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2005 Equinox-2 A/C issues and advice on dealership
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goksucats
Novice
Jun 7, 2009, 8:29 AM
Post #1 of 9
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2005 Equinox-2 A/C issues and advice on dealership
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Hey folks.. newbie here. I have a 2005 Chev Equinox with 3.4L V6 and 41k I purchased from a new/used car dealer here in Kansas City 6-7 months ago. I say that primarily so that you know that I purchased it from a dealer that not only sells used GM cars, but new ones as well (and they haven't been ordered closed). I purchased it with 32,000 miles on it back in November 2008, but out of factory warranty as I now have 41,000 miles and it's older than 3 years. I also have since passed the 3 month/3,000 mile warranty the dealer provides. As summer has come on.. I noticed a strange occurrence as I've begun using the A/C. On the passenger side of the car, the two vents were blowing pretty cold air, but the driver side two vents were blowing much warmer air. I noticed this a couple of weeks ago after I started using the A/C. I thought it was odd, and I jumped out of the car and looked under the hood.. (I know nothing about cars, so bare with me here), I could see the metal hose with, what appeared to be the freon filler nozzle, and it was dripping from condensation and was cold to the touch (I assume that is the way it is supposed to be). Fast forward a week or two, and it's been really pretty hot the past couple of days, and it hasn't seemingly been working as wel, but that's partly probably because it's so hot, but it still is blowing cooler air on the passenger side of the car than it is on the driver's side. I also noticed today, that metal line that was dripping because of condensation, was no longer cold today with the engine running and the a/c going. I could, however, hear the compressor kick on and off when I turned the A/C on and off. Does that sound like I have two problems? My friend told me he thought perhaps teh doors that controlled where the air was blowing from behind the dash was faulty, and that was why half teh vents were cool, and half weren't. But I also assume that metal hose is supposed to be cold, and it's not. Please don't tell me I have two problems  EEK!
In addition, how do you think I should handle it with the dealer. Again, this wasn't some corner car lot, this was a major dealership that has several different dealerships here in the KC Metro that sell everything from Nissan's, Acura's, etc. to Chevrolets that I only purchased it from 7 months ago in the dead of winter when I wouldn't have been aware of an A/C problem. They apparently went through some 150 point inspection, but you know how that goes. Don't you think the dealership should work with me, and perhaps pay for at least the labor, if I pay for the parts? It's not like something went out while I was driving it. The A/C likely had issues when I purchased it, but there was no way for me to know it. Any help/input/advice is appreciated on this matter.
thanks in advance.
(had to remove all hyper links to other concerns on the web probably unknown to you but copy and pasted questions bring the first site's sponsor's with them. Tom G)
(This post was edited by Tom Greenleaf on Jun 7, 2009, 12:45 PM)
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Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky
/ Moderator
Jun 7, 2009, 2:51 PM
Post #2 of 9
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Re: 2005 Equinox-2 A/C issues and advice on dealership
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Unless this has dual temp controls this is a common symptom of low charge. That needs pressures taken - filled to proper charge so verify that it's operational as intended and then find the leak if in fact it's found low.
The sweating line and condensate (water) dripping is normal even if you barely get cool air. If you see frost it also means a problem still usually low charge. If you just shut the engine off and looked the frost would be gone that fast and the line dripping wet.
This is near certainly just a leak but what is leaking and how fast takes some pro help as you said you aren't too car savvy so let a shop (non dealer independents are just fine) that DO specialize in A/C check this out.
In a car this new (for me this is new and low miles) a leak can be anything anywhere but it only takes one good stone thru the grille to damage the "condenser" (radiator for A/C refrigerant only) which is in front of the vehicle's cooling system radiator for the engine so it get the first hit with road debris. Bet that's what they find and NO it isn't the worst of problems but isn't free either.
I'm not going to go into how to fix this yourself as you said you aren't likely to and it takes equipment and know how even for simple things. You can look for oily spots on that condenser which is a pretty good sign that is the trouble. Too new with a good history is bought from a dealer it probably was a choice used car so short of bad luck with other things I'd bet on road debris no different than getting a nail in a tire except you really can't fix the condenser if so.
Get it checked for low charge - make sure it works when charged and find the leak which I'm almost sure of.
Good luck - hope it's an easy fix,
T
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goksucats
Novice
Jun 7, 2009, 3:54 PM
Post #3 of 9
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Re: 2005 Equinox-2 A/C issues and advice on dealership
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Wow Tom.. thanks for the quick response. No dual temp control. If it is the condenser, are we talking about lots and lots of money here? Like over$500? Or are we less than $500 with labor? I'm just curious what you think would be considered fair on a repair like this. I could see the dealer not working with me on this issue if it's teh condenser, as that would have probably occurred while I owned it.
