Wanted to provide a post on the forum regarding what I have learned on an A/C problem that I have. on my 2018 post plant renovation car with 2K miles.

Three times noticed PAG oil on the bottom of the cross hatch alloy frame cross member after driving. The first time, there was a small puddle of PAG oil on the garage floor. This is what clued me in to looking underneath.

Color is clear with a slight green tinge.

Traced the leak to the over pressure release valve on the bottom side of the compressor. This was very hard to do because it cannot be easily seen.

Verified that fan was coming on when A/C was switched on and that compressor was cycling appropriately. Actual cooling experienced gave no indication of a potential A/C problem in 90 degree Florida weather. Everything appeared fine. However research indicated that you can lose up to 40% of refrigerant and still retain adequate cooling and operation.

After many months of this, finally took the car into dealership (one hour away due to valid local dealer incompetence fear) and asked that they assess why PAG oil was leaking. Fully expected them to say that the pressure relief valve, a $25 part needed to be replaced. Instead they said the compressor would have to be replaced because there was potential damage from not having enough PAG oil in the system.They said they do not just replace the pressure relief valve even though it is a serviceable part.

But here is where it gets interesting. Turns out that this is an 8 hour job as the front cradle must be lowered and the engine unbolted in order to gain access to the compressor. I argued that such surgery was not necessary, that I had read it would be possible to come in from the top by removing the alternator or even possibly through wheel well. However, they said that was not the way to do it properly.

Just providing this for information in case anyone else sees PAG oil leaking as I had to spend a lot of time searching the C7 forum and pretty much came up empty handed on this one.

 

Wow - a dealer insisting on doing more warranty work than you asked for. That's rare.

I hope your A/C stays Frosty.

 

Max Power- reminds me of when Homer Simpson was looking to change his name to something really cool. Saw a hair dryer with words "Max Power" and voila he became Max Power

 

^^^
LOL - I've had this handle for longer than I can remember and it's based on that Simpson's episode.

 

I have always enjoyed the Simpsons (they are funny because its true) and have seen most episodes. With regards to my screen name of "Frosty" it is ironic that the only issue I have had to date is A/C! Actually my wife named my car Frosty McCool because it is Arctic White and its so cool; so I chose the screen name Frosty. Always a story behind names.

 

Damn, I hate to see how much work is necessary to get at the compressor. My A/C cools fine but I have always had a whine with the A/C on that is apparent between 2500 and 3000 engine RPM. I never took it to the dealer for this whilst in the 3/36 figuring that I could just fix it if it ever got worse.... but the cradle lowering and such would be too much in my teeny garage. I love my car but the list of routine repairs that require hours and hours of labor and probably special tools seems to grow in my awareness daily. Never had one before but maybe an extended warranty is not such a bad idea.

 

I too love this car. I really think it is the best car I have ever owned in terms of looks and performance. But I have had two problems with components failing- the A/C compressor and my infotainment screen has an intermittent connection at the screen end. Both require the equivalent of major surgery to correct. The A/C requires the compressor to be replaced when the apparent problem is a faulty over pressure relief valve. The infotainment screen connection issue requires the whole screen to be replaced unless you jury rig a connection as others have done, and this requires the entire dash and center console to be removed. And its not just this lack of design for maintainability and sub-component replacement. I also perceive less than ideal logistics and supply. You can almost guarantee that most Chevrolet dealerships that do not emphasize Corvette sales and service, do not keep many (if any) replacement parts in stock, preferring to order the part when needed for a repair As I have just found out, if you are lucky and the part is not back-ordered, GM doesn't seem to have a standard policy of over-night delivery, and it is more like 2-3 days. Thus my car will have been at the dealership sitting on the rack for a week for an A/C problem. Several days seems to be the norm when you take your car to the dealership for non-maintenance repairs.

 

I have done my own A/C work for a loooong time. The hardest compressor replacement I ever did was on my 1994 Z28. I got it out somehow in a non-standard way instead of doing the disassembly in the manual but years later when I was doing an oil change or whatever I looked at it and for the life of me couldn't see how on earth I was able to do that. And the C7 seems like an even harder task.

Yes, C7 easily the best performing car I have ever owned. My guess is that they neglect doing the work necessary to engineer in maintainability in order to cut costs. But some of this stuff makes me shake my head ruefully. The 2 examples here, plus things like not even being able to bleed the clutch slave cylinder without major disassembly.... Some other stuff I heard that escapes me now. And while maybe not the infotainment issue some of this other stuff is inevitable and almost a given at some point if you keep the car for the long term.

 

Yes. I agree. I always do my own work but since the car is in warranty, it is an easy decision to take it to the dealer, although deciding on which dealer to take it to was not without anxiety. I am hoping that I am just going through a "sorting out phase". I am not excited about the idea of expensive, not easily attainable parts and having to remove a ton of stuff to correct an issue. However I think this is the nature of nearly all new cars- they are not made for the shade tree mechanic.

 

Valve may be the only thing needed but as you may know the dealer or any mechanic sees gold. tear everything apart and bill GM. Do you have any Vette shops in your area ? Asecond opinion seems in order to me.

 

Exactly. If GM is willing to pay them for an 8 hour job, they'll claim it as an 8 hour job. Even if they know some secret trick to wiggle the compressor out and reinstall it in 90 minutes.

 

This is my suspicion as well. I saw the pressure relief valve and you can remove it with a wrench. It is a $25 part.

There is a dedicated Corvette only shop in my area (about 35 miles). http://www.thevettedoctorinc.com/index.html

However the cost of a warranty is incorporated in the purchase price of the car, so it will most certainly be dealerships until it is out of warranty.

Others have reported on this forum that you can remove the compressor by first removing the alternator, serpentine belt etc, or you might be able to come in through the fender well. Either of those has to be less time than dropping the front engine subframe and raising the engine

 

The real problem happens if/when they behave that way towards loyal paying unsuspecting customers.