2002 1.6 Stilo.
My air con wasn't working, so took it into the Fiat dealer. They dianosed the usual broken pipe and priced up the job at £120 inc. regassing. Fair enough I thought. Anyway, after changing the pipe they told me that the condensor had a hole, so that part would need replacing too. They quoted £230 for the part and about £120 for the labour. I decided not to go ahead as it was becoming an expensive £480 job. So I just paid them £80 for the pipe fitted.
Fortunately I managed to to buy a new in box condensor off Ebay for £95 inc. p and p. I then thought that if a Fiat Dealer was going to charge £120 for labour to fit it I ought to be able to get it done for £60-£80 at an 'independent'. Yet when I went to a local one that had been recommended to me, they said it is a 'big job'....you have to dismantle the fan, drop the radiator which means having to replace the coolant..... Said it would take best part of a day! Seemed like another air 'con' to me!
I'm bemused.
Is the air con condensor replacement that complicated? Will the Fiat dealer fit my supplied condensor for £120 having not pocketed their profit on the part? will they even fit parts they haven't supplied?
Mainly, how long does it take and how much should a competent mechanic/garage charge to replace the condensor? A re-gass I presume is about £60 wherever you go?
Obviously having no air con is a nuiscance rather than a an essential repair, but having bought the condensor I'd like to get the system running again at some point at a fair price.
My air con wasn't working, so took it into the Fiat dealer. They dianosed the usual broken pipe and priced up the job at £120 inc. regassing. Fair enough I thought. Anyway, after changing the pipe they told me that the condensor had a hole, so that part would need replacing too. They quoted £230 for the part and about £120 for the labour. I decided not to go ahead as it was becoming an expensive £480 job. So I just paid them £80 for the pipe fitted.
Fortunately I managed to to buy a new in box condensor off Ebay for £95 inc. p and p. I then thought that if a Fiat Dealer was going to charge £120 for labour to fit it I ought to be able to get it done for £60-£80 at an 'independent'. Yet when I went to a local one that had been recommended to me, they said it is a 'big job'....you have to dismantle the fan, drop the radiator which means having to replace the coolant..... Said it would take best part of a day! Seemed like another air 'con' to me!
I'm bemused.
Is the air con condensor replacement that complicated? Will the Fiat dealer fit my supplied condensor for £120 having not pocketed their profit on the part? will they even fit parts they haven't supplied?
Mainly, how long does it take and how much should a competent mechanic/garage charge to replace the condensor? A re-gass I presume is about £60 wherever you go?
Obviously having no air con is a nuiscance rather than a an essential repair, but having bought the condensor I'd like to get the system running again at some point at a fair price.
