A/C Condenser Failure Question

JayhawkNation · 10-06-2016, 01:43 PM

Noticed last night when I came home and parked the car that steam was coming up from the (mostly front passenger side) hood/grille area. Shut off the car and the steam quickly went away within a few seconds but there was a hissing noise. Couldn't see any leaking fluid on the ground or signs of spray in the engine bay and no alerts were prompted by the car so I let it sit for another couple of hours and thought I'd see start it up again to see if steam returned. No steam but it was still hissing, and then I let it idle for 5 mins or so and nothing, but I noticed the A/C was no longer blowing cold air, just blowing warm. Shut the car off and checked the fuses and then for damage inside the grille area but didn't see anything I thought looked like damaged.
Took it to the dealer today and the service adviser just sent me their diagnostic report stating the A/C condenser is damaged due to road debris and are quoting me $1350 to replace.
I've never had this happen before so I'm hoping some of you might be able to help me figure out what to look for before allowing them to do the repairs and if there are any other possible culprits instead of a damaged A/C condenser or one damaged by road debris?

Edit: just received a photo from the dealer of the damage.

Michigan1LTRS · 10-06-2016, 04:28 PM

Bump for some help. All I see is the radiator.

SixgenSix · 10-06-2016, 04:40 PM

Warranty wouldn't come into play here? I would think a new car should be able to handle road debris from what I gather that photo shows.

Glen e · 10-06-2016, 04:41 PM

Road debris is not covered by any major manufacturer that I know of. But Make them prove to you that it was a rock.

Slem · 10-06-2016, 04:55 PM

It's really hard to tell from that pic, where is the actual damage? What actually caused the damage? I mean seeing the pic of your rad shows bugs and sure road debris but I bet if most of us looked at our rad ours would probably look similar. Also I have never had this problem in any of the cars I have owned and I have owned many.

Moc96 · 10-06-2016, 05:26 PM

Where is the damage? I see bugs, some road tar, bent fins, but nothing major. Maybe ask the dealer to circle the damage, or take a better pic.

JayhawkNation · 10-06-2016, 05:48 PM

I've cropped the image to show where I think they're saying is damaged - if I had to take a woefully ignorant guess. If a rock really did puncture and cause a leak it must have been a money shot given the SS grille pattern. Not that there's not enough space for a rock to get through, but to get though untouched and not have the black plastic area slow some of the momentum has to be fairly low odds on this car.

Moc96 · 10-06-2016, 06:03 PM

Could it be where the glare is? Looks like there might be something there.

Michigan1LTRS · 10-06-2016, 06:13 PM

They said the AC condenser is damaged. Where is that damage? This the radiator, right?

JayhawkNation · 10-06-2016, 06:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Moc96

Could it be where the glare is? Looks like there might be something there.

Just checked that area now that I have he car back and I don't think any damage is in the glare area. Few jacked find but the vertical tubes (or whatever they're technically called" all seem undamaged.

There's unfortunately no tell tale "stain" that I can see that might show the site of the leakage.

JayhawkNation · 10-06-2016, 06:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Michigan1LTRS

They said the AC condenser is damaged. Where is that damage? This the radiator, right?

The photo is of the condenser which is what they say is damaged. It looks similar to the radiator but smaller and sits right in front of the radiator... exposed to whatever flys through the grill. It's 2016 and we can't engineer or protect an exposed part like this any better?

Moc96 · 10-06-2016, 06:45 PM

Get a second opinion. Most places will do free estimates, but call first and make sure.

Glen e · 10-06-2016, 06:50 PM

This doesn't happen very often, but it seems to have happened on every car forum I've been on , which is several. Easy way to keep it from happening again, is a piece of plastic gutter guard from Lowe's in front of the condenser. Protects the condenser, doesn't impede airflow. Invisible unless you're on your knees looking at it .

Michigan1LTRS · 10-06-2016, 06:56 PM

Very good advice above about getting a second opinion.

10-06-2016, 01:43 PM	#1
JayhawkNation Drives: 2019 Chevy Camaro 1 SS Join Date: Aug 2013 Location: United States Posts: 39	A/C Condenser Failure Question Noticed last night when I came home and parked the car that steam was coming up from the (mostly front passenger side) hood/grille area. Shut off the car and the steam quickly went away within a few seconds but there was a hissing noise. Couldn't see any leaking fluid on the ground or signs of spray in the engine bay and no alerts were prompted by the car so I let it sit for another couple of hours and thought I'd see start it up again to see if steam returned. No steam but it was still hissing, and then I let it idle for 5 mins or so and nothing, but I noticed the A/C was no longer blowing cold air, just blowing warm. Shut the car off and checked the fuses and then for damage inside the grille area but didn't see anything I thought looked like damaged. Took it to the dealer today and the service adviser just sent me their diagnostic report stating the A/C condenser is damaged due to road debris and are quoting me $1350 to replace. I've never had this happen before so I'm hoping some of you might be able to help me figure out what to look for before allowing them to do the repairs and if there are any other possible culprits instead of a damaged A/C condenser or one damaged by road debris? Edit: just received a photo from the dealer of the damage. __________________ 2019 1SS Riverside Blue M6 NPP Last edited by JayhawkNation; 10-06-2016 at 02:47 PM. Reason: add photo

