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AC Compressor blows up

10 messages,  Last post on Aug 27, 2012 at 9:37 AM

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What is this discussion about? Toyota Sienna, Van

Messages Page 2 of 2

#4 of 10 Re: AC Compressor blows up [stevew4] by ateixeira

Apr 03, 2009 (11:22 am)

Replying to: stevew4 (Mar 26, 2009 7:13 am)
Can we honestly expect any manufacturer to fix a part at 120,000 miles when the warranty was 36,000?
 
Are we expecting too much (waaaaaaay too much) from Toyota?
 
Let's be realistic, folks.
 
My '91 Ford Escort had its A/C system go out twice in the 107k miles that I owned it and Ford didn't cover either repair, nor did I expect them to given both occured well beyond the 36k mile warranty period.
 
If manufacturers keep fixing things forever for free you'd never buy a new car again.

#5 of 10 Re: AC Compressor blows up [ateixeira] by wwest

Apr 04, 2009 (8:08 am)

Replying to: ateixeira (Apr 03, 2009 11:22 am)
"..Can we honestly expect..."
 
Yes, when it's clearly a manufacturing or design flaw the cost should be covered, at least on a pro-rated basis.
 
"...Ford didn't cover.."
 
Ford....no surprise there.....

#6 of 10 Re: AC Compressor blows up [wwest] by ateixeira

Apr 10, 2009 (8:56 am)

Replying to: wwest (Apr 04, 2009 8:08 am)
A design flaw that worked perfectly well for 120,000 miles?
 
120k, it's not like it's 37 or 38k miles, very close to the warranty period. It's more than 3 times the warranty length.

#7 of 10 defining 'flaw' by pgregston

Apr 10, 2009 (9:34 am)

My Seinna came with a seven year 70,000 mile warranty, which it was well beyond in miles when the compressor blew. I wouldn't say the flaw in this is in terms of the time or mileage served.
Rather it is the fact that in the design of the minivan, it was almost like they had built the vehicle around the A/C system, since so much of the car had to come apart to replace every piece of the system. The nature of the failure - atomization of metal that is then circulated throughout the system- and the design of the car makes this repair a high proportion of the value of the vehicle.
What we could ask of all manufacturers is to share data on failures. It would have been useful to know where on the bell curve this event sits. I could then have a realistic idea of whether or not it was within 'normal' or an outlier, whether I can expect another 100K out of the engine and trans or other major components etc.

#8 of 10 Re: defining 'flaw' [pgregston] by ateixeira

Apr 10, 2009 (11:27 am)

Replying to: pgregston (Apr 10, 2009 9:34 am)
Now that I can agree with, though I'm sure automakers keep such info as confidential as they can, legally. Sometimes illegally.

#9 of 10 Re: AC Compressor blows up [ateixeira] by grumfan

Aug 25, 2012 (7:54 pm)

Replying to: ateixeira (Apr 10, 2009 8:56 am)
Who the heck buys a car and only expects it to last 36K miles?
 
Honda's routinely go 250K, 300K miles. There are some that have been documented to have gone a million miles already.
 
The problem with the Denso AC compressors, and the incredibly expensive repair (Over $3000 ) they cause is well known to honda and they have already lost one class action lawsuit (CRV owners) because of it.
 
I found out about it because I was going to buy a used CRV and came across this issue while researching it. Now I won't buy the CRV. And as I keep looking I'm starting to wonder if its safe to buy any Honda or Toyota that has AC. Since I'm looking at used units that will cost between $3000, and $6000, the idea of a $3000 repair on one of these is ridiculous!
 
Basically every used honda just dropped $3000 in resale value. And some toyota models as well.
 
The correct thing for honda to do, is: find or design a compressor that does not shred itself to pieces every 40,000 to 70,000 miles. Make that compressor available at cost, and encourage everyone to replace their AC compressor with it immediately.
 
Ordinarily this would seem like an arrogant demand, but Honda has known about this issue since 2002!!!! And has never taken any systemic action to correct it! As far as I can tell, the compressors going into the 2013 models STILL have this issue.

#10 of 10 Re: AC Compressor blows up [grumfan] by ateixeira

Aug 27, 2012 (9:37 am)

Replying to: grumfan (Aug 25, 2012 7:54 pm)
Honda's routinely go 250K, 300K miles
 
On their 3rd or 4th transmission, maybe.
 
No car goes that far without a few replacements/rebuilds.

Messages Page 2 of 2

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