AHudson777
Enthusiast
When I first got my Viper (2000 GTS, 11k miles) last fall, we had a few hot days left in the season. The local seller told me his AC wasn't cold anymore, and the dealer had quoted something that - to me - sounded a bit outrageous for "a hose" replacement around $700. The seller was nice enough to deduct that from our negotiated price, and I promptly went to the dealer, who replaced said hose for "only" $525 or so. Oddly, I felt fairly good about that given the adjustment toward "my" side.
Whatever. The air blew cold for the very few times I used it.
This spring, it got hot and sadly, so did the AC. I think, "Same hose, didn't hold the pressure" and went to the dealer who agreed it "might" be the same, he'd check.
No such luck.
Said it was another hose, PLUS my condenser, PLUS some O-rings. Quote? $1,790. The condenser alone was $810. I normally don't let my disgust show so readily, but I said, "Button it up, forget it, I'll come get it". They understandably charged me $85 for the honor and I took my car to an independent, WITHOUT telling him any of this story other than my air was blowing hot.
My instructions to him were if he needed ANY dealer part to order from Tator.
Calls me today. Says refrigerant poured out of the O-rings ONLY. Two of them (in and out of condenser). He replaced, rechecked (twice), all's well. Says condenser is perfect, hoses holding fine. I don't have his bill (will report later), but can only assume it to be a FRACTION of the silly $1800 quote.
A warning to those who've gotten what they think is an exorbitant quote should get a second opinion. Further, this MAY be "Dodge policy" but an unfruitful one to keep me OUT of the dealership as opposed to keeping me in. That is, my wife's new car will assuredly NOT come from this dealership, nor sadly, will any subsequent Viper work unless flat out mandatory. Even that will be with skeptical not trusting eyes.
Whatever. The air blew cold for the very few times I used it.
This spring, it got hot and sadly, so did the AC. I think, "Same hose, didn't hold the pressure" and went to the dealer who agreed it "might" be the same, he'd check.
No such luck.
Said it was another hose, PLUS my condenser, PLUS some O-rings. Quote? $1,790. The condenser alone was $810. I normally don't let my disgust show so readily, but I said, "Button it up, forget it, I'll come get it". They understandably charged me $85 for the honor and I took my car to an independent, WITHOUT telling him any of this story other than my air was blowing hot.
My instructions to him were if he needed ANY dealer part to order from Tator.
Calls me today. Says refrigerant poured out of the O-rings ONLY. Two of them (in and out of condenser). He replaced, rechecked (twice), all's well. Says condenser is perfect, hoses holding fine. I don't have his bill (will report later), but can only assume it to be a FRACTION of the silly $1800 quote.
A warning to those who've gotten what they think is an exorbitant quote should get a second opinion. Further, this MAY be "Dodge policy" but an unfruitful one to keep me OUT of the dealership as opposed to keeping me in. That is, my wife's new car will assuredly NOT come from this dealership, nor sadly, will any subsequent Viper work unless flat out mandatory. Even that will be with skeptical not trusting eyes.