10-06-2016, 04:28 PM	#2
Michigan1LTRS Blessed ❤️ Drives: 2017 1LT RS I4 Join Date: Sep 2016 Location: Indiana Posts: 2,577	Bump for some help. All I see is the radiator. __________________ 2017 1LT RS I4 A8 BLACK ON BLACK Kindness and compassion #OthersFirst

10-06-2016, 04:41 PM	#4
Glen e Retired from Car mfrs.... Drives: 2LT RS/HR-V Join Date: May 2013 Location: /Fort Lauderdale Posts: 10,048	Road debris is not covered by any major manufacturer that I know of. But Make them prove to you that it was a rock. __________________ Glen CLICK HERE for detailing a new car: detailing for non detailers CLICK HERE for how to rinseless CLICK HERE for EASY wheel sealant

10-06-2016, 05:48 PM	#7
JayhawkNation Drives: 2019 Chevy Camaro 1 SS Join Date: Aug 2013 Location: United States Posts: 39	I've cropped the image to show where I think they're saying is damaged - if I had to take a woefully ignorant guess. If a rock really did puncture and cause a leak it must have been a money shot given the SS grille pattern. Not that there's not enough space for a rock to get through, but to get though untouched and not have the black plastic area slow some of the momentum has to be fairly low odds on this car. __________________ 2019 1SS Riverside Blue M6 NPP

10-06-2016, 06:13 PM	#9
Michigan1LTRS Blessed ❤️ Drives: 2017 1LT RS I4 Join Date: Sep 2016 Location: Indiana Posts: 2,577	They said the AC condenser is damaged. Where is that damage? This the radiator, right? __________________ 2017 1LT RS I4 A8 BLACK ON BLACK Kindness and compassion #OthersFirst

10-06-2016, 04:40 PM	#3
SixgenSix Drives: 2020 SHOCK SS 1LE Join Date: Sep 2016 Location: Southern California Posts: 384	Warranty wouldn't come into play here? I would think a new car should be able to handle road debris from what I gather that photo shows.

10-06-2016, 04:55 PM	#5
Slem Drives: 2016 Summit White 2SS (Auto) Loaded Join Date: Jul 2016 Location: Ontario Posts: 487 View My Garage	It's really hard to tell from that pic, where is the actual damage? What actually caused the damage? I mean seeing the pic of your rad shows bugs and sure road debris but I bet if most of us looked at our rad ours would probably look similar. Also I have never had this problem in any of the cars I have owned and I have owned many.

10-06-2016, 05:26 PM	#6
Moc96 Account Suspended Drives: 2016 Camaro 2SS Join Date: Sep 2016 Location: USA Posts: 233	Where is the damage? I see bugs, some road tar, bent fins, but nothing major. Maybe ask the dealer to circle the damage, or take a better pic.

10-06-2016, 06:03 PM	#8
Moc96 Account Suspended Drives: 2016 Camaro 2SS Join Date: Sep 2016 Location: USA Posts: 233	Could it be where the glare is? Looks like there might be something there.

10-06-2016, 06:45 PM	#12
Moc96 Account Suspended Drives: 2016 Camaro 2SS Join Date: Sep 2016 Location: USA Posts: 233	Get a second opinion. Most places will do free estimates, but call first and make sure.

10-06-2016, 06:50 PM	#13
Glen e Retired from Car mfrs.... Drives: 2LT RS/HR-V Join Date: May 2013 Location: /Fort Lauderdale Posts: 10,048	This doesn't happen very often, but it seems to have happened on every car forum I've been on , which is several. Easy way to keep it from happening again, is a piece of plastic gutter guard from Lowe's in front of the condenser. Protects the condenser, doesn't impede airflow. Invisible unless you're on your knees looking at it . __________________ Glen CLICK HERE for detailing a new car: detailing for non detailers CLICK HERE for how to rinseless CLICK HERE for EASY wheel sealant

10-06-2016, 06:56 PM	#14
Michigan1LTRS Blessed ❤️ Drives: 2017 1LT RS I4 Join Date: Sep 2016 Location: Indiana Posts: 2,577	Very good advice above about getting a second opinion. __________________ 2017 1LT RS I4 A8 BLACK ON BLACK Kindness and compassion #OthersFirst

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