[JohnnyV]

So my wife's 2012 Cruze has just over 71,000km on it now, so well over the bumper to bumper warranty of 60k, and now the AC stopped working. Mind you she hasn't had too use it since last October when she was still under 60,000km, so something broke during the winter months.

Is the AC breaking on these car's a common issue? Were kind of pissed that we had to spend an extra $3000 just to have a Cruze with AC only to have it fail 3 summers later. And has anyone had any luck getting the dealership or GM themselves to help with the repair? Cause it kinda sucks that it broke during the winter months somehow and now when we need the darn thing its not working.

 

[obermd]

A common issue with the non-ECO A/C systems is rock damage. The 2011s and early 2012s don't have a $15 (US) rock shield in front of the A/C condenser coils, so they get punctured.

 

[JohnnyV]

A common issue with the non-ECO A/C systems is rock damage. The 2011s and early 2012s don't have a $15 (US) rock shield in front of the A/C condenser coils, so they get punctured.

Hmmm i wonder if that could be it then. Gonna have to book the car in and have them tell me whats wrong with it. $180 fee to charge the ac, test and diagnose, then quote repairs after.

 

[jblackburn]

Hmmm i wonder if that could be it then. Gonna have to book the car in and have them tell me whats wrong with it. $180 fee to charge the ac, test and diagnose, then quote repairs after.

Crawl under the car and look for rock damage on the condensor first. The refrigerant has a bright yellow flourescent dye that should make spotting massive leaks relatively easy.

 

[JohnnyV]

Crawl under the car and look for rock damage on the condensor first. The refrigerant has a bright yellow flourescent dye that should make spotting massive leaks relatively easy.

Will that dye stain anything too make it easily noticeable? even if its all leaked out for quite some time now?

 

[jblackburn]

Yeah it should stick around.

 

[cruze2011white]

It also shouldn't be 3000 to fix it. I had my compressor leaking and I had a extended warranty and only paid 100 bucks other wise it would have been 700. I would just fill it up and see if it starts working, if it does I would just do that and not spend the extra money. If its the condenser still shouldn't be that much.

 

[JohnnyV]

It also shouldn't be 3000 to fix it. I had my compressor leaking and I had a extended warranty and only paid 100 bucks other wise it would have been 700. I would just fill it up and see if it starts working, if it does I would just do that and not spend the extra money. If its the condenser still shouldn't be that much.

I meant it cost $3000 to have AC added to the car when we first purchased it since AC did not come standard.

 

[spacedout]

A common issue with the non-ECO A/C systems is rock damage.

Part of the reason I bought the RS package was the much smaller lower grill openings. Standard cruze I could fit my hand all the way to the radiator, RS package only my pinky finger can fit through the grill opening.

Sure the ECO with grill shutters will protect when the shutters are closed, but when open it can get damaged just as easily as most cruze models. I suspect when the AC is on the grill shutters are open all the time(similar to how the electric fan runs).

 

[obermd]

Part of the reason I bought the RS package was the much smaller lower grill openings. Standard cruze I could fit my hand all the way to the radiator, RS package only my pinky finger can fit through the grill opening.

Sure the ECO with grill shutters will protect when the shutters are closed, but when open it can get damaged just as easily as most cruze models. I suspect when the AC is on the grill shutters are open all the time(similar to how the electric fan runs).

The ECO has the A/C condenser shield.

 

[jblackburn]

The ECO has the A/C condenser shield.

2011 didn't. Early 12 probably didn't either.

 

[spacedout]

The ECO has the A/C condenser shield.

So does every cruze model made since 2012. That shield only offers minimal protection and can actually damage the condenser over time since it rides against it. Wouldn't think plastic would wear through aluminum, but after seeing many aftermarket transmission coolers installed with a plastic tie through the radiator, I learned otherwise. There was also a user on here about 6 months ago whom had this exact ting happen(plastic shield wore a hole in condenser).

Only real way to protect the condenser is to stop rocks before they get past the grill with smaller openings. Sad part? The all new 2016+ cruze even the RS package has more grill openings that are very large in size. I would not buy one until this design flaw is addressed or a suitable aftermarket grill replacement is made.

 

[spacedout]

2011 didn't. Early 12 probably didn't either.

My January built 2012 had the condenser shield.

 

[jblackburn]

My January built 2012 had the condenser shield.

My October 2011 did not.

Cutoff date was probably December, like many 2012 changes.

 

[jblackburn]

So does every cruze model made since 2012. That shield only offers minimal protection and can actually damage the condenser over time since it rides against it. Wouldn't think plastic would wear through aluminum, but after seeing many aftermarket transmission coolers installed with a plastic tie through the radiator, I learned otherwise. There was also a user on here about 6 months ago whom had this exact ting happen(plastic shield wore a hole in condenser).

Only real way to protect the condenser is to stop rocks before they get past the grill with smaller openings. Sad part? The all new 2016+ cruze even the RS package has more grill openings that are very large in size. I would not buy one until this design flaw is addressed or a suitable aftermarket grill replacement is made.

Bottom opening is mostly blocked off with plastic on the new ones, like many new "wide mouth" cars.

 

[spacedout]

Bottom opening is mostly blocked off with plastic on the new ones, like many new "wide mouth" cars.

Really? not the ones I was looking at, only the edge ones were fake.(both standard and RS models). Could reach my hand through the grill openings and most of that lower large grill is real.

 

[jblackburn]

Really? not the ones I was looking at, only the edge ones were fake.(both standard and RS models). Could reach my hand through the grill openings and most of that lower large grill is real.

Oh, at the very bottom, I see where you're saying it's open. Fortunately, that lower opening is faced by the intercooler on the new models.

There's a large chunk of foam at the top of the bumper (not plastic, sorry), but yeah, there is some exposed condensor there I suppose. The current ones seem to be taken out mostly at the bottom, though.

http://icdn5.digitaltrends.com/image/2016-chevrolet-cruze-top-angle-970x647-c.jpg

 

[cruze2011white]

All cars can have this problem its not a design error on the cruze. Yes the plastic screen can help which I added on my 2011 but do a google search and you will see all makes and models have this. You best bet to stop this is to not follow closely behind trucks and stay away from people who like to drive on the edges of the road where a lot rocks get thrown up from.

I know people say they don't follow close but if you aren't 1 car length per 10 miles per hour you are to close.

 

[ChevyGuy]

Is the AC breaking on these car's a common issue?

What does the outside air temperature say? On the US model, it's part of the radio display. If that's showing freezing weather (like -40), the A/C won't turn on. There's been a few cases of that reported. The sensor is in the left fog light cover. The connector may have gotten unplugged. (And when you fix it, it won't work right away. The car seems to have to think about it. It will suddenly start working hours later.)

 

[newsguy99]

Its kind of a easy fix. Just goto your local hardware store, buy some window screen, and small size zip ties. Cut screen to the size of the opening of the grille.
Feed screen down in front of radiator, attach it to the top mount support using the zip ties. Attach the bottom to something under the car as well.