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Porsche Warranty Headache - Air conditioning condenser

RedJedi

Well-known member
Joined
13 Aug 2008
Messages
1,208
Air conditioning stopped working again... (went into OPC last year under warranty and a seal, pipe and passenger side condenser replaced).

This year, same problem again.

Just went into OPC again but this time they've said that the drivers side condenser has corroded and is not claimable under warranty.

They want £700 to get it replaced.

Is that correct or are they trying it on?

Its a Gen 2 3.6 (997) 58 plate and always been under OPC warranty.
 
It's generally considered a 'consumable' i.e a wear and tear item.

Replacement at c.9 years is pretty usual.

That price is typical for an OPC. An indy, even using genuine parts, should do the job cheaper.
 
T8 said:
It's generally considered a 'consumable' i.e a wear and tear item.

Replacement at c.9 years is pretty usual.

That price is typical for an OPC. An indy, even using genuine parts, should do the job cheaper.

Thanks Mr T 8.

Chap said they will do it for £640.
 
If it wasn't for the warranty both would have been changed first time. Unless they are broken due to being hit I usually change them in pairs, same with the radiators. If you know which end of a spanner does what it is a pretty simple diy job.

MC
 
MisterCorn said:
If it wasn't for the warranty both would have been changed first time. Unless they are broken due to being hit I usually change them in pairs, same with the radiators. If you know which end of a spanner does what it is a pretty simple diy job.

MC

Thanks for that - need to take front bumper off I think.

Makes sense that both needed changing.

Probably get it done and will have to take the hit.

I got the warranty thinking that all I needed was fuel, maybe some tyres and possibly some pads etc - but there's always something you haven't considered.
 
If your going to get them to do it .. just ask if you can see then old one so you can see this corrosion and where its leaking .. see if its ok sir np .. or something else :)
 
RedJedi, not sure about the warranty side of things. But I assure you it's not a big job. A set of screwdrivers, spanners. Very simple to do. Remove the indicators (flip them out) remove the trim on the front valence over the bumper top. Turn your wheels one way, peel back the black wheel arch, undo the screws behind them. Repeated the other side on full lock. Now undo the bottom row of screws under the front of the bumper. Next peel back your carpet to get at taking the front light units out, 1/4 to 1/2 turn should release them forwards, wriggle them by hand, gently forward and put somewhere safe out of the way. Now put a thick'ish cloth under the front to catch the bumper (we don't want any damage to that when it comes away). Now carry on undoing the top row of screws. Have a quick wriggle of the bumper to see if it's free or where some screws are left to come out.

Once the bumper is off, it's plain sailing. You should see where the two faces meet, one from the alu pipework and the other face from the condensers themselves. I'm trying to remember the next bit, I think from memory it's allen key bolts which tighten the two faces together. Use a strong adjustable spanner on the block and allen key to undo the bolt. Remove the condenser. Then it's simply a scenario of fit the new condenser, connect the alu pipes back up. Screw the bumper back on. Clip the indicator lights back in. Slide the headlights back in, & lock them in position with the cam, 1/4 to 1/2 turn (it'll click when in place properly).

Then a quick trip to the local regas service. Enjoy the cool air.

You can pick them up for about £50 ea on Ebay. You can have the whole job done on a driveway in a few hours. No special tools or a GCSE in mechanics. It really is that easy & you should be able to watch YouTube videos of it being done to give you some confidence of how simple it is. A lot of Porsche owners can do this blind folded if they are keen to remove the autumn leaves to stop them rotting before winter storage or winter use.

Matt
 
back in May my GTS went in for its 6 year service at Portsmouth OPC, they also told me both condensers needed replacing and quoted me £1200 all in... after picking myself up off the floor
i pushed them over the extended OPC warranty i have and sure enough it was all covered in the end but it appears at first they just wanted to charge me.. so i would personally push them over this :thumb:
 
MNC911 said:
RedJedi, not sure about the warranty side of things. But I assure you it's not a big job. A set of screwdrivers, spanners. Very simple to do. Remove the indicators (flip them out) remove the trim on the front valence over the bumper top. Turn your wheels one way, peel back the black wheel arch, undo the screws behind them. Repeated the other side on full lock. Now undo the bottom row of screws under the front of the bumper. Next peel back your carpet to get at taking the front light units out, 1/4 to 1/2 turn should release them forwards, wriggle them by hand, gently forward and put somewhere safe out of the way. Now put a thick'ish cloth under the front to catch the bumper (we don't want any damage to that when it comes away). Now carry on undoing the top row of screws. Have a quick wriggle of the bumper to see if it's free or where some screws are left to come out.

