Octavia - Noisy Aircon (Droning) - Warranty claim?

[Pabs]

Hey folks,

 

I purchased my current 12-plate Octavia VRS from Skoda last January, so it is still under the Skoda approved warranty until Jan 16.

 

The aircon has recently developed a droning noise - much like a bearing has gone.

The sound comes from the dash area.

The noise stops as soon as I press the AC button to turn it off.

The noise varies with engine revs, and can be heard more-so at lower revs/speed.

The aircon is still cold and clears windows fine - so from a functional point of view I am happy that it all still works ok.

 

I phoned my local Skoda to book it in next week, but they then said that I'd be liable to pay a £69.95 diagnostics fee if the parts are not covered under warranty. They told me that they couldn't advise if I needed to pay until they had looked at the problem - but by then they'll be charging me the cost anyway!?! Surely they can tell me if the parts would be covered prior to doing any work...?

 

Should the aircon components be covered under Skoda approved warranty?

What is the most likely cause of this noise?

 

I have searched google and on here - and many suggestions are around compressor, compressor bearings, low refrigerant etc... In my opinion all of these should be covered under warranty bar the refrigerant - but then if it's cold enough I don't think that would be the root cause?

 

Any help is appreciated folks - just want to make sure I'm armed with the correct information before I drop the car off!

Thanks

[m0bov]

Try another car with the dealer, if that one does'nt make a noise then yours must be faulty. You should'nt be asked to pay diags, try claiming under your Consumer Rights. Can they hear the noise?

[the_brace]

I had exactly the same symptoms on my Octavia.  Before spending a potential fortune on dealers' diagnostics I had the system re-gassed.  Problem solved.

 

PS.  the noise was coming from one of the fans (under the bonnet).

Edited 3 November, 2015 by the_brace

[ahenners]

Thanks for sharing "the brace" Mine is also noisy, haven't brought it up with my dealer, but during some recent unrelated warranty work they suggested it was due an air con service, which I think includes a re-gas. Thought it was just them trying to make a few quid, but maybe it does actually need it despite it still being cold like OP's AC.

[adamal]

To the OP: I suggest getting a scan from a member with vcds and taking that with you or at least then asking the specific question about the identified fault to see if it is covered.

It sounds like what my nearest dealer said to me about a different problem under warranty and I had it out with Skoda UK who said it was unreasonable at the time (reasonable diagnostics time is included in a warranty claim). I have since bought vcds so if you are anywhere near Newport South Wales I will scan it for you for nothing.

[jong123]

I had the same symptoms as pabs on both of my octavias over time and a regas cured both.

As for paying for a diagnosis that is an over the top amount for the short time it would take.

 

[Pabs]

Thanks all.

It is a noise only - VCDS shows nothing.

I may try F1 autocentres regas at the weekend then - and then cancel Skoda if the problem goes away.

[Nick_H]

I had exactly this on 2010 Scout. Dealer said book it in. No mention of a fee ? The compressor was on the way out. Compressor / drier etc replaced under warrenty.

[jong123]

Good luck Pabs.

[Pabs]

Cheers.

I've booked it in at F1 autocentres for Aircon check/regas on Saturday. If this fixes the problem I'll cancel appt with Skoda, otherwise it'll go in and I'll tell them it's fully regassed and that there is definitely a problem. I can even demonstrate the noise if I can get an engineer to my car with me.

I just know I've been fobbed off by this Skoda dealer before. Don't want it to happen again! :(

[adamal]

If you have vcds check the refrigerant pressure in measuring blocks. Less than 8 bar or so after a little while of running would indicate low pressure.

[Pabs]

Thanks Adamal,

 

I checked VCDS for errors again tonight - nothing logged.

I wasn't too sure which measuring blocks you refer to, but I opened 08-Auto HVAC and checked block 78 (Refrigerant pressure-MUX Kaeltemitteldruck):

 

Upon starting the car the pressure increased quickly to about 12 bar. With aircon switched on, it did vary at times, but lowest value I think was about 7.4 bar. Still felt plenty cool enough, but I suppose this isn't always a good indication.

 

I'll see what the aircon folks say on Saturday - and if they regas it fingers crossed it fixes the problems!

[lombardy]

I had exactly the same problem with my air con. When my car was in at the main dealer for its service I asked them about the noise on my air con and I asked them to re-gas it. They said they weren't allowed to do that legally because they thought there might be a leak and urged me to pay for their diagnostic test first. I declined and took it straight to F1 Autocentre who charged me £40 to re-gas it and it has been perfect ever since. That was 7 months ago! The noise went straight away. It is things like this that make you really cross with main dealers because here was a clear instance of them trying to fleece me rather than doing a simple thing.

