Hi, I'm after a replacement air con condenser, after a small stone punctured it, for my MY99. Anyone got any or know how much I could expect to pay ? Local air con place reckoned about 300 quid but I'm not sure if this is a good price ?

 

Lambo,

Not sure what a Scooby unit costs, but that sounds like the right kind of money - its about what I was quoted for a Saab one a while back.

Neil.

 

Lambo

Did you try and claim the damage under warranty?

The same thing happened to me about a year ago. I took it to three different dealers, all of whom said that it wasn't covered and the repair price ranged from £300 to £500.

I haven't got it sorted yet, as I am chasing it through Suabru UK - I beleive that as it sits "within" the engine bay it should be better protected against foreign object damage.

I think it had happened to a few people, basically I am not prepared to pay £500 when really it is Subaru's responsiblity to design it better!!!! (I'll get off my high horse now)

Would be interested to hear what experience with this you have had.

Cheers
Peter

 

Peter,

Haven't considered claiming it under warranty as I would of thought it would be classed as normal wear and tear. Same thing would apply if you ran over something which punctured the sump and wreaked the engine, not really Subarus fault.
I only bought the car end of Jan, from a Honda dealer, and didn't check the air con was working then so it may have happened a while ago. But as there is no way of telling when it happened looks like I'm going to have to pay out for a replacement.

 

Have you not tried having it repaired. I had an 'incident' with the back of a SAAB 9000 combination of rush hour traffic, damp motorway, lack of ABS and Import tyres and burst about 3 veins on mine. A mate managed to solder the veins and regas it. Cost me £50.
Oh the damage was horrendous to the rest of the car and nothing to the Saab, i was only doing 10mph when i hit it. Wouldn't fancy crashin one when i'm trampin on a bit!!

 

Paul,

Well what do you expect if you decide to hit a Saab? They're well built, you know (some personal experience involved here!)

Neil.

 

Paul, I thought about getting it repaired but the Air Con bloke said that due to the very high pressure it runs at 250-300 psi there was a good chance the repair would fail, although I suppose he would say that.
I would certainly consider having it botched up as long as it was a guaranteed botch, can you recommend someone ?
As for hitting things, I made contact with the offside rear door of a 1984 Ford Escort at about 10mph, result, 2000 quids worth of damage to mine, slight dent in the rusty door of the escort...

 

Did i mention mine was a WRX? Apparently i don't know if its true but mine has got in comparison to a uk car a massive heat exchanger, i tore a gash in the middle of mine and probably broke about 3 veins (hard enough to push the radiator back into the fans and bend the power steering pump pulley) i got it soldered and it hasn't skipped a beat since (touch wood) mine was repaired done by a friend who is in the trade (not cars but office air con that sort of thing) he says so long as you seal it properly and purge the system (leave it charged with nitrogen overnight mine apparently was left at 250 psi for 24 hours) then check the pressure if its dropped its leaking if not jobs a goodun.

Your damage sounds negligible to mine so if you can get someone to solder i'd try that. Can't reccomend anyone though 'cos you live so far away

 

Just an update. Managed to get the condenser welded up by a local chap for 20 quid. Then used an air con place to clean out the system and recharge it for 99 quid so all fixed for 120. Thats about 380 less than Subaru wanted to replace it.

Sorted.