HOW TO ACCOMPLISH WHAT LOOKS IMPOSSIBLE: Replacing a 15-year-old Mercedes evaporator core

摘要

On May 13, 2005, we had a 1990 Mercedes Benz scheduled for A/C service. We typically frown on scheduling 15-year-old vehicles with R12 systems, however, this customer, a retired doctor, had been a regular customer of ours for 25 years. We gladly made the appointment. Upon checking his vehicle, a 1990 Mercedes 300D, mint condition (you know the car - the kind you just can't kill because they run forever), we found very low refrigerant. We charged it, leak checked it, and then found a leaking evaporator core. The leak was too large to top off. The core would have to be replaced. After much consideration, we decided to put together an estimate on the car. This was the type of repair job we typically referred back to the dealer. This was the kind of time-consuming job I usually want my competitors' bays to be tied up with while I hope to get some "pie" jobs. Knowing the customer like I did, and also believing he fully intended to have the car repaired, I convinced our techs to consider the job. Maybe I was caught at a weak moment, maybe we just received one of those dreaded reports from our accountants, or maybe my pride just swelled that day. I worked up the estimate, called the customer and sold the job.