A/C converted by Nissan dealer-broken after one month. Help

[paj240]

I have a ' 92 240sx vert with 65,000 miles. Took it to the dealer in June for a/c service. They said it would have to be converted to r134. I watched them play with it for about 5 hours through their customer window, reading instructions and looking puzzled. Finally they said it was done. It worked for one month then just quit altogether no sounds or noises, could still feel the compressor cut in, just no cooling. Took it back to the same dealer last Friday. They now tell me the compressor is blown and the symstem is full of broken parts. They gave me a quote of $1200 to fix it now. Since they appeared not to have a clue during the original service it seems they could have done something that caused the failure. I have read that using the wrong lubricant can cause the compressor to fail and that some nissan systems can not be converted with just changing the fittings and refrigerant. Any one know if there is a way to find out if the dealer was at fault??

[r3v_v3ng3]

they are mostlikely at fault for not catching what was wrong.

also they should of offered you to change whatever needed to convert it or anything they think its needed (preventative). only if they did and you declined the offer that they are not liable.

[r3v_v3ng3]

check on the work order/receipt and see what they did to it. to convert you obviously need to flush the system, use r134a refrigerant, refrigerant oil and change the receiver/drier (o-rings are also recommended).

[low91240sx]

yeah check your service reciept and see what they did sounds like they are definatley at fault

[EviL inside]

a flush is recommended, but the parts from a 95 (r134a) and 92 (r12) are identical. you can get an o-ring set from autozone cheap, and the 95 compressor and bracket bolt right up to the earlier motor. the expansion valve, condensor, evaporator, and accumulator are all the same. i've "converted" a few cars, and most of the time it was a simple fittings change and adding new charge/oil, not even worrying about pulling a vacuum on the system. worked fine, other than cheap *** aluminum conversion fittings leaking. if your compressor took a dump, it's not the shop's fault. not really any way you can see that coming.

flush the rest of your system at home, buy a 95-96 compressor on ebay, get a new drier and put it together. "conversion" done.

[preludesamsivtec]

yeah they converted it because r12 is like 80 dollars a pound. If your system had a leak then it would not be cost effective to replace with original freon since r134a is like 30 dollars a pound. there is no real way to tell if a compressor is bad until it malfunctions or makes noise and maybe at the time it did not show signs of any problems. As for the funny looks and reading instructions the techs were making, they were using a generic kit that you buy at any auto parts store it was not a nissan part. They do this to keep cost down. But in any case the first step to diagnose an a/c problems is to have it functioning and basically read the pressures, see what the temp of the air is in the cabin and make sure the a/c is draining. I work at a honda dealer and people wonder why things are so expensive to replace. maybe this will answer any questions.

[silpena]

sounds like they didnt get enough of the r12 mineral oil out. must have ruined all the o-rings. You can probably have it checked at a c shop and have them tell if there's a lot of mineral oil left. If so then thats proof it was they're fault.

[Cone Junky]

yeah they converted it because r12 is like 80 dollars a pound. If your system had a leak then it would not be cost effective to replace with original freon since r134a is like 30 dollars a pound. there is no real way to tell if a compressor is bad until it malfunctions or makes noise and maybe at the time it did not show signs of any problems. As for the funny looks and reading instructions the techs were making, they were using a generic kit that you buy at any auto parts store it was not a nissan part. They do this to keep cost down. But in any case the first step to diagnose an a/c problems is to have it functioning and basically read the pressures, see what the temp of the air is in the cabin and make sure the a/c is draining. I work at a honda dealer and people wonder why things are so expensive to replace. maybe this will answer any questions.

Finally a educated answer. Don't just assume that since it was worked on a month earlier that they are responsible. If it took a month, then obviously it left the shop in perfect working order. And if you're A/C wasn't working before you brought it in, obviously you would have to get it working before they could test it.But if it's just a leak, then they might be responsible. Otherwise the technicians and service writers don't have a crystal ball to predict what might break in the future.

[EviL inside]

R134a is NOT $30 a pound, at most it's $8

mineral oil will NOT ruin the 0-rings. since it won't mix with 134a it will accumulate in the drier, which should be replaced anyways, removing most of the mineral oil anyways.

mineral oil is about the LEAST reactive/corrosive lubricant you can find, you can even DRINK it and nothing happens.

if the a/c worked for a WEEK after leaving with no noise, they did nothing wrong.

[preludesamsivtec]

buy it from a dealer and then look at your bill there is mark up in every product

[EviL inside]

yeah, most shops mark stuff up 10%, but anywhere, dealership or not, that marks up 400% is a complete rip off,,,,nothing more than a scam shack. please inform us which stealership you work at so we can make it a point to never go there. 400% is ridiculous.

things are usually expensive at a dealer because they

1. are using highly expensive OEM parts

2. charge $75+ an hour for labor, and go by book time, not actual working time.

i worked at a shop for a while after katrina, did a timing belt on a ford ranger. the book said it was a 6 hour job, i had it done in 3. owner still charged for 6 hours.

[silpena]

idk... ive seen a vid on what mineral oil does to o rings... **** crackles and swells up.. i dunno maybe it was something else.

[preludesamsivtec]

I work at honda charlotte been here for 4 years i know it sucks but thats how i make money. People dont pay me for the work they pay me for the knowledge of their car. You can take your car to any aftermarket place and if they cant fix it they have that option of saying take it to the dealer. I dont have that option. I have to fix it I am the last resort. Honestly you cant find better service techs than at the dealer. But it sucks that you dont chose who works on your car because you may get the shop foreman who is really smart or you could get the guy straight out of nascar tech who is still green.

[the technican]

I DONT WANT TO POINT FINGERS AND YOU HOPE THAT A DEALERSHIP KNOWS WHAT THEY ARE DOING, BUT AS FAR AS I KNOW NISSAN DOES NOT OFFER ANY KITS THAT CONVERT R12 TO R134a SO WHAT EVER THEY USED WAS AFTERMARKET. ITS PRETTY EASY AND SELF EXPLANITORY BUT YOU COULD HAVE HAD AN IDIOT WORKING ON IT. BUT THE OIL IN THE SYSTEM HAS TO BE CHANGED OVER TO A SYNTHETIC IF SWITCHED TO 134 AND IF SOME HOW IN THERE INFINATE WISEDOM THEY DIDNT ADD THE OIL FROM THE KIT OR SOME HOW SCREWED UP CHARGING THE SYSTEM THAT COULD HAVE CAUSED THE COMPRESSOR TO KICK THE BUCKET, AND NOW YOU NEED TO CHANGE THE RECIEVER DRYER BECAUSE OF DEBRIS IN SYSTEM I DONT THINK I WOULD GO BACK TO THEM AND GOOD LUCK ON PROVING THERE AT FAULT...THATS SUCKS. COOLER THOUGHT TO YA