[adamal]

12 bar sounds ok to me. 7.4 a bit low so probably worth seeing if the gas is low at the aircon place for what is a potentially cheap fix.

[Bigboy]

Just out of interest can they tell if your system needs a regass without actually re gassing it in other words when they connect up their machine to your car will it tell them if the coolant is low

Edited 3 November, 2015 by Bigboy

[FLAPPERJACK7]

Just out of interest can they tell if your system needs a regass without actually re gassing it in other words when they connect up their machine to your car will it tell them if the coolant is low

Probably not. If the system pressures are ok ie 10 bar high side and 2 bar low side ac turned on. This proves system is ok but they will not know density. The only way to know the density is to remove the refrigerant weigh it in grams or in other words an ac regas is the only way to know for sure.

Sent from my SM-G900F using Tapatalk

[Pabs]

Just an update for anyone that may be interested:

 

Had the aircon regassed - 275 grams out, 550 put back in. (Apparently the required amount) System was pressure tested all ok, but it's a 2012 plate and therefore due a regas now anyway. (Even though it was still outputting very cold air.)

 

As for the noise - I heard it again as soon as I used it for the first time, but it seemed to disappear about 5-10 seconds later and I've not yet heard it since. I am due to be using the car every day next week, and so this will be the proper test.

 

Overall I'm happy so far though - saved me going to Skoda and being charged £80 for the privilege to be told it needed regassing.

[SkodaKitteh]

Having the same droning noise in my Octy, will get the air-con serviced and re-gassed.  Thanks everyone.  :sun:

[ahenners]

Totally forgot about this thread. I posted back in November about the droning and had it re-gassed. Haven't noticed the droning since

[Cornish_Lad]

Old thread, and sorry to 'bump' but had an awfully similar noise coming from the wife's Fabia .... got the system re-gassed at ATS for £26 odd (was a Groupon special) and the noise disappeared

 

Just about to book my Octavia in next week for the same, as Groupon are again running the AirCon service for £32 odd less any Groupon voucher you can find.  

 

My local ATS (for what it's worth) were fine, no hard sell of anything, no pressure .... car was with them for an hour, and includes an antibacterial treatment as well.

[Cornish_Lad]

Just had mine degassed at ATS (courtesy of the Groupon special offer I posted above) and was advised that they took out 330g, and put back in 550g ... now this means nothing to me ...

 

Can any kind should advise as to whether the aircon coolant was low and indeed did need topping up ?  It also had an anti-bacterial treatment as well (suspect that was just an aerosol emptied into the vents) ...

 

Either way, it cost £26 odd .... took just over an hour ..

[FLAPPERJACK7]

Bargain. Basically you had 40 % of ac refrigerant missing.

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[BTW]

Just to confirm what the others have written - Octavia 2012, groaning from the A/C (sounded mechanical). My local garage told me that it was likely that there wasn't enough gas and that a valve component would be freezing up (sounded like baloney to me) BUT, after a cheap re-gas, it's all working well and no noise from the A/C.  :clap:

 

BTW

Edited 10 May, 2016 by BTW

[TheClient]

Just to confirm what the others have written - Octavia 2012, groaning from the A/C (sounded mechanical). My local garage told me that it was likely that there wasn't enough gas and that a valve component would be freezing up (sounded like baloney to me) BUT, after a cheap re-gas, it's all working well and no noise from the A/C.  :clap:

 

BTW

Yes, another to the list and useful reading this to find out what is worth trying to resolve. 2011, vRS TSI 35k miles.

 

Compressor was really groaning last few days but still produced cold air. Turned if off as didn't like the sound if it labouring.. Re-gas says 420g evacuated out and 525g back in.  The analysis said no oil out and 5g Pas oil back in. Not sure how accurate their evac analysis is and if some oil was present in the 420g figure. if there wasn't, I guess that explains the groaning won't have done it a lot of good I imagine. But not sure how it would use all the oil with only about 20% loss of refrigerant.   Sounds a lot better now, hope it stays that way for a while..

[Hough1981]

Sorry to dig up an old thread. Noticed my Octy squealing a little when A/C is turned on, then stops when it is turned off. Found a deal on Groupon for £24 for a/c regas, partnered with a 25% off local deals from groupon voucher gives me a bargain price of £18 for an Aircon regas. Shall post my results.....