[Houston Volt]

Hi Fellow Volters,

My car has about 84,000 miles and the AC decided to go a couple days ago. I dropped it off at my area Chevy dealer and they texted me that the condenser leaks and that the repairs will be $ 1,730 parts and labor (apparently not covered under Voltec warranty). I searched online and the part seem to cost under $ 200.

He even mentioned that I needed to replace the cabin filter that will cost $ 59.95, which I already installed last year that cost me $ 14 online.

Anyone had the same experience? I'm thinking to buy the part and get my regular mechanic to work on it.


Thanks,


Chuck

 

[Fred_B]

If "condenser" means compressor, then it SHOULD be covered under the 10-year Voltec warranty. But I think the compressor would cost more than $200 since it's a one of a kind 360VAC compressor. Do you have a better description of the $200 part that needs to be replaced?

I'm also in Houston, and of course the A/C is an absolute necessity. But since it's also necessary for cooling the battery, I have read multiple times that it is covered by the Voltec warranty (at least the parts involved with cooling the battery, and the compressor would be one of those parts).

 

[oldstuff]

If "condenser" means compressor, then it SHOULD be covered under the 10-year Voltec warranty. But I think the compressor would cost more than $200 since it's a one of a kind 360VAC compressor. Do you have a better description of the $200 part that needs to be replaced?

I'm also in Houston, and of course the A/C is an absolute necessity. But since it's also necessary for cooling the battery, I have read multiple times that it is covered by the Voltec warranty (at least the parts involved with cooling the battery, and the compressor would be one of those parts).

The condenser is a radiator like thingamabob that is mounted in front of or behind the cooling radiator, not a Compressor.

 

[El Dobro]

An A/C shop should be able to handle the job if they can get to the condenser without disturbing the cooling systems. If they can't, they need the equipment to drain and fill the Volt coolant systems.

 

[Houston Volt]

Yes the condenser looks similar to a radiator and is situated behind it. A condenser and dryer costs around $ 175 online, a compressor costs near 1K.

 

[JuneBug]

If the condenser was punctured by a flying rock through the grille, that's what the VoltScreen was made to prevent.

Edit: Never mind, I was thinking radiator, not condenser. The condenser is behind the radiator so it's more protected from flying debris.

 

[Cord]

The term condenser is still used for the capacitor in older automotive ignition systems and by we older Hams

 

[FI Spyder]

$1,700 doesn't seem out of place. Besides replacing the condenser they have to refill and test the system, maybe replace the dryer. It can be labour intensive on some cars. To replace the evaporator in my Integra they wanted $1,000 just to pull the dash before doing any work.

 

[Barry]

I will echo previous comments about this possibly/likely being covered by the Voltec warranty. There have been lots of cases of covered repairs being denied coverage until you really push and get to the right people at GM. A/C is not a comfort option on the Volt. The Volt simply will not run without a functioning A/C system.

 

[Aseras]

If you've never had a repair before, there's a special coverage warranty for the radiator or condenser.

#13-06-02-001A: Supplemental Repair Required for Drive Motor Battery Coolant Radiator Replacement Due to Stone/Foreign Material Impact - (Aug 18, 2014)

For vehicles repaired under the 8 year/100,000 mile (160,000 km) Chevrolet Volt Battery Components (Code V) warranty, use:

5080148*
Replace Drive Motor Battery Coolant Radiator and Add Second Grille Screen
4.6 hrs

 

[Houston Volt]

Sorry a radiator is not a condenser. I got off the phone with Chevy Customer Service a few minutes ago and confirmed that a condenser is NOT covered under the Voltec System. I have ordered a new one and getting my mechanic to replace it.

Thanks!

 

[FI Spyder]

Sorry a radiator is not a condenser. I got off the phone with Chevy Customer Service a few minutes ago and confirmed that a condenser is NOT covered under the Voltec System. I have ordered a new one and getting my mechanic to replace it.

Thanks!

A condenser is a radiator. The compressor compresses a gas to a liquid which creates heat. This heat is got rid of in the radiator called the condenser. At the other end the pressurized liquid is released to a gas which cools down. This is passed through another radiator in the car called an evaporator where air passing through it is cooled. So every car that has AC has three (at least) radiators only one which is actually called a radiator (to avoid confusion).

 

[CCIE]

Since the battery needs the AC system to keep cool, it should be covered by the Voltec warranty. Most of the dealers don't know the proper way to look up what is covered and just default to saying no.

Your independent mechanic may have trouble changing the condenser and refilling the refrigerant. The Volt has a "radiator sandwich" with the AC condenser in the middle. From front to back it is Battery/Inverter Radiators -> AC Condensor -> Engine Radiator. It's usually the battery/inverter radiators that get punctured by rocks and necessitate a VoltScreen.

The AC system has refrigerant loops for the cabin and battery. Your mechanic may need GDS2 (dealer computer) to properly refill the system.

Let us know how it goes!

 

[Steverino]

A condenser is a radiator.

Correct. This is a link to a part's page diagram for the A/C system. Item 15 is called a condenser, but most would refer to it as a familiar radiator with tubing and aluminum fins.

https://www.wholesalegmpartsonline....MIlPCEndOp3AIVTrXACh2EFQeQEAQYAyABEgKzPPD_BwE

 

[El Dobro]

I would call it a condenser because it's condensing R134a from a gas to a liquid.

 

[FI Spyder]

I would call it a condenser because it's condensing R134a from a gas to a liquid.

Or is the compressor condensing the refrigerant by compressing it from a gas to a liquid and the condenser just getting rid of the resultant heat.

 

[somms]

Or is the compressor condensing the refrigerant by compressing it from a gas to a liquid and the condenser just getting rid of the resultant heat.

Yes, to dissipate heat according to the Gen1 Service Manual!

 

[Steverino]

Yes, to dissipate heat according to the Gen1 Service Manual!

Dissipate? We could probably call it a heat dissipator, or maybe a heat radiator, lol

 

[Houston Volt]

You guys are arguing over whether a condenser can be called a radiator, doesn't help my post at all. The Voltec Warranty still doesn't cover this repair.

 

[Steverino]

You guys are arguing over whether a condenser can be called a radiator, doesn't help my post at all. The Voltec Warranty still doesn't cover this repair.

We aren't arguing, we are explaining. At this point, what can we say that would help your post other than correcting the misinformation that a radiator is not a condenser and vice versa?