'17 Civic: Dealer says A/C Compressor, Condenser, & Evaporator are all leaking

[K24Z7&M20AFXS]

If 4oz is all it took to be ice cold again, I would just keep topping it off for now until the leak becomes much larger. If these things are known to leak anyways, no point replacing everything now when the leak is super slow.

Haven't really tought about that but my own 2012 Civic Si needs R134 Top off every 3 years or so since it was new. When it starts to blow warm air, we flush and refill the system and it's ice cold again for another 3-ish years..

 

[TheBeaz]

Here are the warranty extensions, in case anyone needs to reference them.

https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/tsbs/2023/MC-10237036-0001.pdf
https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/tsbs/2019/MC-10163796-0001.pdf

 

[DCinMA]

What was the final outcome?

 

[Nessism1]

What was the final outcome?

No final outcome. After the refrigerant top-off, the system is working okay. It's winter here, though, so not easy to tell.

My plan is to go to a second dealership and offer to pay for an analysis. Tell them what the first dealer said. Tell them that I'm not going to pay for the evaporator, and that I'm suspicious of the diagnosis of three major components failing on a 35,000 mile car. Fingers crossed that they come back with a finding that excludes the evaporator. I know for a fact that the compressor is leaking, but that's all I know for sure.

 

[Nessism1]

Okay, finally got to another dealer...

Service writer took the VIN, checked the computer, and said that there are two open "recall" items (actually, extended warranty). Said straight away that they will fix those for free. If the evaporator is also leaking, as suggested by the different dealer, he said I can fix that later, if necessary. This dealer was close to my house, so I handed him the keys and walked home. Fingers crossed.

BTW, while lamenting how the first dealer acted, this guy said it's odd. Extended warranty items are like free money to dealers.

 

[The Critic]

Okay, finally got to another dealer...

Service writer took the VIN, checked the computer, and said that there are two open "recall" items (actually, extended warranty). Said straight away that they will fix those for free. If the evaporator is also leaking, as suggested by the different dealer, he said I can fix that later, if necessary. This dealer was close to my house, so I handed him the keys and walked home. Fingers crossed.

BTW, while lamenting how the first dealer acted, this guy said it's odd. Extended warranty items are like free money to dealers.

They're only going to replace the free items if they're actually leaking; not by default.

The job doesn't pay well under warranty.

 

[Nessism1]

They're only going to replace the free items if they're actually leaking; not by default.

The job doesn't pay well under warranty.

Well, I know for a fact that the compressor seal is leaking. And based on what this guy was saying, pretty much all the condensers leak to some degree, so they will just install a new one while the car is down.

And some warranty money is better than none. They took the car in straight away, without appointment. Maybe I caught them at just the right time...

And for what it's worth, this service center is literally the closest one in the country to the Honda national HQ. I trust they know the game.

 

[K24Z7&M20AFXS]

Okay, finally got to another dealer...

Service writer took the VIN, checked the computer, and said that there are two open "recall" items (actually, extended warranty). Said straight away that they will fix those for free. If the evaporator is also leaking, as suggested by the different dealer, he said I can fix that later, if necessary. This dealer was close to my house, so I handed him the keys and walked home. Fingers crossed.

BTW, while lamenting how the first dealer acted, this guy said it's odd. Extended warranty items are like free money to dealers.

All warranties are free money!! I work for a dealership.

On a side note (edit) i never understood why some dealerships scoffs at warranty work. Dealer gets paid by HQ, customer is happy and returns for something else, techs doesn't get unemployed, etc....

 

[Donald]

Dump it and get a Toyota Corolla or Camry.

 

[The Critic]

Maybe I caught them at just the right time...

Must be slow for the Line Techs this week -- they ran out of 10 hr J-series timing belt/valve adjustments to do, so they wanted your 4 hr warranty A/C job.

 

[Nessism1]

The dealer called me and said they had trouble removing the old refrigerant. Said whatever refrigerant that I used to recharge the system showed up as contamination on their recycling machine. He said that they needed to remove the old charge manually, whatever this means. Bleed it out?

This is what I used to charge the system a year ago. One 4 oz can. Apparently, there are additives that the recycling machine didn't like. I won't use this stuff again...

 

[The Critic]

The dealer called me and said they had trouble removing the old refrigerant. Said whatever refrigerant that I used to recharge the system showed up as contamination on their recycling machine. He said that they needed to remove the old charge manually, whatever this means. Bleed it out?View attachment 285360

This is what I used to charge the system a year ago. One 4 oz can. Apparently, there are additives that the recycling machine didn't like. I won't use this stuff again...

You might have a big problem. Those 1234yf machines are rather sensitive for detecting any contamination. You’ll need to get the system evacuated by someone who is equipped to evacuate contaminated refrigerant.

 

[Nessism1]

You might have a big problem. Those 1234yf machines are rather sensitive for detecting any contamination. You’ll need to get the system evacuated by someone who is equipped to evacuate contaminated refrigerant.

They told me they are taking care of it. Fingers crossed. I'm picking up the car tomorrow morning.

 

[I<3oil]

We had our CRV in for the compressor shaft seal warranty last summer. Then a year later the condenser started leaking. We had that replaced with the extended warranty. But yeah, I’m done with Honda. The wife has virtually no say in future vehicles.

 

[Nessism1]

Cars home! Total cost = $0!

This dealer has their customer's back.

The service writer couldn't have been more professional and accommodating. I apologized for using that ZeroR stuff, and he said no big deal. I think they have a waste refrigerant tank they use instead of recycling when the sniffer isn't happy. He did allude to the fact that some dealers won't deal with that, but they don't have a problem with it.

 

[haggler]

Cars home! Total cost = $0!

This dealer has their customer's back.

The service writer couldn't have been more professional and accommodating. I apologized for using that ZeroR stuff, and he said no big deal. I think they have a waste refrigerant tank they use instead of recycling when the sniffer isn't happy. He did allude to the fact that some dealers won't deal with that, but they don't have a problem with it.

share the dealerships you used for the rest of us in LA.

 

[The Critic]

share the dealerships you used for the rest of us in LA.

He said it’s near Honda HQ, so there’s only one possibility.

 

[Nessism1]

Scott Robinson. The repair center near Wilson Park in Torrance. PM me, and I'll share the service writers name.

 

[michaelluscher]

Good to hear you found a dealer that was willing to take care of you
My experience with several Honda service department's has never been good

If anyone out of curiosity wants to see the compressor shaft seal being replaced, here you go