Trane Trane needs to be stopped! Tyler, Texas

First off I'm in the industry on the repair side and can tell you exactly what is going on with trane coils. The dissimilar metals of aluminum and copper coupling in their coils are self eroding under the condition  of electrolysis. This condition exists with all a/c equipment manufacturers yet with trane the failure is much more prominent than in their competitors. For example; just in the month of sept of this year (2012) alone we have had 9 condenser coil failures on trane equipment in one community. Two of the customers had two of their units go at once for a total of 9 coil failures and 7 customers. One of the double hit customers had one coil go while we were there replacing the first one. All of the coils happened to be covered under warranty for the parts because all the units were installed around the same time in 2007 and all of the coils failed at exacting the same aluminum/copper joint. We service many different manufacturers within the same square mile of this community and they all have the same environmental exposures and it is many miles inland of our coastal community. So with all things being equally the only inequality is with trane equipment and this one particular dissimilar metal union. Heck, we service older trane equipment, considerably older, that doesn't exhibit this issue in a subdivision less than 400 yds away. Bottom line is; when 30% of all your service activity in a given month revolves around a single manufacturer with the same exact problem it is real hard to recommend to your customers that they continue to purchase their equipment.

I completely agree.

This isn't about a warranty. Chances are that every other AC manufacturer has the same boiler plate coverage. What do you do then, not buy an AC? Pretty lame rebuttal.

The point of the matter is defective parts. Widespread, chronic defects. There is a very obvious (based on complaints all over the Interweb) problem with these coils. I had a builder-grade (aka: not very good) AC unit that lasted 11 years. It was on its last leg. We swapped it out for a "top of the line no one can stop a trane" unit in 2009. Sold on the "quality" and the "reputation", we felt confident.

Today we found out it's going to cost us $2000 to get it fixed because of this coil.  No friction, no rubbing, didn't need spacers, out in the open coil just sprung a leak. I live in a dry climate. No moisture. It's indoor, in the attic.

It's defective. Period. Trane is responsible for recalling, replacing, and paying the cost to replace it just like auto manufactures do. So maybe they'll do something when some 90 year old is found dead in their living room because the knowingly defective coil in the AC made the temp climb enough to cause heart failure.

I can accept a few hundred here and there, but I didn't pay $7,000 and expect problems 3 years later, let alone $2,000 worth of them. No one would regardless of warranty.

Do the right thing Trane. It's not a BS warranty thing. It's beyond that now. It's so d**n obvious.

"Yes. You are correct in the fact that I do not want to pay my part. I already did a year and a half ago.  I don't think I should have to  after dropping so much money into something that should last way longer.  If I were talking about an ac that was way older, then I have not right to complain. "

   So what I understand is that you have read the warranty, understand the conditions, yet you think Trane should pay for labor anyway.    It seems that you have a basic misunderstanding of what a warranty is.    It specifically addresses what will happen if there are defects in the unit at various periods of time after purchase.    They are very specific about what happens, as opposed to your view that the unit should be defect free for "way longer" (whatever that means). 

   If the warranty as written was not acceptable, you could have gone with a manufacturer that had a better warranty, or you could have purchased extended warranty coverage.    You did neither of these things, yet you want the benefit of a full coverage warranty.    That's not going to happen.  I'm not just talking about Trane warranties either.   All warranties are specific about duration and what will be covered.   The fact that in your opinion they should last "way longer" is irrelevant.

First off Trane didnt charge you 4000.00 for the unit. A cooling and heating company did. I assume that you must live near Harlengen or thereabouts. If you had a 14seer  3 ton Trane unit which is common in that part of the country, well the heating and cooling contractor paid the wholesale distributor about 8-900 dollars for the a coil, line set , and condensing unit. There are no spacers that have to be put in anywhere. The salt air down there is very corrosive to copper. Perhaps you have had or know someone who has had to replace regular plumbing because of it. I know several people who live in Laguna Vista that have had to do that. Anyway, the condensing unit (coils) should be washed off about every couple months with a garden hose but not with enough pressure to bend the fins. If you do this, the unit will last for many years.  The reason Trane will not pay for labor is that they have no control over how and where the unit is installed or the workmanship. The contractor made about 2800-3000 gross profit on your job and if he had any ethis at all, he would give you a gig break on the labor. If it is an R22 unit, it comes preloaded with freon. It just get brazed on (the lines) and the line set and a coil pumped down, and the valves opened. It equalizes in about 15 min. An hour of labor tops. I install many many furnaces and a/c units and although I live and work in Minnespolis, I have a place on South Padre Island.

Yes I have seen the corrosion issues with the coils.  I had a 12 year old ac in my house that was not very efficient anymore, and I NEVER had a problem with the outside coils corroding.  I guess, everything is made so much cheaper these days, which is a shame. 

It sounds to me as though Trane is following through on the warranty, you just don't want to pay your part.

Yes. You are correct in the fact that I do not want to pay my part. I already did a year and a half ago.  I don't think I should have to  after dropping so much money into something that should last way longer.  If I were talking about an ac that was way older, then I have not right to complain.
Yes. I did read my warranty and yes I do understand that the warranty only covers parts and not labor, but if Trane is making crappy parts, then they need to realize they are doing this and make a correction.

Nobody is going to sue them because they haven't done anything wrong.

Google class action lawsuit against Trane for faulty coils and it appears there is an attorney that is in the investigation stage.....investigating  potential defects with Trane air conditioners.
Specifically,  is investigating whether the compressor coil or other
component parts are defective. Some consumers have needed to replace
compressor coils or other parts that have broken within warranty and
incur labor related costs to do so. 

(I did some research after I made my post) and found that and A LOT of other complaints with the same issues I am having.

As far as just the patch job, I live in South Texas where it is hot and humid just about year round.  The freon was pouring out and was told that it would only last maybe a week if that.  The FREE COIL, (that I am going to have installed) will take over a week to come in.  Plus it bought me some time to do my due diligence and figure out if the coils have been altered to keep from this same thing happening again in another year and half.

I appreciate your thoughts and I am sorry that you too, have had to replace parts in your Trane unit with in a year.  I am sorry that you think that is ok and that is exactly the reason that Trane does not care about "my bogus bigger picture" as well as all the other hard working people who have sunk their hard earned money into a piece of junk!

found several articles detailing this problem in ALL brands.  In both indoor (through the wall) A/C's and outdoor A/C's.

It appears to be caused by chemicals in the inside air and the outside environment.

I know this doesn't help you, but at least it's a start...good luck to you.

    I also have a Trane unit and I've also had to replace parts after the 1st year "Parts and labor" part of the warranty was over.    I've read the warranty and understand that after the first year, they supply parts and I must pay for labor.    My question to you is : Have you read the warranty?  It sounds to me as though Trane is following through on the warranty, you just don't want to pay your part.

"  They patched it for the time being but told me that it would keep happening and I really need to replace the coils, which again, was told the part is under warranty.  "

   You're nuts.    You actually spent money to have techs do a dubious patch job on a coil instead of having them install a FREE, BRAND NEW coil? 

"  Bottom line is, if Trane does not do a recall, then there will be lawsuits against them. "

   Here's the real bottom line.   Trane is doing exactly what their warranty says they will do in the event of defects in their units.   Nobody is going to sue them because they haven't done anything wrong.    Your desire for freebies above and beyond what is called for in the warranty is not something a court would consider.   I seriously doubt that Trane is worried worried about you and your bogus "bigger picture".