A bit just dropped off my Accord, is it important?

[Klystron]

When we had our one day of summer a couple of weeks ago, I noticed that the air con on my 2004 diesel Accord had stopped working.

My first port of call was Kwik Fit for a £49 re-gas. They did a vacuum test first and said there was a leak, so they didn’t do the gas and there was no charge.

Then I then went to a local garage that specialises in air con and asked them to find the leak. They charged £50 and told me the leak was from a split in the side of the condenser and it would be a further £400 to fix. I read F6HAD’s excellent post, http://typeaccord.co.uk/forum/topic/13579-air-con-condenser-replacement/ and decided I would do the job myself, as the condenser and dryer are available from Advance Radiators for £89.

I took the grill off the front to have a look and found a u-shaped piece of metal swinging about, suspended by the wiring loom in front of the condenser. It looked like this had swung into the condenser and caused the leak. This piece of metal is about 2’ 6" long and is heavily corroded at each end and looks as though it was once fixed to the body work on each side of the car. It has a 6” long 1.5” x 1.5” block of steel suspended by rubber bushes bolted to the front. In the Honda parts diagrams the long piece of metal is described as a “Beam” and the block of steel a “Damper”.

Has anyone got any idea what it’s for, apart from supporting some of the wiring loom and swinging about destroying the condenser?

Is it important, do I need to replace it?

 

[honda_saj]

Some pics may help post a few

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[Klystron]

Here are a couple of pictures of the beam. It was in the space between the front grill and the air con condenser.

I read another thread about a "crash bar" behind the rear bumper that was also rusted away. If that's what this is I don't know what help it would be in a crash.


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[jonyyybe]

amazing how much rust can be/have...not even my acoord which its for sale doesn't have this much rust...
regarding your matter - i think if honda desinged to be here has the purpose but don't know how much can help you in daily driving

 

[Klystron]

Apart from a bit of rust on one wheel arch the rest of the car is rust free.


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[honda_saj]

This is the front beam that sits under the bumper it protects the vehicle in the event of crash, the part is about £150 new i would suggest get a decent one from breakers.

http://www.lingshondaparts.com/honda_car_parts_selection_pfk.php?block_01=17SED01&block_02=B__4600&block_03=449&block_05=hcr#

 

[Klystron]

I don't think this one has done much protecting for the past few years! Thanks.
I see it just bolts on so I'll replace it


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[crown_bg]

I hope you will not be driving without this part ...

 

[Klystron]

I think I probably have been for the past 5 years!!!!!!

 

[freddofrog]

This is what it should look like on the car (click to enlarge)

it supports/carries several items

 

[Klystron]

Thanks Fred. Yours looks a bit corroded at the ends, how old is it?

The enormous bracket on the right is holding the temperature sensor and I think the bit of thin bent pipe on the left is there to try and protect the air con pipes. My 53 plate also had some wiring held by clips in those holes in the top and the damper was fixed to the holes in the front.

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[freddofrog]

The car is a 2005 and the picture was taken a few years ago. Also, the car is the 2.4 and there are quite a few differences between the aircon on the 2.4 petrol and the aircon on the 2.2 diesel (latter is more complex). IIRC the pipe is part of the power steering, it's there to keep the PS fluid cool.

 

[Klystron]

I was talking about the vertical pipe that's bolted to the "Beam". This is described in the parts diagrams as a "Guard Pipe". The bottom end is bolted to the sub frame.

I think your right about the horizontal pipe that's clipped to the sub frame.

I fitted the condenser today and will get it gassed next week. I'll post some pictures tomorrow.


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[freddofrog]

ah the vertical pipe, yeah it's probably there to guard against angry vampires and ghosts from vandalising the car in the night, the short horizontal piece to make a "cross" probably got omitted from the design drawings :unsure:

 

[Klystron]

The wiring running across the front of the condenser is to the NS fog light. The temperature sensor is hanging down to the left of the NS headlight and the plugs for the fog lights are hanging down below the headlights

I've unbolted the remains of the Beam to treat the rust


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[freddofrog]

If that doesn't work, maybe a broom handle will do instead LOL

 

[Klystron]

I was going to replace it with a rolled up newspaper, probably just as effective


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[freddofrog]

you'll need to spray the paper with neverwet or something like that, it could end up more expensive than a broom handle

maybe a bit of nylon string would be cheaper .....