The air conditioner has been replaced, it works great, and I paid what I expected, a little over $1400, including the initial diagnosis; i.e., the cost of replacing the compressor. So that’s that. Time to move on to whatever coming’s next.
Category: Life with Pratts
2002 Honda CRV A/C Black Death Compromise
A compromise has been reached with Honda. My position is that I can understand the compressor going on a car with 95,000 miles on it. But this Black Death thing, where the A/C is completely destroyed to the tune of $4000, indicates a product defect. I have agreed to pay $1300 for a compressor replacement job, and they will replace the entire system. The car goes into the shop on Thursday.
Secret Project Update
It seems likely that I am getting closer to being able to reveal the secret project I’ve mentioned occasionally for some months now. Once I’ve been released from my promise of silence I’ll let you in on the news.
2002 Honda CR-V A/C Talk
Honda of America called, and we discussed a compromise for “out of warranty” work on replacing the air conditioner. Without stating a dollar amount, I told him in what way I’m willing to be flexible. He’s contacting the dealership, and I might have a decision before the end of the day.
2002 Honda CR-V A/C: $4000 est.
Take a look at this estimate from Bernardi Honda of Natick, MA, for a completely new air conditioning system for a 2002 Honda CRV: $4000
“Compressor Damaged Internally” doesn’t sound like normal wear to me. I’m looking for some honesty and flexibility from Honda of America, and I’d better get it. For starters, I’m already out $108 for the estimate.
I also had the dealer check the driver’s seat. It locks into position, but it feels like a rocking chair when stopping and starting. A couple of loose bolts? Nah. Try a whole new base for over $500. I wonder if the seat as is would be safe in a crash?
What happened, Honda?? These sorts of problems didn’t used to happen.
2002 Honda CRV A/C Black Death
Honda of America — 800-999-1009 — had no record of the dealer calling about the diagnosis of the 2002 CRV air conditioner failure, which has been termed “Black Death.” Honda of America now says they want only the customer contacting them. Very strange. Bernardi Honda of Natick, Massachusetts is a Honda dealer, and you’d think they would have a better communication path than me calling the 800 number. Obviously, this is all done to discourage consumers from trying to get satisfaction. Anyway, the case supposedly has been forwarded to a regional manager, who will contact me in the next day or two, to discuss the situation.
I sure hope Honda comes up with a reasonable response, because A/C Black Death is a common complaint with second generation CRV’s. As the good guys say in Star Wars when dealing with the Empire, “I’ve got a bad feeling about this.” But I should point out that there are FOUR of these CRV’s on our street alone, and I would hope Honda of America is savvy enough to have a database, and check it, before they leave me high and dry.