Leading aftermarket air conditioning parts supplier DENSO has issued a warning over the potential pitfalls of selling or fitting low quality replacement A/C components.

DENSO says there has been a rise in the availability of budget replacement A/C components in recent years. These often unmarked and unbranded components can sell at prices 40-50% lower than branded OE quality products and because of this may seem like good value. However, the DENSO message is that they also carry hidden risks.

DENSO’s Technical Specialist Alan Povey, says, “Over the last few years, the volume of imports from emerging countries, particularly China, has risen sharply.  From an aesthetic point of view, these components look similar to genuine DENSO branded products.  However, what might seem like a competitively priced, average quality component at first glance, very often hides a different situation beneath the surface.  This problem is most acute in the Air Conditioning Compressor market.” Adam adds, “The most obvious difference, and the one that should set alarm bells ringing, is the cost.  We know that the bulk of the cost of thermal products comes from the top-quality materials used, as well as from the costs incurred in research and development, new technologies, continual innovation and spearhead production plants. Knowing this, it seems obvious that corners must have been cut when creating unbranded products.”

Alan points out that vehicle components are very different from items such as T-shirt or handbags. He says, “These are components to which we often entrust our comfort and indeed our safety when we're in the car.  We are all aware of the potential risks of an engine component failing while we are driving on the motorway, so why take the risk?” 

The message from DENOS is that when it comes to critical components cheap and low-quality products are not real value for money.  Low-quality compressors simply do not operate to the same high standards of performance, quality and durability as OE original and OE equivalent parts and could soon fail.  They also sometimes mean higher fuel consumption, emissions, noise, increased discomfort and may cause safety issues. Likely failure may also mean further unnecessary parts and labour costs for the motorist, while the garage or parts supplier could pay a high cost in terms of damage to their reputation.