2013 Air Conditioning parts

[VersoGraham]

Hello All,

Firstly a bit of an intro, our family has owned two Verso's over the years and we find it to be a fantastic car and regularly have all 7 seats up to shuttle (pre Covid) family and friends around. I have also found the cars to be fairly bullet proof only needing a bit of break work alongside the yearly services.

Unfortunately this run of good health has come to an end and the Air Conditioning has stopped blowing cold air, so took it round to my local garage (not Toyota franchise) to see what is what. They have advised that the following parts need to be replaced.

Compressor - £356 + VAT (Advised it would be £1k for a Toyota genuine part!!!!)
Condenser - £154 + VAT

Plus Labour and recharge of the system gas would bring me to £960 all in.

Now I don't mind getting my hands a little dirty and so though I would have a look and see how much I could get these parts for and the first site I came across www.buycarparts.co.uk 

Compressor - £213.75 inc VAT
Condenser - £42.25 inc VAT

Has anyone had any experience of replacing these components in a Verso and how easy / hard was it?

Just trying to figure out if I give it a go or pony up and just get the garage to do it.

Thanks in advance,

Graham

[Stivino]

I've just this minute finished fitting new air con pipes to a Peugeot RCZ.

I fitted an aftermarket condenser which was about £35.

How does he know that the compressor is kaput?

[VersoGraham]

Thanks for your reply Stivino, the garage used some tracing fluid and found there to be leaks in the Condenser and when inspecting the compressor found corrosion on it also.

I have not had a good look under the hood yet, will do that this evening.

[Stivino]

Comdensers are always the main suspect, they have a horrible life stuck at the front of the car, exposed to everything.

Have a good look at the "corrosion" on the compressor.