Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: version B 2.10.2 9/3/84; site panda.UUCP Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!burl!ulysses!allegra!bellcore!decvax!genrad!teddy!panda!mlf From: mlf@panda.UUCP (Matt L. Fichtenbaum) Newsgroups: net.auto Subject: Re: Factory vs. Dealer AC Message-ID: <233@panda.UUCP> Date: Thu, 17-Jan-85 08:33:23 EST Article-I.D.: panda.233 Posted: Thu Jan 17 08:33:23 1985 Date-Received: Sun, 20-Jan-85 05:32:39 EST References: <5410@rochester.UUCP> Reply-To: mlf@panda.UUCP (Matt L. Fichtenbaum) Organization: GenRad, Inc., Concord, Mass. Lines: 31 Summary: >I would like to find out about the differences between factory and >dealer installed air conditioning. I bought my '83 Dodge Aries (K-car) from dealer stock. The dealer stated that he could install "the very same factory unit" that a factory AC'd car would have had. It was *almost* the very same unit. Actually, it was the same unit as in a 1982 model! This meant it lacked the "bi-level" mode (cold to the dash, warm to the floor) that was new for '83, it didn't have the switch to shut off the compressor when one puts the gas pedal to the floor (to take the load off the engine), and its wiring didn't match the diagrams in my '83 shop manual. I griped about the bi-level feature. Six months later, they retrofitted a few parts and made it right. A colleague had the "factory-installed" rear window defroster added to his off-the-lot 1984 K-car. It's not as effective as the real factory-installed one. Conclusion: My A/C is the right unit for the car, does all that it should, works fine. But I'd rather have bought the car with the factory-installed one. If you're going to have the dealer install some "factory" option, get the promises in writing! -- Matt Fichtenbaum "Our job is to rescue fires, not put out your cat."