Once the bumper is off, it's plain sailing. You should see where the two faces meet, one from the alu pipework and the other face from the condensers themselves. I'm trying to remember the next bit, I think from memory it's allen key bolts which tighten the two faces together. Use a strong adjustable spanner on the block and allen key to undo the bolt. Remove the condenser. Then it's simply a scenario of fit the new condenser, connect the alu pipes back up. Screw the bumper back on. Clip the indicator lights back in. Slide the headlights back in, & lock them in position with the cam, 1/4 to 1/2 turn (it'll click when in place properly).

Then a quick trip to the local regas service. Enjoy the cool air.

You can pick them up for about £50 ea on Ebay. You can have the whole job done on a driveway in a few hours. No special tools or a GCSE in mechanics. It really is that easy & you should be able to watch YouTube videos of it being done to give you some confidence of how simple it is. A lot of Porsche owners can do this blind folded if they are keen to remove the autumn leaves to stop them rotting before winter storage or winter use.

Matt

Thank you Matt, for taking the time to write that up.

I don't have the time at the moment to be doing that - though it does sound fun. Also, the car has been under warranty all the way and I think I will put OPC parts back in (condenser).

I looked on design 911 and they were over £500 (i think for 2) - hence OPC quoted me over £300 just for the condenser!

I'm going to ask local indie how much it would be and then make a decision.

Once I take my car out of warranty, I'll start looking at doing more myself...

But thanks again! Sounds fun!
 
basilbrush said:
back in May my GTS went in for its 6 year service at Portsmouth OPC, they also told me both condensers needed replacing and quoted me £1200 all in... after picking myself up off the floor
i pushed them over the extended OPC warranty i have and sure enough it was all covered in the end but it appears at first they just wanted to charge me.. so i would personally push them over this :thumb:

As they did some work on the passenger side condenser last year (replaced seal and condenser) - the first thing they said to me was that it was different to last time and they were very apologetic about it... I just assumed that it would be under warranty, but it appears that it counts as a consumable.

I may push them and see what they say as Demort says - to have a look at the corroded condenser, or to ask if I could take it to another OPC for 2nd opinion - but then I don't want to spoil the relationship with them as they have looked after me in the past...

I do trust them - but as this was done under warranty last time, thought it would be the same.
 
Demort said:
If your going to get them to do it .. just ask if you can see then old one so you can see this corrosion and where its leaking .. see if its ok sir np .. or something else :)

Thanks Demort - will def ask that.

I get the feeling they will be fine with it.

I am sure they would have put it under warranty i they could - as the condenser is considered a "consumable" that explains what the service desk were saying and why its different to last time when there was a leak in the seal.
 
RedJedi said:
I am sure they would have put it under warranty if they could - as the condenser is considered a "consumable" that explains what the service desk were saying and why its different to last time when there was a leak in the seal.

I'm sure they would if they could too. It's no skin off their nose but they have to justify the replacement to the warranty underwriters.

I paid for a condenser when my car was 8 years old as it was needed to get the warranty. Last year the a/c failed and they put a new compressor in.

The difference was that one part was old and the other failed prematurely.
 
Interesting.

I called another OPC (nottinhgam) and they said that if the condenser has corroded because of leaves (and not damaged through a bump by driving or stones getting in) then it is covered under warranty.

Leicester OPC said it had corroded because of leaves built up over time.

I then called up Porsche HQ and they looked into it and have said Nottingham are correct if it is only leaves as there is nothing a driver can do about that because of the design etc...

I will call Leicester OPC at 10.30 to follow this up - but the chap did say that there was no damage, just corrosion and because of leaves built up over time.

Lets see what happens - but could do with saving £700!
 
T8 said:
RedJedi said:
I am sure they would have put it under warranty if they could - as the condenser is considered a "consumable" that explains what the service desk were saying and why its different to last time when there was a leak in the seal.

I'm sure they would if they could too. It's no skin off their nose but they have to justify the replacement to the warranty underwriters.

I paid for a condenser when my car was 8 years old as it was needed to get the warranty. Last year the a/c failed and they put a new compressor in.


The difference was that one part was old and the other failed prematurely.

I thought that they would do it under warranty if they could too -so seems very strange - and they have always looked after me... know my car etc. Lets see.
 
I'v got porsche UK talking to Leicester OPC - see if they can come upto some agreement.

Really strange that they don't have a definitive.

Leicester did not send to Porsche Warranty as they said that their own warranty specialist said it would not get through.... just strange.
 

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