Aircon failed - two months out of warranty - Help

[SimonS]

Car (2001 TDI Elegance) was bought 08/02/05, and have had no major problems with it. Yesterday (nice sunny day), I put the a/c on full. Air wasn't cold at all.

I thought it might need re-gassing as the car is now 5yr old. Took it in to aircon specialist, who said it didn't need re-gassing as the pressure was fine. Must be something more serious he said. He'd need to examine the compressor, and asked me to come back after removing the under tray.

Removed the tray this afternoon and found the a/c clutch (armature plate) laid on the under tray!

I wouldn't have had a clue what it was, except for reading up on it last night - and seeing the illustations in the service manual I found.

I can't be sure the a/c was even working when I got the car, because it never felt particularly cold. I should have got it looked at then! The thing is, if it had failed from Sep/Oct 05 onwards, I'm not going to notice anyway - not needed.

Car was purchased from a proper franchised dealer with the 1yr full Skoda warranty. Where do you think I stand with the dealer or Skoda?

Do you think the condition of the armature plate (pics attached) helps prove failure earlier on?

Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

[Lummox]

Common fault that. Usually replace the compressor complete with clutch (Skoda now do as a pair).

You should also replace the receiver dryer.

[cheezemonkhai]

Originally Posted by Lummox

Common fault that. Usually replace the compressor complete with clutch (Skoda now do as a pair).

You should also replace the receiver dryer.

Can I ask what the symptoms of that are as my aircon gurgles a lot and you can hear the liquid flowing even sat in the drivers seat with the engine on. I also get a knocking noise with it moving or stationary and have no idea what it is, just that it is comming from passenger footwell or behind glovebox area.

Ta

[Lummox]

Symptoms are the inoperation of a/c and knocking from the ac compressor.

[cheezemonkhai]

Hmmm, Well the aircon isn't exactly blowing cold, and there is a knocking. Is that plate located somewhere behind the glovebox/footwell area?

Thanks

[Lummox]

the compressor is bolted to the engine, o/s/f.

[cheezemonkhai]

Off side is drivers side correct?

Sorry I'm useless with near and off side

Don't suppose you have any suggestions what it could be making the knocking noise do you as I'd like to get it seen to before the 3 years is up.

Ta

Oh and where is that prawn from it looks familar :S

[Dr Zoidberg]

What's the rough cost of replacing the compressor and clutch?

[Lummox]

About £1k fitted for the clutch and compressor/dryer iirc.

Prawn Boy lives on the moon

[Dr Zoidberg]

A grand!
Yikes.

[Lummox]

About, im not 100% sure tbh. I think the compressor was about £700 last time I priced one up.

[Dr Zoidberg]

Thinking about it I'm sure I've seen that figure mentioned before , so £700 plus a load of labour on top is going to be about that.

It's a big enough bill that a lot of people would (I'm sure) try and trade the car in and hope the garage don't notice rather than spend £1000 on a car that could be worth £5k

[cheezemonkhai]

£1000 Ouch, make sure i log the noises with a dealer.

Just noticed a post by yourself about random noises being the flap motor, so i have no idea what it is but hope it gets fixed.

Also when you say common falut, how common is it, as I'm worried now.

[Lummox]

Common as in in a/c failures quite often they are down to the compressor.

Not that alot fail, just when they do they are quite often this fault.

[Stuart_J]

We had the same problem, aparently its quite common on higher mileage cars.

Secondhand compressors are around & many others from the vag range will fit the Octy, we were quoted by a dealer £800 for a new one + labour + a re gass, took it to over £1000. Being on the front of the engine they are very likely to be damaged in an accident so if poss find out its history before buying a s/hand one
However there is one thing to try, Jabba took the clutch off a s/hand compressor, cleaned up the end of our compressor & managed to fit it to the old compressor whilst still on the car so no re gas required either, cost a couple of hours labour + parts.

I would agree with Ross re the flap motor & yes get it done under warranty, the motors only about £60 but its hidden way behind the dash, with labour & vat its probably closer to £250
Ross have PM'd you re our earlier discussions

[SimonS]

My question was more about whether I could expect Skoda UK or the dealer to provide assistance, 2 months out of warranty - given the circumstances.

Any thoughts?

I've spoken with the warranty comany, Elita, who weren't interested. I then spoke with the general manager at the dealer I purchased from. He said he wouldn't be prepared to pay anything, but if I brought the car in they'd examine it for free and speak with Skoda UK. He would ask them if they if they were prepared to offer any financial help, given the circumstances of the failure.

