AC Hose availability?
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 423
Likes: 4
From: New Jersey
AC Hose availability?
Hi,
My car has been at the mechanic's for about 3 weeks now. They are a "high end" shop that works on Porsches, including 928s. I used them regularly until I started working on the car myself. Dropped it off due to AC not blowing cold enough. It's a freon leak and I don't want to mess with the freon related stuff myself.
The expansion valve is leaking and one of the AC hoses in the front of the car had significant oil leakage, too. They are going to be replaced.
The owner told me they are a bit backed up since one of their main techs is out with major health problems, so I told him it's not a "rush" when I dropped it off.
Checked in again Monday and today. They're supposedly still looking for the parts.
My question - are there any hoses or other AC related parts for my car (86.5) that aren't readily available from any of the regular sources and would warrant a wait of over a week to just to source the part, or is the shop just dragging this out a ridiculous amount of time?
My car has been at the mechanic's for about 3 weeks now. They are a "high end" shop that works on Porsches, including 928s. I used them regularly until I started working on the car myself. Dropped it off due to AC not blowing cold enough. It's a freon leak and I don't want to mess with the freon related stuff myself.
The expansion valve is leaking and one of the AC hoses in the front of the car had significant oil leakage, too. They are going to be replaced.
The owner told me they are a bit backed up since one of their main techs is out with major health problems, so I told him it's not a "rush" when I dropped it off.
Checked in again Monday and today. They're supposedly still looking for the parts.
My question - are there any hoses or other AC related parts for my car (86.5) that aren't readily available from any of the regular sources and would warrant a wait of over a week to just to source the part, or is the shop just dragging this out a ridiculous amount of time?
Rennlist Member
Joined: May 2014
Posts: 1,339
Likes: 218
From: Albany "the middle of nowhere" Missouri
Have you tried Griffiths (www.Griffiths.com) They have hoses as well as most other A/C related parts if the "Big 3" can't help....but I would be surprised if one of them doesn't have to part or can't get it.
Rennlist Member
Joined: May 2014
Posts: 3,559
Likes: 65
From: South Florida
Griffiths has two of the hoses on their site...the third one that is almost impossible to get out with the engine in place can supposedly be rebuilt in situ. I have no idea how...perhaps an early implementation of the nanobots which will eventually take over the world.
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 6,984
Likes: 18
From: Marysville WA
the hard line to the expansion valve has that small section of rubber line that goes bad at the fittings. Greg Brown makes a kit where you cut off the hose and braze on a new AN fitting, and use the new hose he makes. I just did this a few weeks ago.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 423
Likes: 4
From: New Jersey
Thanks for the replies.
Haven't checked with the Big 3 or Griffiths yet.
I realize professional mechanic shops have their own favorite suppliers they like to use, so was staying out of their way. However, this does seem like a long time. If I don't hear anything by tomorrow, I'll tell them to check with one of the Big Three or Griffiths.
Luckily, the hose is not the one where the engine needs to be removed. Specifically asked that question.
Haven't checked with the Big 3 or Griffiths yet.
I realize professional mechanic shops have their own favorite suppliers they like to use, so was staying out of their way. However, this does seem like a long time. If I don't hear anything by tomorrow, I'll tell them to check with one of the Big Three or Griffiths.
Luckily, the hose is not the one where the engine needs to be removed. Specifically asked that question.
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Former Vendor
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 15,228
Likes: 2,529
From: Anaheim
Hi,
My car has been at the mechanic's for about 3 weeks now. They are a "high end" shop that works on Porsches, including 928s. I used them regularly until I started working on the car myself. Dropped it off due to AC not blowing cold enough. It's a freon leak and I don't want to mess with the freon related stuff myself.
The expansion valve is leaking and one of the AC hoses in the front of the car had significant oil leakage, too. They are going to be replaced.
The owner told me they are a bit backed up since one of their main techs is out with major health problems, so I told him it's not a "rush" when I dropped it off.
Checked in again Monday and today. They're supposedly still looking for the parts.
My question - are there any hoses or other AC related parts for my car (86.5) that aren't readily available from any of the regular sources and would warrant a wait of over a week to just to source the part, or is the shop just dragging this out a ridiculous amount of time?
My car has been at the mechanic's for about 3 weeks now. They are a "high end" shop that works on Porsches, including 928s. I used them regularly until I started working on the car myself. Dropped it off due to AC not blowing cold enough. It's a freon leak and I don't want to mess with the freon related stuff myself.
