[V8] Losing faith - A/C issues

[Scott Justusson]

 I use car-part all the time, I go to pick-n-pulls in chicago all the time.  I don't use or install said sourced 'used' compressors, because I got burned on them... twice.  I never got burned again after that.  Here's the problem outside your perspective.  A 'used' compressor may be good, may be bad.  Ok, many used yards will warranty the compressor.  Problem:  That means nothing to the pro putting it in.  A DIY might take the risk, no pro in their right mind would do it, because there is only one thing worse than doing A/C on a quattro.  Doing it all over again for a couple hundred bucks in compressor differential an uneducated/inexperienced customer demanded.  Any pro that's been burned won't touch a used compressor.

I can do the business model on this without a spreadsheet.  Roger can't afford to do it, and his trusted wrench can't afford to do it.  Mostly because a compressor that failed, likely spread the carnage in doing so.  Removing that is a PITA, add in a proper recharge, another receiver dryer, and quite possibly another expansion valve and/or another condenser, none of this is worth considering IMO/E.

A/C compressors fail.  In Audis, they are pretty darn robust.  Originals in the 20+ year range are the standard not the exception.  

I *just* went through this a couple months ago with a 'used' York for an Urq.  I questioned the wisdom of such a move.  But also made it clear, I am happy to put it in properly, with new receiver dryer, and  give it a thorough test and charge.  But the labor and parts and recharge fees all apply, whether it works or not.  That was a hefty bill I didn't discount a penny, that failed before it got 20miles into my test drive.  

I enjoy reading DIY, and 'how to's' on various fixes.  That said, given Roger is not a DIY, the best value for him, is to have his shop do it right the first time.  I'd be very interested to read the statistics on A/C compressors, without the skew of non-environmentally critical parts.  I bet it's either higher than 4% on A/C compressors, or I have really bad luck.

No offense intended, make sure you look at what the OP is doing, not what a DIY might be willing to accept to save a few dollars working in his garage.  Shop rate alone *just* to R&R the compressor correctly, makes used compressor savings a moot point.

HTH and my .02

Scott J



 

 

-----Original Message-----
From: kyle leatherwood <kyle_leatherwood at hotmail.com>
To: Scott Justusson <qshipq at aol.com>
Cc: CavalloGT <CavalloGT at gmail.com>; v8 <v8 at audifans.com>; rmwoodbury <rmwoodbury at fairpoint.net>
Sent: Sat, Jun 29, 2013 7:36 am
Subject: Re: [V8] Losing faith - A/C issues


Scott, 

While I agree with just about everything you wrote, I do take issue with your 
synopsis of buying a used AC compressor.  I visit over 2000 salvage yards a year 
and see the best of the best and worst of the worse.  For the most part, and I'm 
not saying all, but the days of the "junk car sitting in a field that parts are 
pulled off of" are pretty much a thing of the last thanks to the US EPA, which 
is great for us the consumer.  In a lot of cases, these yards Are similar to a 
NAPA or other parts store where cars are dismantled, parts are cleaned, tagged 
and barcoded, and put on shelves in inside warehouses.  In the example of an AC 
compressor, they usually have their ports plugged and sealed off with the same 
plastic plugs that new AC compressors come with when you buy them from an 
Autozone or a NAPA. Those parts sit on a shelf in a box with nothing more than 
some plastic plugs sealing their insides from the elements, so if removed and 
stored properly, a good used compressor will see the same storage as a new one 
using the exact same sealing methods.

While I realized that used parts are not for everyone, I have learned after 7 
years in this industry that if you ask questions the salvage yard is happy to 
answer them.  So ask, do you store your parts indoors or out on the car.  If 
they say indoors, then chances are you're gonna get a great part at a reasonable 
price.  Used parts as an industry whole have an effective failure rate of less 
than 4%, which is information gathered by some of the leading industry 
associations, and in some cases is less than re manufactured or aftermarket.

Just my 2 cents.

Kyle