The thing is this: Are Skoda only going to help if it the dealer is fixing? Because the dealer price of the parts are double what I could source them for. So even if Skoda could be persuaded to contribute maybe 50% towards replacement - the cost would similar to not involving them.

New compressor -

Dealer: £751.98

Elsewhere: £299.99

[mannyo]

if you can source the part elsewhere for that price then I would be tempted to go there. Then use an independant AC specialist to fit it for you. I had some work done on my Boxster A/C after it stopped working, cost me about £100 for the mobile chap to regas with UV dye fix all the leaks and service it then regas again. Took more than 1/2 a day, but its freezing cold inside now.

[balerno]

Given the cost of this repair, is there advice on how to avoid wearing the compressor out?

Its not hot enough to need the a/c on most of the time up here in Scotland, but I'd heard it should be used regularly to keep it working well.

[Stuart_J]

Aircon should be used regularly otherwise aparently the seals dry out

Aircons also good for demisting the car so daresay you could use it for that on a damp morning

As far as the compressor wearing out is concerned I havent heard of one wearing out, its just the clutch comes off the end & as it works loose & falls off the splines on the compressor are damaged. Its aparently only on higher mileage cars, ours fell off at about 110,000. Best advice I can give is keep an eye on it, ours now has locktite on the nut to make sure the next one dosent fall off. If you dont work on the car yourself I would ask the dealer to check it at the service & if poss locktite the nut on

[EddyH]

Originally Posted by SimonS

My question was more about whether I could expect Skoda UK or the dealer to provide assistance, 2 months out of warranty - given the circumstances.

Any thoughts?

I've spoken with the warranty comany, Elita, who weren't interested. I then spoke with the general manager at the dealer I purchased from. He said he wouldn't be prepared to pay anything, but if I brought the car in they'd examine it for free and speak with Skoda UK. He would ask them if they if they were prepared to offer any financial help, given the circumstances of the failure.

The thing is this: Are Skoda only going to help if it the dealer is fixing? Because the dealer price of the parts are double what I could source them for. So even if Skoda could be persuaded to contribute maybe 50% towards replacement - the cost would similar to not involving them.

New compressor -

Dealer: £751.98

Elsewhere: £299.99

They have offered to look at it for free and then approach Skoda UK for a solution. This offer seems pretty good to me, it's not gonna cost you anything but time so why not give them a chance?

If they come back with an offer you aren't happy with then you haven't lost anything. However I have heard of cases like this where Skoda cover the entire cost as a good well gesture but this is only usually the case if you have full skoda service history. Infact even if it works out the same price it would be better to go with Skoda as I believe the work will be warrantied for 2yrs.

[Aaquil]

My AirCon was playing up so it went back to the Dealership under warranty it was making a strange noise from the front passenger footwell. I was told by the Service Manager that it was simply the tempurature sensor that they replaced and it would now be fine... I'm not sure if it is 100% sorted. Your replies to the original post have got me really worried...have I been fobbed off and 'ripped off' by the Dealership

By the way SORRY FOR HIJACKING YOUR THREAD.

Thanks

Aaquil.

[SUTTS]

Originally Posted by cheezemonkhai

£1000 Ouch, make sure i log the noises with a dealer.

Just noticed a post by yourself about random noises being the flap motor, so i have no idea what it is but hope it gets fixed.

Also when you say common falut, how common is it, as I'm worried now.

I had the exact same symptoms and it was indeed the air distribution flap motor; replaced yesterday under warranty at Sherlodge Garage (3 months left to go). It's a dashboard out job so get it done!

[Bravo2zero_sps]

Shocking My air con still doesn't work after it going into the dealership under warranty. They said it was just a regas and there was nothing wrong with it. Guess what they re gassed it and its still useless and then the warranty expired and I haven't done anything about it since. Time to take it into a different dealership and find out what the real damage is then

[cheezemonkhai]

no not at all if you reported it under warranty they I'd be kicking them to get it fixed under it. As long as you made them aware that it had failed inside of the 3 years etc etc.

[Stuart_J]

Originally Posted by cheezemonkhai

no not at all if you reported it under warranty they I'd be kicking them to get it fixed under it. As long as you made them aware that it had failed inside of the 3 years etc etc.

I believe Skoda will only cover it if they have been made aware in writing before the warranty expires, I cant see the dealer putting his hand in his pocket without a fight