V50 AC : Aghh A/C system repair is a pain

[jasonb]

I have a broken pipe between the condenser and the top part of the Rad.
The metal pipe has broken on the bracket connecting to the condenser and the replacement part seems a challenge.

Of course my car is 6yrs old but finding the right part has been a challenge.

The broken part is only about 8 inches long and bolts in to place.

Volvo no longer sell this part and there isn't a formal replacement part.

Luckily the guys at FRF are pretty clued up and helpful (thanks Jeff) and we think we've got the replacement part now.

It seems the upper part of the pipe has been replaced by an all in one part.
Which seems reasonable if there is a known problem.

Next my challenge will be fitting as apparently the replacement part needs to be re-routed...which is a good thing considering the direction of the existing part.

Does anyone has a diagram of how the new pipe will be routed?
Can anyone get a snap shot off of Vida?
Thanks
Jason

[jasonb]

This is a nightmare,
parts from FRF do not fit and, after checking with another Volvo dealer, there does not seem to be a Volvo replacement part...surely this is impossible but when two Volvo dealers tell you the same thing, you start to worry!

[itsme S40]

Item number: 140602689278 Item number: 160646290793 from ebay wondering if you get get the part from that car jason

[v40bart]

I thought that manufacturers were required by law to have parts avaliable for at least 10 years. I am not sure but I vaguely remember somebody telling me that part should be made available throughout products usable life. What good is a car if you can't get parts for it?

[jasonb]

It's been a nightmare but finally I did get the part I required.
No point buying something second hand on the AC system in all honesty.
I managed to source the same metal pipe coming off the compressor going to the condenser, disconnected the rubber section from the old broken pipe and re-used.
Not bad for £35.

There is one issue which surprised me.
I ordered a part from FRF and they sent a 2.0 petrol variant.
We agreed to send it back but FRF just returned it to me without so much as a comment.
Yes I had opened the bag expecting the part to fit but would have been nice to know why it was sent back. Im £120 out of pocket in all honesty now

As for discounts being a member of this forum and quoting the C3 or C4 (I forget), I don't believe much if any discount was seen as the part was the same price as quoted by MRG in Chippenham.

Shocking that two dealers confirmed there is no replacement part!