Air Conditioner Leak

[morsegeek]

My AC stopped working over the weekend. I took my car in today and they said it's most likely a refrigerant leak. I'm being charged $150 for a recharge (since it's out of warranty after the first year) and they hope that they'll discover the leak the next time it happens due to dye that they'll add to the refrigerant. This means I could be charged $300 for something that is covered under warranty: the actual leak. Since the source of the problem is under warranty, wouldn't it make sense for Hyundai to cover the problems that are a result of the leak?

I have a 2009 V6 Genesis.

 

[CapoCriminali]

A/C refrigerant leaks are only covered for 1 year? That's absurd, especially if it's a hose or something else that's leaking it. I'd fight 'em over it, but I haven't read the warranty thoroughly. It just sounds like a lot of crud to me.

 

[morsegeek]

It does say in the warranty that refrigerant recharges are only covered for the first year but it seems to me that if that recharge is necessitated by the failure of a warranty part (i.e. the leak or whatever caused the refrigerant to need to be replaced) then the damage caused by that warranty part should also be covered.

I've called Hyundai USA to see if there's anything they can do. Has anyone else had experience with this or similar?

 

[tjc78]

That really makes no sense, as A/C is a closed system. If its leaking there is a defective part somewhere. I could see them not covering damage to the condenser from a rock or something but that is rare.

If they find a leak after the $150 recharge do they reimburse you because it was a warranty issue?

 

[PINGGOLF]

FIGHT IT! That's the biggest pile of BS I've heard in a while. The only way it would leak is if its a bad part somewhere or somehow it got bumped, nicked, or poked without you knowing about it. IF and ONLY IF they can prove that YOU did something to it than you would have to pay. If that were the case...go to autozone and buy the kit yourself. From what I have heard, the fittings are universal.

If its a bad part somewhere, they should eat the cost. Give Hyundai USA a call...

Keep us posted.

 

[morsegeek]

In the end, although I was prepared to fight the cost, I didn't end up having to pay anyway.

I called Hyundai USA thinking that perhaps Genesis owners would get better treatment and I'd find an understanding agent ready to pressure the dealership or reimburse me for the stupid cost. No dice. He explained that since the recharge was out of warranty the cost was on me even though the recharge was only necessitated by a warrantied leak.

When I had first arrived at the dealership I explained to the service tech that based on my understanding of the problem, looking at schematics and other experiences, I suspected the compressor pump had seized. (See this description of a compressor failure on this site, which matched my experience quite well: http://www.genesisowners.com/hyundai-genesis-forum/showthread.php?t=2533&highlight=compressor ) He more or less dismissed me with a cursory "we'll look at it". He then came back with the leak story and the $150 refrigerant recharge cost.

After recharging the problem persisted. They put one of their "platinum" techs on the problem and about an hour later, sure enough: the compressor pump had seized. It does feel nice to be right.

Since the recharge was unrelated to the problem anyway, they did not charge me for that of course. Too bad; I was prepared for a fight.

In fairness to them, apparently this was the first case of a compressor pump seizing in a Genesis in Minnesota or anywhere nearby so they had reason not to suspect it. Still, I hope no one else gets told they'll have to pay part of the costs of a warrantied repair.

My compressor should be replaced by Friday, when they get it in.

 

[Cut-Throat]

In the end, although I was prepared to fight the cost, I didn't end up having to pay anyway.

I called Hyundai USA thinking that perhaps Genesis owners would get better treatment and I'd find an understanding agent ready to pressure the dealership or reimburse me for the stupid cost. No dice. He explained that since the recharge was out of warranty the cost was on me even though the recharge was only necessitated by a warrantied leak.

When I had first arrived at the dealership I explained to the service tech that based on my understanding of the problem, looking at schematics and other experiences, I suspected the compressor pump had seized. (See this description of a compressor failure on this site, which matched my experience quite well: http://www.genesisowners.com/hyundai-genesis-forum/showthread.php?t=2533&highlight=compressor ) He more or less dismissed me with a cursory "we'll look at it". He then came back with the leak story and the $150 refrigerant recharge cost.

After recharging the problem persisted. They put one of their "platinum" techs on the problem and about an hour later, sure enough: the compressor pump had seized. It does feel nice to be right.

Since the recharge was unrelated to the problem anyway, they did not charge me for that of course. Too bad; I was prepared for a fight.

In fairness to them, apparently this was the first case of a compressor pump seizing in a Genesis in Minnesota or anywhere nearby so they had reason not to suspect it. Still, I hope no one else gets told they'll have to pay part of the costs of a warrantied repair.

My compressor should be replaced by Friday, when they get it in.

What dealership did you have it fixed at.

 

[morsegeek]

What dealership did you have it fixed at.

Morrie's 394 Hyundai in St. Louis Park

 

[20124.6]

That really makes no sense, as A/C is a closed system. If its leaking there is a defective part somewhere. I could see them not covering damage to the condenser from a rock or something but that is rare.

If they find a leak after the $150 recharge do they reimburse you because it was a warranty issue?

it maybe rare for a rock to hit it but it hit mine and they are not covering it. i still think BS as other manufactures have covered similiar issues with road hazzard problems

 

[OneFunGenesis]

Hi there. Please try to pay mind to the last post date in the upper left hand corner of the last post. This is a three year old thread, and therefore might not need to be bumped. For future reference! Thanks!!

OFG

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