The expansion valve is leaking and one of the AC hoses in the front of the car had significant oil leakage, too. They are going to be replaced.
The owner told me they are a bit backed up since one of their main techs is out with major health problems, so I told him it's not a "rush" when I dropped it off.
Checked in again Monday and today. They're supposedly still looking for the parts.
My question - are there any hoses or other AC related parts for my car (86.5) that aren't readily available from any of the regular sources and would warrant a wait of over a week to just to source the part, or is the shop just dragging this out a ridiculous amount of time?
Porsche has virtually quit stocking parts, for the 928s, in this country. And it takes 7-10 days, plus an additional 20% to "car down" a part from Germany.
If you order the part, from Germany, and don't pay the extra 20%, the part will arrive in about 4 weeks.
For this reason, we stock a tremendous amount of pieces (like A/C hoses) so that we can repair vehicles in a timely manner. I have no idea how much I have invested in inventory (just for 928s), but it is certainly well into the six figures. Not many shops are going to do this....especially not for a relatively obscure car like the 928.
The point is this:
We now own (and work) on a low production, older model vehicle, that is difficult to get parts for, the same week, much less the same day. Count your lucky stars when someone like 928 International, 928 R US, or me has the part you need, in stock.
But give the shop a break.....there's almost zero chance they will be able to get the part quickly, on their own.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 423
Likes: 4
From: New Jersey
Good thing to talk about.
Porsche has virtually quit stocking parts, for the 928s, in this country. And it takes 7-10 days, plus an additional 20% to "car down" a part from Germany.
If you order the part, from Germany, and don't pay the extra 20%, the part will arrive in about 4 weeks.
For this reason, we stock a tremendous amount of pieces (like A/C hoses) so that we can repair vehicles in a timely manner. I have no idea how much I have invested in inventory (just for 928s), but it is certainly well into the six figures. Not many shops are going to do this....especially not for a relatively obscure car like the 928.
The point is this:
We now own (and work) on a low production, older model vehicle, that is difficult to get parts for, the same week, much less the same day. Count your lucky stars when someone like 928 International, 928 R US, or me has the part you need, in stock.
But give the shop a break.....there's almost zero chance they will be able to get the part quickly, on their own.
Porsche has virtually quit stocking parts, for the 928s, in this country. And it takes 7-10 days, plus an additional 20% to "car down" a part from Germany.
If you order the part, from Germany, and don't pay the extra 20%, the part will arrive in about 4 weeks.
For this reason, we stock a tremendous amount of pieces (like A/C hoses) so that we can repair vehicles in a timely manner. I have no idea how much I have invested in inventory (just for 928s), but it is certainly well into the six figures. Not many shops are going to do this....especially not for a relatively obscure car like the 928.
The point is this:
We now own (and work) on a low production, older model vehicle, that is difficult to get parts for, the same week, much less the same day. Count your lucky stars when someone like 928 International, 928 R US, or me has the part you need, in stock.
But give the shop a break.....there's almost zero chance they will be able to get the part quickly, on their own.
That's why I wanted to check with the experts on Rennlist before assuming the shop was dragging their feet and making a stink about it to them.
Rennlist Member
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 1,376
Likes: 2
From: Fresno, CA (summer in Calgary)
Yes I certainly appreciate my own shop's total honesty when it comes to 928 parts. If they can't get it in a day or two through Worldpac, they just call me and ask me to get it for them. They absolutely never mess with PCNA or the dealer unless we both are fully aware.
Nordschleife Master
Joined: May 2012
Posts: 5,216
Likes: 431
From: Thousand Oaks California
I remember the good old days 1 year ago when it only took 2 weeks to get parts from Germany 
.
Personally I reused the existing ends of my hoses and just had barrier hose put on them. It works like a charm and I have had no leaks with r134.
But if you need new hoses and ends get them through a part supplier like 928 international instead of Porsche as now getting parts from the dealers is hopeless. I had to wait 4 weeks for some banjo bolts for some S4 calipers as stated above.
Best of luck on your repairs.
.Personally I reused the existing ends of my hoses and just had barrier hose put on them. It works like a charm and I have had no leaks with r134.
But if you need new hoses and ends get them through a part supplier like 928 international instead of Porsche as now getting parts from the dealers is hopeless. I had to wait 4 weeks for some banjo bolts for some S4 calipers as stated above.
Best of luck on your repairs.