal. Cover the discharge line fitting and inlet on the condenser with electrical plugs or tape. Now, take the plastic cover off the condenser outlet stud, remove the nut that holds the liquid line fitting to the condenser and disconnect the liquid line, throwing away the seal from the fitting. Once more, you should place plugs in or tape over the liquid line fitting and the condenser inlet port. Take out the wire harness connector from the condenser cooling fan motor, next remove the bolts holding the condenser to the front upper crossmember and finally take out the condenser and cooling fan. Place the assembly somewhere flat and remove the screws holding the fan to the condenser, to take away the fan. Attach the condenser fan to the outside of the A/C condenser. Bolts should be screwed in by hand until they reach 2.2 Nm (20 in. lbs). Gently place the condenser/cooling fan assembly into the engine compartment and ensure the lower tabs of the condenser are lined up with the flanges on the assembly. Join the top front crossmember to the assembly by fastening and tightening the two bolts to 10.5 Nm and support the wire harness connector on the condenser cooling fan motor. Take off the tape and plugs from the liquid line fitting and the condenser outlet port, apply clean refrigerant oil to a new rubber O-ring seal, insert it into the liquid line fitting and secure it only with a special R-134a system O-ring and A/C compressor refrigerant oil. Attach the liquid line to the outlet of the condenser. Then, screw the nut on the liquid line fitting to the condenser till it reads 20 Nm (180 in. lbs.) on the wrench. Attach the plastic covering to the condenser outlet stud and afterward, take off the tape or coverings from the suction line fitting and condenser inlet. Apply freezer oil to a new refrigerant O-ring and put it in place on the suction fitting with the right O-ring and oil only. Join the suction line to the input port of the condenser and fix it with a nut, securing it by tightening it to 20 Nm (180 in. lbs.). However, if you find that you need to put the battery negative cable back on, drain the refrigerant from the system and then recharge the refrigeration with new refrigerant.