Just to add some information regarding the recent Aircon threads. I had my aircon serviced today, car is exactly two years old. From new the system is charged with 550g of R134a gas. I was surprised to see that the volume of gas extracted was 540g so only 10g lost over two years, which is only a 1.8% loss.

My previous car, a 2005 VW Polo 1.4MPi lost all of it's gas over 3 years, yet no leaks could be found. Can't remember if it had a magnetic clutch compressor, or if it had the same constant 2% flow even with aircon off, as the Fabia has.

Fabia had lost 4ml of lub oil, out of 150ml, so again a very low loss rate.

Cost £45, but worth it for piece of mind as compressors are not cheap

Will have it checked gain in 3 years time, assuming I still gave the car.

If your Polo really was a 2005 one - or at least a 9N*, if would also have the same "clutch-less" compressor - "they" ie Fabia>Polo 9N>Ibiza 6L were/are all fitted with the same type of compressor. It was only the previous Polo 6N and Ibiza 6K that had the "clutch" type compressor - and all other VAG cars at that time.

Out of interest, what sort of place did your A/C service as that is not a dealer price, also how did they gauge how much oil had been lost as when the gas/liquid is recovered some of the oil will come out with it - but can be seperated out for weighing in the recovery unit. I think/thought that some places have a bit of kit that uses an indicator "paper" and passes the charge over it to gauge if the oil "level" is correct. What really annoys me about normal places that just have a recovery system and someone certified to handle gases - and that includes dealers, is that the recovery system automatically completes this task, so, if it can create a vac of a certain level within a certain period of time, then you have not got a leak - it just means taht you do not have a large leak - and you then find the liquid vanishes while the system is working due to higher pressures and temperatures. I know time is money, but pressure testing for a couple of hours using nitrogen is still the smarter way to prove a system.

Edited 4 July, 200916 yr by rum4mo

Go it done at Kwik Fit using CoolTech equipment. Checked their rather large print out against the Skoda Aircon Manual, and it all matches.

I think the 9N polo I had was leaking somewhere, but must confess it only did 9000 miles in 3.5 years, so non use of aircon may have been the cause. Nice enough car, but boring.

I was going to use an aircon specialist in Edinburgh, but it was more than double the price.

Mine is an 04 and dont think its ever been done.

think its worth doing? how long does it take?

Mine is an 04 and dont think its ever been done.

think its worth doing? how long does it take?

Takes an hour, as they hold the system in deep vacuum for 45 minutes to test for leaks, and it also draws out any moisture in the system.

I would think after 5 years it would need a recharge mate. If the gas level gets too low the aircon wont function, as low pressure sensor will prevent any flow to protect the system. However the compressor is always turning (2% when off) so a lack of lubrication could be expensive to put right.

If the system fails the leak test, Kwik Fit don't charge you a penny.

Cheers. Its still blowing cold, but might pop into kwik fit next week