For the past couple of weeks I have had a noise that has been growing in volume coming from (kit appears) the off-side of the engine. It sounds like a broken bearing or similar and got worse if I switched the AC off or to Econ.

Last night the bloody thing sounded like a cement mixer, so having already booked it in to the garage for a look see today, was happy that it was going to be fixed.

But..... when I started the car and drove it 6 or so miles to the garage, barely a peep, much less a grinding sound, was heard! So difficult to diagnose the problem, me'thinks.:thumbdwn:

A quick call to the garage just now and they say that the AC pulley is worn and are looking for a proce of me. So to my question, is this a big job and what sort fo money should I be shelling out for the bits? Also, any clues as to why the noise, which as I said was bloody loud and sounded dramatic (expensive), wnet away?

Rgds

BG

It's been well covered before, but briefly:-

The noise was the bolt that holds the a/c drive pulley onto the compressor coming loose, and allowing the pulley to move in and out on the shaft.

The getting worse phase was the loose pulley rounding off the square drive on the compressor.

The sudden quiet this morning was the round shaft in a square hole not driving the air con at all.

You now need a new compressor, drive pulley, and system regas. You can either pay a Skoda dealership, or find an automotive aircon specialist, and save about half the Skoda price.

It's been well covered before, but briefly:-

The noise was the bolt that holds the a/c drive pulley onto the compressor coming loose, and allowing the pulley to move in and out on the shaft.

The getting worse phase was the loose pulley rounding off the square drive on the compressor.

The sudden quiet this morning was the round shaft in a square hole not driving the air con at all.

You now need a new compressor, drive pulley, and system regas. You can either pay a Skoda dealership, or find an automotive aircon specialist, and save about half the Skoda price.

Spot on as always.

Skoda will want probably a grand plus so shop around. Its a very common vag problem across the whole range so lots of cheaper sources for the compressor. theres loads of info on the forum if you do a search

I'd guessed £400 to 500 all in, including Badger's Bit, from an aircon specialist, depending mostly on labour rates in East Anglia.

I'd guessed £400 to 500 all in, including Badger's Bit, from an aircon specialist, depending mostly on labour rates in East Anglia.

Sounds about right for an independant, I would lioke to hear the stealers quote

Chaps,

Advice spot on!

I saw the offending bit of the air con compressor that made all the noise (KenONeill, again spot on!) was indeed a nicely rounded off square shaft.

I was quoted about £450 inc labour & regas to replace the pulley, or £500 inc labour etc for a new compressor. Guess which option I took?

The extra £50 is for peace of mind - as the guy in the garage said that in all likelihood, given my Octy has passed 100K miles, disturbing the compressor to fit a new pulley will probably result in a knackered compressor at a later date. So next Monday I return to have it fixed.

Is it OK to give the garage a mention, as I have used them for a while and have always been impresed with service and cost ?

Thanks again all.

BG

Chaps,

Advice spot on!

I saw the offending bit of the air con compressor that made all the noise (KenONeill, again spot on!) was indeed a nicely rounded off square shaft.

I was quoted about £450 inc labour & regas to replace the pulley, or £500 inc labour etc for a new compressor. Guess which option I took?

The extra £50 is for peace of mind - as the guy in the garage said that in all likelihood, given my Octy has passed 100K miles, disturbing the compressor to fit a new pulley will probably result in a knackered compressor at a later date. So next Monday I return to have it fixed.

Is it OK to give the garage a mention, as I have used them for a while and have always been impresed with service and cost ?

Thanks again all.

BG

Good advice from your chap, we replaced the pulley on ours with a s/hand one at just over 100,000, ours is now on 136000 & the compressor is now leaking. Personally I dont see a problem in giving them a mention

No problem, as long as your only connection with the business is as a customer.

Further to my Octy AC Pulley saga, I would like to give a mention to the place where I get my car looked after. The chaps at:

Kings Lynn VW Centre Ltd

28, Fields, King's Austin Lynn, Norfolk PE30 1PH

Tel: 01553 777010

do a great job!

BG