AC Clutch Short Circuit and Dispute with a Dealer

[OggyOggy]

Ok, I'm in a battle with a local RAM dealer who conducted a routine oil change on my truck and now the AC compressor is showing a short. Before I tell the story... has anyone else experienced a short circuit in their AC compressor clutch?

Here's what happened. Went to the dealer for an oil change. Left but noted the AC knobs all in different positions, thought nothing more about it. 2 days later when the temps here in SOCAL went I find the A/C isn't working. I slid under the truck to see how hard the compressor was to replace if I had to do that and saw 2 wires hanging below/next to the oil filter. I felt around and found that they were the wires which go into the connector to the A/C clutch. RAM admitted damaging the wires and connector and repaired them. During the repair they "discovered" the clutch had a short in it and now didn't work. They refuse to repair the compressor/clutch because it "exceeds their good will repair policy".

Ya, it's getting ugly. But during our argument they claim that clutch short circuits are common. Are they? I know an ASE Master Mechanic who was a RAM diesel tech for years and he said he'd never run across one.

 

[mwilson]

I'm trying to picture what they did, must have gotten the A/C clutch wires bound up in the filter wrench or caught them with the handle??

If they pulled the harness hard enough to rip the wires out of the connector then it is also reasonable to figure they might have pulled one out of the coil magnet behind the clutch where it cant be seen..are they saying "Short" or is it "Open Circuit"??

The only option here is a new compressor and they know it....

How many miles on your truck???

 

[OggyOggy]

I'm trying to picture what they did, must have gotten the A/C clutch wires bound up in the filter wrench or caught them with the handle??

If they pulled the harness hard enough to rip the wires out of the connector then it is also reasonable to figure they might have pulled one out of the coil magnet behind the clutch where it cant be seen..are they saying "Short" or is it "Open Circuit"??

The only option here is a new compressor and they know it....

How many miles on your truck???

62k miles. Thats exactly what I think the tech did. The wires on the engine side were completely yanked out and the connector itself damaged with the red locking tab gone. They said short circuit. Heres what t saw...

 

[TMyers]

I have a friend that let the dealership do the annual state inspection while his vehicle was having other work done. At the time, NC required a windshield sticker. When the service tech went to scrape off the old sticker, his dash got sliced. They first denied it but after several, ugly phone calls, they replaced his dash pad.

I would tell the dealership that the AC worked fine when I brought the truck here. If they didn't find the broken wires until after they started the vehicle, who knows where the wire brunt through and shorted.

 

[Bob4x4]

Go up the chain of command to the general manager of the store.Be respectful and show him the pics of the initial damage.Failing clutches are not rare on the 3rd gens however I have not dealt with any on the 4th gens.The parts dept can pull up the avg numbers for the weekly demand

 

[OggyOggy]

yup, I've done all that and they simply deny they caused the damage.

 

[OggyOggy]

i intended to do that but no one will will answer their phone and they are never there when I go in. I'm talking service manager, general manager, and even owner. I think this will require a lawyer. Luckily I have a legal insurance policy.

 

[Bob4x4]

i intended to do that but no one will will answer their phone and they are never there when I go in. I'm talking service manager, general manager, and even owner. I think this will require a lawyer. Luckily I have a legal insurance policy.

Small claims court,show the judge your evidence.no lawyer required unless you need assistance in prep

 

[Busa Dave]

i intended to do that but no one will will answer their phone and they are never there when I go in. I'm talking service manager, general manager, and even owner. I think this will require a lawyer. Luckily I have a legal insurance policy.

Small Claims Court is the answer here. 67k --- make them an offer to pay say 25% of the cost of a new ac compressor. Going to need one anyway in the long term.

 

[mwilson]

Small claims court,show the judge your evidence.no lawyer required unless you need assistance in prep

That's exactly how it works in Maine, wasn't sure about California.

Save your pictures, get it repaired elsewhere, pay and save the repair bill and then take it to small claims. Pretty sure it will go your way....also document the lack of response to show you tried to reach out for a resolution more than once.

 

[Bob4x4]

yup, I've done all that and they simply deny they caused the damage.

Victorville?

 

[OggyOggy]

Victorville?

Yes that's the place.

 

[6V92TA]

Small claims court,show the judge your evidence.no lawyer required unless you need assistance in prep

I'll second that. it isn't an expensive repair to fix that, so paying an attorney would be a waste of time. you have pictures, get the repair done or do it yourself. then take yourself down to the local small claims court. I bet they will pay you before they waste their time going to court.

 

[6V92TA]

Small claims court,show the judge your evidence.no lawyer required unless you need assistance in prep

I'll second that. it isn't an expensive repair to fix that, so paying an attorney would be a waste of time. you have pictures, get the repair done or do it yourself. then take yourself down to the local small claims court. I bet they will pay you before they waste their time going to court.

 

[OggyOggy]

I'll second that. it isn't an expensive repair to fix that, so paying an attorney would be a waste of time. you have pictures, get the repair done or do it yourself. then take yourself down to the local small claims court. I bet they will pay you before they waste their time going to court.

Luckily I have legal insurance. Hasn't cost me a dime and they've sent a demand letter to the dealer already.