Dealer Installed A/C

[Riderkjo]

We're getting Weather Tech mats as part of the sale. It was a make or break because the dealer refused to drop the price by that last hundred dollars, so we told them we're walking out.
Salesman-"Are you really going to walk away over floor mats?!"
Wife-"Are you really going to lose a guaranteed sale over floor mats?"
Salesman-"uh, I'll be right back"

I'm taking my thermometer to test their 'OEM equivalent aftermarket AC'. The spec sheet for the JK says the air vent temperature should be 40-50 degrees, so I'll assume it's the same for a JL.

Sponsored

 

[sprtpilot]

You should not accept an aftermarket AC, you will have nothing but trouble with it.

AC is part of a system interconnected throughout the vehicle, idle speed, rpm, cooling, electrical load all depend on communicating with AC (actually the entirety of HVAC). No aftermarket AC can do this.

No one will ever be able to or want to work on it.

Your car is tainted at resell, you will have to divulge this.

Your car is worth less because of the hack mod.

It will never continue to function correctly long-term (or even short-term).

You will have serious cooling system problems.

You will jeopardize other warranty areas of you car like electrical and powertrain.

 

[RubenZ]

Unfortunately we drove the vehicle off the lot in late April and the license plates came in last week, so I think it's too late to back out now.
I called the sales manager today and he promised that it would be ready tomorrow, clean and with a full tank of gas. I'm just wondering if I can leverage any last minute compensation..

Late April is not that long ago? I bet you can still back out of that deal. I bet dealers have done something like that with the right amount of pull.

 

[Riderkjo]

After calling and leaving a message for 3 different people, the salesman called my wife and told her that the vehicle is still in the AC shop because the computer needs to be calibrated to the unit. This is the same guy that told us multiple times that our Jeep was in the shop, then told us the next day that parts weren't ordered yet.
The sales/service managers and the GM have not returned my calls. At what point do I start leaving bags of dog poo at their door?

 

[GreyFox]

After calling and leaving a message for 3 different people, the salesman called my wife and told her that the vehicle is still in the AC shop because the computer needs to be calibrated to the unit. This is the same guy that told us multiple times that our Jeep was in the shop, then told us the next day that parts weren't ordered yet.
The sales/service managers and the GM have not returned my calls. At what point do I start leaving bags of dog poo at their door?

Now

 

[word302]

After calling and leaving a message for 3 different people, the salesman called my wife and told her that the vehicle is still in the AC shop because the computer needs to be calibrated to the unit. This is the same guy that told us multiple times that our Jeep was in the shop, then told us the next day that parts weren't ordered yet.
The sales/service managers and the GM have not returned my calls. At what point do I start leaving bags of dog poo at their door?

Honestly if talk to an attorney.

 

[apettit7]

We're getting Weather Tech mats as part of the sale. It was a make or break because the dealer refused to drop the price by that last hundred dollars, so we told them we're walking out.
Salesman-"Are you really going to walk away over floor mats?!"
Wife-"Are you really going to lose a guaranteed sale over floor mats?"
Salesman-"uh, I'll be right back"

I'm taking my thermometer to test their 'OEM equivalent aftermarket AC'. The spec sheet for the JK says the air vent temperature should be 40-50 degrees, so I'll assume it's the same for a JL.

Here is a video on the JK & JL AC:

 

[DaltonGang]

Here is a video on the JK & JL AC:

Very good video, so we can use it as a standard, for our Jeeps.


.

 

[cjaama]

I don’t like that they’re not using factory parts, but I wouldn’t be surprised if that was a miscommunication. If it’s non-OEM, why did the dealer need to order parts?

I’d probably trust a shop that does nothing but install a/c in vehicles to do it over a dealership that may have never done it. Perhaps the computer synchronization will either be done at the dealership or happen automatically.

Anyone telling you to work on a buy-back is delusional. You bought a Jeep without a/c, the dealer promised to have it retrofitted. They’re having it retrofitted, albeit it at a longer timeframe than they quoted you. The OEM vs. aftermarket is the only thing you can really bust them on and that’s only if you have it in writing.

Have some faith that it will come out working properly. Hey, maybe it’ll work even better than the factory unit.

 

[roaniecowpony]

After calling and leaving a message for 3 different people, the salesman called my wife and told her that the vehicle is still in the AC shop because the computer needs to be calibrated to the unit. This is the same guy that told us multiple times that our Jeep was in the shop, then told us the next day that parts weren't ordered yet.
The sales/service managers and the GM have not returned my calls. At what point do I start leaving bags of dog poo at their door?

