Hi all!

I already searched the forums for this and can't find anything on it.

This is a slightly hysteria tinged post since I just heard back from the Honda dealer who's charging me 90 bucks for a diagnosis already delivered by Firestone about my non-operational A/C (it just blows hot air). They let me know that a) my a/c condenser is punctured, and b) it's NOT under warranty even though my car is under 3 years old, and only has 31,300 miles on it.

He says that rocks fly in through the front grille and hit the condenser like bullets, puncturing it. I should just count myself lucky that they didn't go through the radiator.

My issue is that it's gonna cost $550 to replace the condenser (parts and labor I'm assuming) and another $190 to replace the freon etc. I know very little about doing any of this myself so that's not really an option. I just can't believe that something that results from normal operation would not be under warranty, within warranty period.

I don't understand how this didn't happen to my awesome little 2000 Civic (RIP, before I totalled it) even though I drove it much more on the highways and the byways. The grille was much bigger on it (if I remember correctly).

Anyone have any ideas? Guys at the Firestone thought it would be covered, though one doubted the refill would be but both thought the actual part and labor to replace it should be under warranty. Any Honda Mechanics out there that know better? HELP!!!

 

http://automobiles.honda.com/info/ne...=2004091352267

"Bumper-To-Bumper Warranty (Years/miles)= 3 years, 36,000 miles"

This means anything and everything, right?

 

Try another dealer?

 

2003 Honda has a Limited Warranty, I suppose they'll argue my issue is NOT covered b/c of the following. I just don't know if it's accidental damage or an act of God. How would you describe flying rocks?

"The warranties in this booklet do not cover:
• The failure of any part or accessory due to:
– Abuse, misuse, accidental damage, or acts of God."

BUT later on it says-
"Warranty Coverage
Honda will repair or replace any part that is defective in material or workmanship under normal use."

I say that if they're not protecting the part enough to prevent damage from road debris, it's defective.

 

I'll have to keep paying 90 bucks for each time they look over it and find it NOT covered under warranty.

I'm feeling my respect for Honda start to fade....

 

No, it's not covered under warranty, and no, it shouldn't be. If you got a flat tire, would you expect that to be taken care for free by Honda? If you got a door ding? If that rock had hit your windshield instead of your condensor?

Read your warranty information. People who have replied in this thread should too. It does not cover incidental damage caused by debris and the like, it only covers mechanical failures that are Honda's fault (just like you said in your post).

Your best bet is to buy the parts yourself and replace them for a fraction of the price if you don't want to pay the money. Or, if you've had work done there before, you can explain your case to the service manager and he'll probably give you a break (say, labor or parts only). If you haven't had work done there then I doubt it, but it's worth a shot.

Edit: And it's called bad luck that it hit your car. You may be a first timer in experiencing it, but you can take it from someone that has seen many a rock flying at his windshield that it's ridiculous to blame the car. It doesn't matter if you have a Humvee or a Geo Metro, shit happens that isn't anyone's fault.

 

I don't know if anyone goes to the dealer to fix a door ding or would even think about it seriously. You can fix your windshield through your car insurance, flat tires get covered by road hazard insurance that comes with them for a year and after that you can purchase for something like 12 bucks a tire - trust me I've done it.

Proportionately, no one expects a maintenance item on their car to run them $800 and that's what they're telling me, since apparently rocks breaking a part INSIDE the car is fine according to the manufacturer. That's quite different from paying $30-80 for oil changes etc.

I don't know.. maybe I'm just feeling cheap because I'm watching every penny I'm spending right now since I'm planning on buying a house and just feels like this is not something that should happen to a not-even-3-year-old car.

On the other hand... where would I buy the condenser myself?

 

Those were called analogies. I was comparing you trying to get your condenser fixed by Honda to asking them to fix those things.

The A/C condenser is not inside the car. It's an easy target for road debris, just like anything else is surrounding your engine. I mean, damn dude, it's in the very front of your car right infront of your radiator. Just like on almost every other car. If there's a tiny spot a rock can fit through, Murphy's law says...

Your best bet is to call Manchester Honda in Connecticut. Their prices are right around dealer cost, and their shipping is very fast. In Syracuse I've gotten stuff in 3 days, and they're in Connecticut...so you should get it in 2-3 days. Do not buy it from your local dealer. A quick search of parts.com shows that they go for around $150, but don't buy from anyplace on there because I've experienced horrible shipping delays.

Edit: I just checked my Helms manual and it's ridiculously easy to replace the condenser. The only problem is removing the R-134a and putting it back in. This has to be done by a professional. Perhaps you could have a non-Honda dealer shop remove the refigerant, then you remove the condenser and put the new one in, then they put more R-134a in? That would probably save you at least $300.

 

Sorry... I'm just frustrated by the whole debacle. Not meaning to take it out on you. You're just trying to help me.

Do you have the part number? The dealer didn't give me a breakdown when I picked up my car and he's taking his time getting in touch with the parts department. I'm not seeing anything called a condenser on the Manchester honda website either

That was my thinking - get the part cheaper - Firestone quoted the part price as $350 but I know autopart inflation. As for refrigerant... all the freon leaked out through the holes so I'd have to get that refilled anyway... Guess I'll be spending $60 on a Helms huh?

 

I've gotten lots of stuff from Manchester, it's not all on their website. Just call & ask about an AC condensor, you don't have to know the part number. If they need to know which engine or tranny you have, they'll ask. That's how it works when you talk to an actual human on the phone. If the AC system has been open very long, ask about a new receiver/dryer also. If air & moisture get into that thing, replace it (has it rained in NJ since it broke?

Having a Helm book is really good. I'd get that...

Replace your part(s), then have any AC shop pull a good stong vacuum on the system before refilling it. Air & moisture really kill the performance of AC systems.