VE SV6 aircon - PROBLEMS, PROBLEMS, PROBLEMS...

[Rewey]

Hi all,

I just need to share my experiences with the air con in my VE SV6, and maybe take some advice on where to go from here...

I bought it used from Brian Gardner Holden with 23,000kms on the clock. Told the sales guy the air con seemed warm, and he promised to have it sorted before I collected the car. It appears nothing was done and like an idiot, I drove it for a year and a half before I got so frustrated I took it back while under warranty. They said it was a software issue and upgraded the software.

A few months later, with obviously nothing fixed, I got frustrated again and took it back in. Finally they looked at it and replaced the header control assembly.

A little while later, after this still hadn't fixed anything, I took it back. They looked again, and realised the 'schroder valves' (sp?) were loose, and had leaked all the gas out. So they topped it up and replaced the valves. That worked for about a week (last September), and then it seemed to go back to not working. Unfortunately, that's where the warranty ran out. It took a few months of playing with it to realise it STILL wasn't working - seemed coolish during mornings, evenings, maybe sometimes during the day. But overall - rubbish performance.

I took it back this morning, and let them know I was over it, and none of the previous fixes had worked, and I just want to know what the heck is wrong with it. I've just been called to say that in the 5 months since it was last in to get checked 2 aircon pipes, 2 aircon seals, 1 pipe seal and 1 condenser seal have all failed, to a cost of $695 to fix.

Are they seriously expecting me to believe that all of those parts failed within the past 5 months, or am I right to believe that they didn't bother checking or testing the last time it went in. It seems they just found the first faulty thing and ignored checking anything else, and put it back on the road. What if the problem had been with the brakes??? Would they just find the first thing and put it back on the road without testing???

So short of coughing up $695 for something that I believe has been a problem all along, does anyone have any advice on where to go from here???

Thanks in advance...

Rewey

[Rewey]

Update - I've just been on the phone to the service manager. He says he runs his aircon all year around because keeping the coolant running through the system keeps the seals, etc from perishing or wearing out (not his exact words, but how I understood what he was saying).

So if there was no coolant at all in the system for the past 3 years because of the leaking valves, this is the cause of all these pipes and seals needing replacing now? That's what it seems like to me. Others out there might be more familiar with how it all works?

I have a 12 year old Vectra as well which has never had an aircon service or re-gas and has icy cold aircon. Seems my VE can't hold gas in it for more than a week...

Regards,
Rewey

[the big fist]

It causes the O-ring's to fail. they should be able to replace the 20cent (if that) O ring, not the whole part.
Take it to a proper AC shop, they can nitrogen test the system and check for leaks. Put a dye in the system and find where it comes out.
Plenty of different ways.
Take it to Deerings.

[Rewey]

Thanks for clarifying that it does cause the o-rings to fail, big fist...

They told me that the new gas they put in last September already had a die in so leaks can be detected. But that gas seemed to all be lost within a fortnight or so, and now they're claiming that all of these parts have perished in the past 5 months.

Seems extreme to me...

[axemurderer101]

Ask if they did a pressure test, could be the seals or could even be a hole in the condensor. Maybe take it to an air con specialist and get them to just pressure test it, this shouldnt cost much. and they will most likely find where its leaking.

[Fence_sitter]

the fact that it has been an ongoing warranty concern with the same dealership they should have documentation showing previous repeated attempts of repair with no avail all within the warranty, Because this is an issue with poor workmanship and poor diagnosis by the dealer you should not be expected to pay for the repair because it is an ongoing repair from within the warranty period.

Just my 2 cents

[redvxr8clubby]

seemed coolish during mornings, evenings, maybe sometimes during the day. But overall - rubbish performance.

Rewey

Sounds Exactly like mine, it probably might run for maybe 20 minutes during a warm day, then it seems to stop delivering cold air ...... VE SV6 just over 2 years old. I bought used 10 months ago. I have been slack going to dealer as well. Need to do it.

[Plenty]

The seals have dried out for lack of gas in the system (due to a warranty failure), makes them liable for the other damages caused.
Gardners are completely useless, are not interested in helping the customer with warranty (especially Matt the service manager).

Had warranty issues as well recently had to go to Holden corporate to get it sorted, the look on his face was priceless when turned up to get work done.

If you have the patience keep taking it further and soon enough your problem will be so insignificant to the person on the phone they'll just make it happen.

[boggers007]

I highly doubt all those parts failed in the 5months, More then likely had half them dying or dead at the time of you getting warranty work but they kept stringing you out until you were out of warranty and boom money to be made by them.

[nate698]

Leaking shreader valves is a common fault found if the mechanic working on the car can't actually find a leak or can't be f cked looking for the leak

My bet is all your seals where gone from the day you picked it up

Quick side note if there filling up your system with refrigerant without finding the leak it is highly illegal and if caught they could be fined big dollars