Sounds like you got a bait n switch deal. Sorry you're going thru this. Does TX have BBB? If so, contact them and see if they arbitrate vehicle sales issues. I did that with a truck I bought in CA about 20 years ago. Didn't cost a dime and got a buy-back 100% of sale +tax/lic, etc.

 

[Riderkjo]

I don’t like that they’re not using factory parts, but I wouldn’t be surprised if that was a miscommunication. If it’s non-OEM, why did the dealer need to order parts?

I’d probably trust a shop that does nothing but install a/c in vehicles to do it over a dealership that may have never done it. Perhaps the computer synchronization will either be done at the dealership or happen automatically.

Anyone telling you to work on a buy-back is delusional. You bought a Jeep without a/c, the dealer promised to have it retrofitted. They’re having it retrofitted, albeit it at a longer timeframe than they quoted you. The OEM vs. aftermarket is the only thing you can really bust them on and that’s only if you have it in writing.

Have some faith that it will come out working properly. Hey, maybe it’ll work even better than the factory unit.

They were careful to avoid getting too much in writing, but they have until Saturday before I'm able to pay them another visit.
Even if everything works properly, I'm still going to follow my Great Pyrenees around until he makes a present for the dealer.

 

[D60]

OP I'm no help but please keep updating, and ignore those saying you're stupid.

Most of us are pulling for you. I don't envy you but I see where you're coming from.

 

[Fatman]

Ive done this install a few to many times over the years, the late model cars have made it simpler and simpler every year, half day job may 6 hours tops.
Now aftermarket parts for a JL feel like they are almost non existent oem parts arent much better.
The bolt on air vs oem is noting like it was in the past, if the dealer does what they should and add the sales code which i believe they mentioned warranty already so unless some UCM is looking to not make a deal when and if you ever trade, its unlikely anyone will even know. The compressor is probably even made in the same factory.
What jumps out at me is all the back and forth and lying that was going on;
OEM promised - aftermarket installed
in the shop being worked on - not in the shop
only one ac guy and hes tied up - at another install shop (I think that was quoted as being an ac specialist)
be ready tomorrow - for two weeks...
I'd really tell them lets get in the rental and show me my vehicle, just to many lies, wondering if they actually even started it.
Hope all works out.

 

[Riderkjo]

Ive done this install a few to many times over the years, the late model cars have made it simpler and simpler every year, half day job may 6 hours tops.
Now aftermarket parts for a JL feel like they are almost non existent oem parts arent much better.
The bolt on air vs oem is noting like it was in the past, if the dealer does what they should and add the sales code which i believe they mentioned warranty already so unless some UCM is looking to not make a deal when and if you ever trade, its unlikely anyone will even know. The compressor is probably even made in the same factory.
What jumps out at me is all the back and forth and lying that was going on;
OEM promised - aftermarket installed
in the shop being worked on - not in the shop
only one ac guy and hes tied up - at another install shop (I think that was quoted as being an ac specialist)
be ready tomorrow - for two weeks...
I'd really tell them lets get in the rental and show me my vehicle, just to many lies, wondering if they actually even started it.
Hope all works out.

I figured it would be a 2 day job at most, thank you for confirming that. I think there's something else going on with the vehicle, like it may have been damaged during transport. Are you a Mopar mechanic?
The GM finally returned my call and told me the cookie cutter story of "I had no idea this was going on, that's not how we do business, we'll get to the bottom of this, I'm going to talk to everyone involved". Sounds like it's going to be a "he said, she said" situation... He briefly mentioned that my trade in would make it very difficult to return the vehicle, but we'll see what happens when we have a meeting next week.

 

[Fatman]

Not a tech, just a car guy who hates to pay someone to do something I can figure out on my own, I was a dealer many many years ago, now I buy and sell on an infrequent basis, at times I buy and hold.
I assume what you are getting at is that when you bought this jeep you traded something in, most likely that car is long gone, tell the guy you didnt want that car anyway thats why you traded it in, I think if you approach him in a "lets turn a bad situation" into a good one he may be willing to step up on valuing the jeep on trade or better yet maybe ask him to throw you an extended warranty on the whole vehicle, cost on them is around $700 so all in all not a big hit for them, not a bad deal for you either.
In six months your going to look back and laugh at this whole situation, I hope!

Sponsored