(This post was edited by goksucats on Jun 7, 2009, 4:23 PM)
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goksucats
Novice
Jun 7, 2009, 4:22 PM
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Re: 2005 Equinox-2 A/C issues and advice on dealership
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I don't know Tom.. the condenser is a beautiful bright shiny silver all across the front that I can see. It shows behind the grille, and strangely (and a bad idea by Chevy if you as me) through the front air dam as well. Looks like a target if you know what I mean ;-) But it looks a shiny silver clean all around it. I guess we'll see.
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Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky
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Jun 7, 2009, 4:38 PM
Post #5 of 9
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Re: 2005 Equinox-2 A/C issues and advice on dealership
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A static pressure should about equal temp in Fahrenheit. If lower than 50 and outside is above 70F you have a leak.
Things get so packed in now in cars that you think the front radiator looking thing is the radiator for engine and they are totally separate and you can't see the back side for poo!
I'm guessing! Could be something else so don't get excited just yet. $500 might be realistic less or more depending on all factors - parts and time.
You can plain search for the price of a condenser and get an idea. A/C when refrigerant is involved will take special equipment the skills. I could walk you thru all that if you and I could be sure of just what's wrong but the equipment costs would far outweigh letting a shop fix it. It's always nice to be an informed customer so ask away and I'll do my best from here.
I'm far from alone here and others may have some suggestions too - take all info in as I can be off in left field with situations and hope it gets caught,
T
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goksucats
Novice
Jun 8, 2009, 7:28 AM
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Re: 2005 Equinox-2 A/C issues and advice on dealership
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Well, I'm going to take it into the dealership today to ask them to take a look at it for me and take care of it. We'll see what their attitude is, if teh condenser is leaking because of a rock, then yes I could see it being my problem. Otherwise, I just turned the A/C on for the first time a couple of weeks ago, and it hasn't really worked right the whole time. I'm just going to tell them that, when I purchase from a reputable dealer, that I expect things to work correctly the first time I try and use them. Of course neither they, nor I could have known if it was working correctly in practice in November when it's 30 degrees outside. We'll see what happens. I won't let them do the work if they won't negotiate with me. At a minimum, I certainly won't let them charge me to diagnose the issue.
(This post was edited by goksucats on Jun 8, 2009, 7:29 AM)
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Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky
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Jun 8, 2009, 7:55 AM
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Re: 2005 Equinox-2 A/C issues and advice on dealership
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Deal from a knowledge base but allow others suggestions and all won't be identical. Shops have every right to charge for diagnosis. Many will do that gratis if you get the work done there but if you go somewhere just to get an opinion or diagnosis it still takes big buck equipment sometimes to figure out what the issue is. Ask up front what a diagnosis will cost - a fixed price.
If you go somewhere and ask for a specific repair to be done and that wasn't the issue it becomes YOUR fault. Allow them to do things as they see fit. If you don't trust folks with any issue car stuff or not that's a problem of its own!
To add: This is cold country here in Massachusetts. It's damn hard to know when buying a used car if A/C is proper in cold weather. When folks have asked me to look at a car in freezing temps I ask them to put in writing that the A/C will work when the time comes even if beyond a few month time period warranty. Damage like the nail in the tire thing can happen and it's nobody's fault,
T
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goksucats
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Jun 8, 2009, 5:50 PM
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Re: 2005 Equinox-2 A/C issues and advice on dealership
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I went into the dealership this afternoon, and spoke to the salesman, who then sent me to the service department, who then sent me to the sales manager. And I spoke briefly to the sales manager and he said he'd get it looked at for me. So they pulled it in immediately, and here is the tech comment:
"CUST STATES THE AC IS NOT COLD. TECH VERIFIED CONCERN AND NOTED LOW FREON PRESSURE. TECH EVACUATED AC FREON. PULLED VAC FOUND NO IMMEDIATE CHANGES IN PRESSURE. TECH CHARGED SYSTEM AND INSTALLED UV DYE FOR FUTURE LEAK DIAGNOSIS IF NEEDED. TECH TEST AFTER BLOWING TEMP WITHIN FACTORY SPECS"
They sent me on my way without charging me, as I said I thought this was a really good group that I was dealing with. Apparently they used some type of testing tool and after 20 minutes there was no sign of pressure loss, so they couldn't determine the cause of the leak, if any. He said, as it was an auction car, you can't ever tell if the system was evacuated and perhaps never filled to specifications, but to let them know if it begins to warm up again.
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Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky
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Jun 8, 2009, 7:17 PM
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Re: 2005 Equinox-2 A/C issues and advice on dealership
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Hey - thanks for posting the good news. Auction or not it could be a choice vehicle - dealers don't want the marginal ones in most cases.
It's not unusual to find pressures off and that the cause. Leaks - perhaps you don't have one now and may not. If VERY slow it would eventually repeat the same symptoms then chase down the leak. If it takes over a year that leak could be VERY tough to isolate.
Good luck and glad to hear it's proper again,
T
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