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New member query LJ07 VKF Cayman 987.1 2007

J

joseph.critchley

New member
Member
Hello all,
Bought a Cayman yesterday (my first Porsche), low mileage, two owners, full history, fantastic condition (will post photos in due course). Disappointed this morning to find that the a/c isn’t working.
I will be booking it into a local Porsche specialist for a full service but is this likely to be an expensive fix?
 
Congrats — sounds like a nice car!
Clearly it could be a number of things...
Best case: It just needs an air conditioning top-up.
Worst case (and unfortunately, the more likely one): Replacement of one or both the air conditioning condensers.

This is a common issue — I had the same problem on my 987. The condensers are located at both corners of the front bumper, just behind the grills. Leaves and debris tend to collect along the bottom edge, trapping moisture and causing corrosion over time.

Once fixed, it’s worth fitting mesh grills to help prevent/limit debris buildup, and cleaning the area regularly to keep it clear

Good luck.
 
Hi Joseph,

Welcome to Cayman ownership and to the Club’s forum.

As Ken has said, this is a very common problem with Caymans, Boxsters and water-cooled 911s due to the vulnerable location of the a/c condensers … which are unprotected on all but the GT cars!

There’s plenty of choice for the condensers, with OEM alternatives being much cheaper than the official Porsche items. Your Porsche Independent should be able to advise you on this.


Jeff
 
Thanks Jeff and Ken.
I’ve checked and cleaned the debris from the condensers this morning and, yes, there was a significant build-up, obviously over several years considering the ‘soil’ that had accumulated at the bottom. I expected to find some worms! Quite a challenge to get at but all clean now.
Hopefully not too costly to put right?
Joe
 
Hi Joseph. Welcome to the register. Please email me and I will send a link to the WhatsApp group, which together with this forum, will give you a good source of knowledge and experience.
 
An alternative source for condensers is https://www.autodoc.co.uk/car-parts/condenser-10455/porsche/cayman/cayman-987/32077-s-3-4. They list parts from a range of manufacturers. Prices vary enormously (£40 upwards).
Because AutoDoc specifies the manufacturer, it is easy to check on them. I bought a pair of NRF units for just over £80 each including VAT. About the same as the Design911 cheapie "OE Match" units from an unknown manufacturer.
The NRF website shows that they are ISO accredited for design and manufacture of automotive and other AC systems. They have factories in the Netherlands, Poland and Spain, good enough for me.
Google AI reports:
1757086261792.png
The units arrived in about 4 days (Evri...). Unfortunately, I then discovered another weak point in the 987/997 AC system. The return pipe from the evaporator to the compressor twists its way back from under the front bonnet down in the left wheel-arch round the jacking point then inside the undertray to the back. My recharge of the AC lasted about 2 weeks. The pipe is slightly exposed as it bends back from the jacking point. One new pipe (£204 from the OPC) and many expletives later, it has been replaced, protected with anti stone-chip. Hopefully, that is the end of my AC woes.
 
Joe,

Halfords and Kwick Fit offer a free aircon check which will be a useful first step … see their websites.

As Ian has pointed out condenser prices vary enormously. The Design911 site lists the Porsche genuine part kit as £823 compared with £236 for a decent Mahle OEM product. Your Porsche Independent will give you a price to supply and fit … 2-3hrs labour?🤔

John’s email address is here:

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Jeff
 
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