Fabia Aircondition Problem

[airwolf]

Although I'm happy with my Fabia (2 years old now), its a/c was never one of its strong points. This month however I have noticed a dramatic deterioration of the a/c's cooling efficiency. I am having to leave the a/c full on (maximum cold with blower speed 4) and recirc activated for the whole duration of my journeys - and the cooling is still unsatisfactory. What could be wrong? Any help please?

Thank you

[rum4mo]

I'd say take it to an A/C specialist, maybe a mobile one can come to you as it sounds like it has lost quite a bit of its gas charge - so might have a leak somewhere.

[faboka vrs]

Is the compressor working? Way to test is hold both AC piping in the engine bay. One should get colder trhan the other. Also check to see if the AC condensor (radiator) fan is working.

Kwik fit are good for a regas. Charge £45 and if they can't improve it you dont have to pay.

[Soot1e]

Is this problem not covered by the Skoda warranty?

[rum4mo]

Is this problem not covered by the Skoda warranty?

I thought that there was a general feeling that this A/C stuff usually went down as wear and tear - so you ended up paying for it - no?

[Pete]

If you do go to Kwikfit - mind what they tell you, and what they do. I called round last year for a quick recharge of my aircon in my fabia vrs - I seemed to be out of gas and thought I might be leaking. They recharged it and checked for leaks - claimed there were no leaks, but I was out of gas again within a week or so. Went back, they again charged it and claimed there were no leaks. In a week or two, I was out of gas, and went back. They recharged it and said there were no leaks. (there is a pattern here, no?). Anyhow, I got fedup and never went back again. I left the aircon off for a few weeks, and then nipped into another garage where they found leaks using dye, and a damaged compressor caused by lack of oil in the system. One new compressor, a new condenser, and a flushed system later, my aircon is working again. I blamed kwik fit for repeatedly recharging my system - they carried on saying there were no leaks. When I asked them where all the gas went, they said they didn't know, but I had no leaks.

Pete

[rum4mo]

Pete, I suppose unfortunately that is a salutary lesson for any of us that consider a quick top up! Everytime the system leaks, as some of the system's lubricating oil gets picked up and carried round the system with the gas/liquid, some oil will get lost. If KwikFit are just gassing up and checking at the system then cools, and giving it a quick "sniff" for leaks, then they are being more than a little naughty - and repeating this on a car that they have topped up recently is even more naughty for a A/C qualified person to do. But worse than that, it seems now that so much of the system lubricating oil has been lost that you have had a compressor failure - are you sure that this is what has happened and not that the condensor has sprung a leak and moisture has got into the system and that and the subsequent oil loss has caused the compressor to fail. One guy at work found that a pipe had cracked at the compressor on his Mondeo, got it replaced etc and the A/C was okay, another guy has the same problem and its been like this for a couple of years, and he thinks that replacing this totally sheared pipe and regassing will fix his A/C cheaply - I'd think that his compressor will now be U/S - a bit like your one went.

One last thing before someone points it out, most small "top up" cans of stuff you buy at Halfords etc do contain some oil - for that very reason that if gas has got out then some oil will have too!

Edited 13 June, 2009 by rum4mo
wrote evaporator instead of condensor!

[Soot1e]

I thought that there was a general feeling that this A/C stuff usually went down as wear and tear - so you ended up paying for it - no?

Even so most new car a/c systems last well in to their 5th and 6th year without problems. In the OP case there may be an underlying mechanical reason why the a/c system is not kicking out enough cold air. Best to go to the Main dealer for leak testing etc. and hope for compromise on the cost, well thats what I would do.

[airwolf]

Thank you.

[skod fab]

I'd say take it to an A/C specialist, maybe a mobile one can come to you as it sounds like it has lost quite a bit of its gas charge - so might have a leak somewhere.

[skod fab]

i have the same problem but on my fabia classic it dont work at all not even the fan i have it in greece aswell when the temp is like 38 degrees

anyone have any idea what this could be it has gas the normal amount ....ps also it feels very hot near the feet at night even though its on the cold setting