When they look at it tomorrow, the first thing they should do is put gauges on the system and see what it shows, stagnant and while on.
Now at FIVE AC system failures in four weeks...
- Thread starter Lonny
- Start date
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I will report back as soon as I have an update from them. My frustration level is starting to get the best of me as I feel like I’ve been living in Ubers and rental cars this past month. I’m also starting to worry that there is a gremlin in there that simply can’t be traced. Bad memories of my 2010 Maxima’s recurring electrical issues that couldn’t be solved no matter what, culminating in a short circuit that caused all the windows to roll down whenever it started raining. Ugh.
UPDATE -- Just talked to the head of the shop to find out the latest. The replacement GM OEM condenser exploded! Refrigerant all over the inside of the engine compartment. So that's the good news. The bad news is that the quality of these OEM parts appears to be dreadful and we have burned through them like crazy these past few weeks. It raises a lot of concern for me about what ongoing maintenance for both the AC system and the vehicle overall will look like.
Hi guys
I’m afraid I have bad news to report. We drove to Palm Springs from San Diego in the Denali. The AC system worked great during the trip here…and now that we’re here, it’s dead yet again.
This marks the FIFTH time the system has crapped out on me in the last four weeks.
I’m at a complete loss about what to do here. Service records show all of the prescribed recommendations in this thread have been done — on multiple occasions.
Also, it’s going to be 90 degrees here in Palm Springs this week.
Open to any and all advice.
Lon
I’m afraid I have bad news to report. We drove to Palm Springs from San Diego in the Denali. The AC system worked great during the trip here…and now that we’re here, it’s dead yet again.
This marks the FIFTH time the system has crapped out on me in the last four weeks.
I’m at a complete loss about what to do here. Service records show all of the prescribed recommendations in this thread have been done — on multiple occasions.
Also, it’s going to be 90 degrees here in Palm Springs this week.
Open to any and all advice.
Lon
What exactly is failing when the system stops working? You likely have said but I am lazy and don't want to go look.
It stops blowing cold. The air doesn’t get anything below “slightly cooler than the outside air.” I can put it on Max Cold and comfortably hold my hand in front of the vents for a hour without feeling the slightest discomfort. They get it working at the shop and it’s BLASTING cold air and then a day or two later it stops.
Ok, it does not sound like a mechanical failure. I want to know what is causing the problem. You are telling me the result of something that is taking place. What is taking place to cause this problem. Is it a leak? Pressures not registering correctly? Blend doors closing or partially closing? System freezing up? You have a supplied a list of what they have replaced but what is causing the problem?
RoadTrip
Full Access Member
You are getting great advice here, but I’ll say it more bluntly: Replace every damn component in the system because that debris is throughout the entire system and they’ll never get it clean enough not to plug up lines, causing extreme pressure (your blowout) or jamming the compressor (any of the previous 3 replacements).
I’ve been down this road before a few times, and have wasted so much time chasing problems and wrecking other components.
You’ll have to get your service manager on board. He’ll actually make more money if it’s not fixed right because you’ll have to keep coming back.
I’ve been down this road before a few times, and have wasted so much time chasing problems and wrecking other components.
You’ll have to get your service manager on board. He’ll actually make more money if it’s not fixed right because you’ll have to keep coming back.
UPDATE - I had to drive the Denali tonight and the AC appeared to be working a little better than earlier today. It could just be due to the fact that it was 90 degrees here in Palm Springs. But again, I drove 15 minutes each way to a restaurant with one hand in front of a vent both ways, and the AC set to max cold.
In terms of the work that has been done thus far from the past four AC system failures (working from memory as my documentation is at home in San Diego):
-Four new compressors
-Three new condensers
-Four total system flushes
-Three total system leak checks
-Belt replacement
-Four refrigerant recharges
There may be a few additional items I am forgetting. Notably, the most recent condenser failure was due to a bad weld on the part that caused the unit to essentially blow apart. I had a long chat with the shop manager and he mentioned that parts failures are to blame in all of this - at least, that’s what I’ve been told.
In terms of the work that has been done thus far from the past four AC system failures (working from memory as my documentation is at home in San Diego):
-Four new compressors
-Three new condensers
-Four total system flushes
-Three total system leak checks
-Belt replacement
-Four refrigerant recharges
There may be a few additional items I am forgetting. Notably, the most recent condenser failure was due to a bad weld on the part that caused the unit to essentially blow apart. I had a long chat with the shop manager and he mentioned that parts failures are to blame in all of this - at least, that’s what I’ve been told.
So, the abundance of crud in the system is still trapped in the evaporator. Bits and pieces and chunks are working loose and going on vacation inside the system. The evaporator is not absorbing heat efficiently.
