€1830 to fix aircon

josip

Replacement compressor and drier OEM

Might be able to save a bit with a non OEM compressor.

2014 Octavia

Suck it up?

TherapyBoy

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058247367/1830-to-fix-aircon

I had to do the same a few years ago on a ‘07 VW Golf I bought, it’s a hit for sure.

If you do go ahead with it, make sure you use the aircon regularly afterwards. Keeps everything working properly if it’s used, even at its lowest setting.

whomitconcerns

Probably a spammer anyway....

But on you post. That sounds excessive, don't think I would go OEM for an internal components on an 8 year old car. What's the difference in price?

josip

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119113261#Comment_119113261

Don't know the price for non-OEM yet, but I'll almost certainly be going that route. I've been told the drier has to be OEM and is around €400 so I'm only expecting a couple of hundred saving. Around 4 hours work.

colm_mcm

Get a used one?

josip

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119113655#Comment_119113655

Was thinking about this, but it sounds like there's a fair bit of labour, none of which I can do myself.

So I'd guess we're still looking at at least €600 versus what I hope will be €1600 or less from the dealer.

With that extra grand I get the security that if something goes wrong, my wife can't say "we should have gone with the dealer".

That's not a bad price for that kind of peace of mind :)

embraer170

Get it checked by a a local mechanic rather than the dealer.

Not really something that goes wrong very often (if you use your AC regularly) so I can't see the big benefit in going to a main dealer.

Akrasia

I'd say you could get that done for half that quoted price with non OEM /used parts from an independent mechanic. If you can find one

2 grand for air con repair seems excessive on an octaves

User1998

I would definitely avoid the main dealer on this one. I kid you not my friend had a VW Golf with a similar issue. Main dealer said it needed a new compressor and quoted him a similar price. He brought it to an independent auto electrician and he had it perfectly fixed for little over €100. Main dealers don’t want to fix anything, only replace.

Please shop around on this one

embraer170

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119115548#Comment_119115548

Exactly

shane b

While not the same failed components but I have a 09 Octavia that was leaking gas over a period of 4 weeks. Problem was identified to be the condenser. Luckily the compressor was working and mechanic couldnt locate gas anywhere else using a "sniffer". Cost 400 altogether and i believe the new condenser was about 150 euro. Repair Took a bout 3-4 hours to do and was carried out in February this year.

3 months on and i still have cold air when needed. My wife thought i was mad spending that amount of money on an "extra" but its so handy with kids.

josip

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119115548#Comment_119115548

Do you know what the Indie fixed in this case? €100 sounds like a regassing price. The gas pressure in ours is supposedly ok.

Tombo2001

Its mad really - like the car is probably worth 5k, but to fix one very small component of it is 2k.

josip

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119115839#Comment_119115839

Exactly. We usually buy new, look after it and keep for 10 years.

So we'd be keeping this for another 2 years, maybe 3.

If we only used the car in Ireland, then we probably wouldn't fix it and maybe replace the car a year early.

But we use it a lot in Europe in the summer and aircon is a must.

User1998

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119115832#Comment_119115832

Honestly I can’t remember but I know it wasn’t just a re gas. There was more to it then just a lack of cold air.

Kintarō Hattori

Dropped my own car (2015 Nissan Note) into Park West for a regas this moring thinking it'd be a €60 job. He had a look and there's a fine hole in the condenser so it's a €370 job. So so glad I held off on buying a PS5 yesterday. Agree with another poster that with kids in the car it's an absolute must to have A/C.

monkeybutter

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119117011#Comment_119117011

erra wind down the old windows and power on

Henry Ford III

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119117011#Comment_119117011

First car I had with a/c was in 1999. I managed fine without it before that. Yes it was hot in the summer and the windows misted up sometimes when it rained but we all survived.

p.s. Shop around for an a/c specialist OP.

josip

I'm bringing it to a specialist to have a look and fix, thanks for the advice. The garage said the drier also needed to be replaced and that can't be non-OEM.

Does that sound like the garage replacing the drier at the same time time as changing the compressor because it's the standard procedure (I'm thinking waterpump-timing belt kind of thing) but that there may not be actually a fault with the drier?

Del2005

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119117634#Comment_119117634

Cars used to have manual steering and windows and we all managed fine, now they have power steering and electric windows. AC is not a luxury anymore it's essential even in Ireland, foggy windows are dangerous!

josip

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119119749#Comment_119119749

Manual steering was fine when all you had to turn was a pair of 155s on a car that weighed less than a tonne and had more turns lock to lock.

Henry Ford III

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119119749#Comment_119119749

It's still optional on some new cars.

alan partridge aha

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119115839#Comment_119115839

You can double that at least, 2014 petrol or diesel Octy (assuming good condition and ave miles) in a forecourt would be €10k +++.

Tombo2001

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119119939#Comment_119119939

I stand corrected, Done Deal the diesel model going for up to 14k, at least on list price.

alan partridge aha

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119120694#Comment_119120694

Ya fairplay, prices of all 2nd cars gone through the roof in the last year or so. Way overpriced.

Tombo2001

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119120767#Comment_119120767

I know - am trying to buy one. Its nuts. If you bought a new car two years ago, you can pretty much sell it breakeven or profit.

josip

Thanks for all the advice on here. I got the compressor replaced last week for €500. The dealer had dropped their quote to €1100 for non-OEM in the meantime and their quote included changing the drier, but it was still a no-brainer to go with the specialist Indy who had it done in 45 mins.

monseiur

Seeing that Josip (the OP) is now sorted can piggy back on this thread and ask- normally what goes wrong with air cons. Mine has stopped working, probably my own fault for not using it regularly. Vehicle is 2019 VW T6 Transporter has just under 30K miles. Should I expect a big repair bill ? Thanks.

User1998

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119235307#Comment_119235307

Usually it just needs to be re gassed (€60 or so)

If this doesn’t work there may be a leak somewhere, or the compressor could be broke. A good A/C specialist could diagnose it for you

frosty123

Yep agreed, an AC specialist is best to go to, any regular mechanic I've been to about AC made a hames of it

ednwireland

had a new condenser in my ceed. 2 years ago about 1500 at a main dealer. but the warranty on the car paid for it. Still running cold. indy wouldn't touch replacing the condenser, went to him first for a regas. but he did tell me condenser was gone.

HBC08

Brought mine to an Ac specialist today,the AC hadn't worked since I bought the car and I wasn't too bothered.It just needed regassing,€90,delighted with that.