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448 Posts
This may be the end of my 12 Volt, sadly.
Just took car in for check of AC system because of some weird behavior -- sometimes very cold, sometimes not so much. Gurgling under dash. No codes or lights.
Verdict = AC Evaporator core is leaking as is the compressor. They added some Freon and cools well. First dealer howeever couldn't tell me where or how the compressor leaked and so I went to another one for a second opinion -- same verdict and told me the compressor was leaking where the halves of the shell come together and - of course -- it cant be opened and the seal replaced by the dealer... He said they have seen this problem before but there is no TSB on this.
Because the car is past the mileage warranty -- 125k -- GM may not help. If I have to pay, it will be about $3,600 total.
I cant easily afford or justify such an outrageous cost and I don't think an independent shop could deal with a Volt. I could replace the entire AC and furnace of my house for less money, frankly. This is a serious design defect. No electric compressor should fail like this, ever, for the life of a vehicle. I can understand a hose leak but not a compressor shell seal. Not for an $1,800 part. The evaporator coil too should never fail like this, ever. Its not a wear item. This is bad design and/or manufacturing, period, and GM should have caught this. Even a microchannel evaporator should hold for the life of the car.
Hopefully will learn if GM will help with out of warranty assistance today. Otherwise may end up looking. I love my Volt but each repair it has needed lately, a leaking water pump ($1,500) and now this are just too much to bear. I could have leased the car for less than this. Buyer beware.
Just took car in for check of AC system because of some weird behavior -- sometimes very cold, sometimes not so much. Gurgling under dash. No codes or lights.
Verdict = AC Evaporator core is leaking as is the compressor. They added some Freon and cools well. First dealer howeever couldn't tell me where or how the compressor leaked and so I went to another one for a second opinion -- same verdict and told me the compressor was leaking where the halves of the shell come together and - of course -- it cant be opened and the seal replaced by the dealer... He said they have seen this problem before but there is no TSB on this.
Because the car is past the mileage warranty -- 125k -- GM may not help. If I have to pay, it will be about $3,600 total.
I cant easily afford or justify such an outrageous cost and I don't think an independent shop could deal with a Volt. I could replace the entire AC and furnace of my house for less money, frankly. This is a serious design defect. No electric compressor should fail like this, ever, for the life of a vehicle. I can understand a hose leak but not a compressor shell seal. Not for an $1,800 part. The evaporator coil too should never fail like this, ever. Its not a wear item. This is bad design and/or manufacturing, period, and GM should have caught this. Even a microchannel evaporator should hold for the life of the car.
Hopefully will learn if GM will help with out of warranty assistance today. Otherwise may end up looking. I love my Volt but each repair it has needed lately, a leaking water pump ($1,500) and now this are just too much to bear. I could have leased the car for less than this. Buyer beware.