2002 Verada X1 Air Conditioner

[kleo]

Air conditioner losing gas. Tried 'Leak Guard' sealant. Eventually found leak in hose that runs behind the radiator. I think it is called the discharge hose. Local Mitsubishi dealer is quoting $120.00 for the hose, plus fitting. Is this reasonable? Other alternative is hose from wreckers at $50.00. Should I take the Mitsubishi dealer's offer?

[MadMax]

Air conditioner losing gas. Tried 'Leak Guard' sealant. Eventually found leak in hose that runs behind the radiator. I think it is called the discharge hose. Local Mitsubishi dealer is quoting $120.00 for the hose, plus fitting. Is this reasonable? Other alternative is hose from wreckers at $50.00. Should I take the Mitsubishi dealer's offer?

System needs to be evacuated, hose replaced, regassed. I'd be more interested in the all up cost, $120 for the hose is just the start.

Whatever you do, don't buy a hose from the wreckers. Any filth inside it has the potential to destroy most parts of the system.

Perhaps take it to a shop that specialises in car air con units, might be cheaper.

[Victa Twin]

You might be able to get it repaired at a reasonable cost too at a dedicated air cond service centre.
Obviously you have to weigh up the cost of them repairing it/fabricating a new one vs genuine. Usually air cond service centres can make pipes and hoses provided your one doesn't have very complex metal bends.

Recharge costs vary between about $60 and $160 I have found recently. Get the place refilling the system to quote on repairing or making the rooted pipe and balance that against the cost of the genuine pipe.

I wouldn't recommend a secondhand rubber pipe on the high pressure side. A secondhand metal only pipe (as opposed to a metal and rubber) might be OK if it hasn't suffered similarly to yours. No secondhand rubber!

Assuming one hour to replace the pipe/hose, $120 re-gas and $120 for a genuine pipe then to fix it might be under $350 (if you're lucky).