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Car stuff...

PostPosted: Mon Jan 07, 2008 8:21 pm
by aardvark
Well, they say shit happens in 3's.

1) 1 lap into the morning warm up session at the last race meet of the year, my RD's bottom end decides to disintegrate
2) The TV blows up - it's only cost me $200 a year... :roll:
3) The aircon compressor in the car has shit itself!

Of course it's the middle of summer, so the perfect time to have a car with no a/c!

I ring the Subaru dealer and find out that a new compressor is only $1240!!!!!!!!!!!!

Does anyone know if these things can be refurbished, or if someone provides some type of exchange system for them?

As a side note, does anyone here own a Toyota Kluger or a Honda Odysssey??

Re: Car stuff...

PostPosted: Mon Jan 07, 2008 8:23 pm
by Black Magic
Bugger! :cry:

Sorry to hear of your bad luck. Three bad things- it'a all over now! ;)

Re: Car stuff...

PostPosted: Mon Jan 07, 2008 8:34 pm
by Smitty
aardvark wrote:
Of course it's the middle of summer, so the perfect time to have a car with no a/c!

I ring the Subaru dealer and find out that a new compressor is only $1240!!!!!!!!!!!!

Does anyone know if these things can be refurbished, or if someone provides some type of exchange system for them?


Jase
skip the dealer
and ring a few car AirCon or heating/cooling guys (chk Yellow pages)
they will be able to tell you

btw
my eldest daughter had a Soobie 4WD wagon thingie....it nearly bankrupted her
(like $800+ for a new radiator :shock: ...)
and do NOT ask about the auto trans rebuild (it was about ½ the Australian GDP)

the Odyssey sounds a better deal (she bought a Honda CRV when the Soobie died again)
Hondas fair much better it seems

hth

Smitty

Re: Car stuff...

PostPosted: Mon Jan 07, 2008 9:07 pm
by aardvark
Smitty wrote:she bought a Honda CRV when the Soobie died again


To be fair, we haven't had any other problems with the Subaru since we bought it and according to a mate who is a fridgey by trade, it was probably my fault it has packed it in.

I'd noticed that it wasn't working as well as it should have some time ago. Turns out the dryer was blocked. I ignored it and the pressure between the dryer and comrpessor increased so much that it put extra pressure on the compressor....

Re: Car stuff...

PostPosted: Mon Jan 07, 2008 9:09 pm
by greeny
Yeah i second the going non-genuine on the Subbie.
Once mine was out of warranty i never used Subaru for anything.

Great cars but servicing and genuine parts are expensive.

Re: Car stuff...

PostPosted: Mon Jan 07, 2008 9:14 pm
by aardvark
greeny wrote:Yeah i second the going non-genuine on the Subbie.


I should add thata non-genuine item from Highgate Aircons is about $1000. A used unit from the wreckers is $275.

Re: Car stuff...

PostPosted: Mon Jan 07, 2008 9:25 pm
by Smitty
aardvark wrote:
greeny wrote:Yeah i second the going non-genuine on the Subbie.


I should add thata non-genuine item from Highgate Aircons is about $1000. A used unit from the wreckers is $275.


Jason
If you intend keeping the car...go the non genuine (I assume that cost is fitted)
coz it would come with some sort of guarantee

if not...go the wreckers
(btw, how much to fit it, gas and oil it...?)



hth

Smitty

Re: Car stuff...

PostPosted: Mon Jan 07, 2008 9:30 pm
by aardvark
Smitty wrote:go the non genuine (I assume that cost is fitted)
coz it would come with some sort of guarantee

if not...go the wreckers
(btw, how much to fit it, gas and oil it...?)


$1000 is for the cost of the non-gen part only!!

My mate will fit and regas for nix.

Re: Car stuff...

PostPosted: Mon Jan 07, 2008 9:33 pm
by Felix
It's a pity for you that the best aircon guy I know in the country is in Noosaville! PM me if you really, really want his number.

Seriously, get talking to some a/c guys, auto elec's and see what you can suss. The guy I know reckons never to buy used a/c compressors from the wreckers - after market items aren't much dearer (if you know where to buy)...and the old ones are usually fecked from sitting around.

Re: Car stuff...

PostPosted: Mon Jan 07, 2008 9:36 pm
by Felix
aardvark wrote:
$1000 is for the cost of the non-gen part only!!



To give you an idea, the guy I mentioned would have fitted a new compressor, condenser, gassed and fitted whatever needed fitting (pulleys etc) to my old 626 for $500 using new parts...that's about 8 years ago now...

Re: Car stuff...

PostPosted: Mon Jan 07, 2008 11:15 pm
by Neka79
i kno sum1 who has a Kluger as a company car..they are actually pretty punchy!!

wots ya question?? lol

Re: Car stuff...

PostPosted: Wed Jan 09, 2008 8:59 am
by javaman
re: car air conditioner,

is there any specific servicing required or is it basically "run it to death" ?

I know that there is refrigerant and oil put in the system and they don't go anywhere (closed system) so unless there is a leak all should be ok ... right ? :? my car is 14 years young.

Re: Car stuff...

PostPosted: Wed Jan 09, 2008 10:26 am
by Smitty
javaman wrote:re: car air conditioner,

is there any specific servicing required or is it basically "run it to death" ?

I know that there is refrigerant and oil put in the system and they don't go anywhere (closed system) so unless there is a leak all should be ok ... right ? :? my car is 14 years young.


right and wrong
you are correct that if no leaks..all is ok because the gas/oil mixture lubes the seals and pump internals
and helps keep it 'gas' tight. This is the reason why you should run your A/c system at least weekly

but how do you test that the system is fully gassed?
There are valves in the pump or hose connection where you hook up a test gauge kit
and it tells you the oil content and the gas pressure. This should be done once a year.

I get a brake fluid bleed/flush done annually on my cars (around christmas) and I get the A/c check
done at the same time

cheers

Smitty

Re: Car stuff...

PostPosted: Thu Jan 10, 2008 11:06 pm
by Blue14
Neka79 wrote:i kno sum1 who has a Kluger as a company car..they are actually pretty punchy!!

wots ya question?? lol
Who do you know that has one as a comp car ?? Maybe i know them ?

Re: Car stuff...

PostPosted: Fri Jan 11, 2008 10:40 am
by javaman
Thanks Smitty,

And can this pressure check be done using typical tyre pressure gauge ?