Was wondering if anyone had had their octavia aircon regassed, and how often it should be done.

Now cold weather is here, I would expect that when I get into a cold car, the climatronic thing if set to auto & windscreen should clear the windows pretty fast. I had to sit in the car for about 3-5 mins the other night before I could see well enough to drive.

Outside of glass was not even frosted.

Ive just re read the manual about the best strategy for clearing a windscreen - closing vents and turning heat up to HI etc so will try again next time. but It wasnt as fast as I thought it should be.

Anyone else got any ideas on this - am I being impatient?

Was wondering if anyone had had their octavia aircon regassed' date=' and how often it should be done.

Now cold weather is here, I would expect that when I get into a cold car, the climatronic thing if set to auto & windscreen should clear the windows pretty fast. I had to sit in the car for about 3-5 mins the other night before I could see well enough to drive.

Outside of glass was not even frosted.

Ive just re read the manual about the best strategy for clearing a windscreen - closing vents and turning heat up to HI etc so will try again next time. but It wasnt as fast as I thought it should be.

Anyone else got any ideas on this - am I being impatient?[/quote']

Climatronic - when outside temperature is below 5 deg C, the compressor is prevented from working to stop icing of the evaporator, therefore the lack of quick demist. Don't know what your variant of climatronic looks like but on most models the control panel usually flashes at start up if the gas has depleted to a level preventing operation (low pressure).

So - there's probably nowt wrong.

Ah right. Its not displaying any errors etc or anything. The OCtavia RS climatronic is the same as the one in the Passats and Golfs etc. Sort of car stereo size with a big long green display.

And in answer to your first question we advise you have the gas renewed every to years.

And in answer to your first question we advise you have the gas renewed every to years.

Could you explain why??

Refridgerant doesnt go off or become ineffective. It may leak through a dry seal or joint but it doesnt go off.

Could you explain why??

He probably would, but it won't be the correct answer....

:P

I would be interested to hear why every two years as well please. Also how much this costs.

Ive never had re regas any of my othr air conned cars - the scoob was 4 years old and still on its original gas.

A couple of reasons.

Every a/c system leaks, be it through flexable pipes (rubber hoses etc) seals whatever. Every a/c system has a set amount of oil in the system, this is used to lubricate parts of the system i.e the compressor. The oil is moved around the system by the gas. If the gas is low the oil doesnt move causing wear and damage to components. You'd be suprised how little the gas quantity needs to drop before the oil stops getting around.

Not applicable to the A4 Octavia but certainly to the Fabia and the new A5 Octavia it is essentail that a service is carried out every two years. These compressors are constantly driven and never fully switch off, even when you have it switched off the compressor still runs at a 2% duty cycle. It for this reason that VAG are considering putting together a service schedule for a/c much like brake fluid every 2 years.

He probably would' date=' but it won't be the correct answer....

[/quote']

And that means what exactly?

Air Con re-gas every 2 years for the new octy???

That's quite likely to count against it when i come to changing my car....

A couple of reasons.

Every a/c system leaks' date=' be it through flexable pipes (rubber hoses etc) seals whatever. Every a/c system has a set amount of oil in the system, this is used to lubricate parts of the system i.e the compressor. The oil is moved around the system by the gas. If the gas is low the oil doesnt move causing wear and damage to components. You'd be suprised how little the gas quantity needs to drop before the oil stops getting around.

Not applicable to the A4 Octavia but certainly to the Fabia and the new A5 Octavia it is essentail that a service is carried out every two years. These compressors are constantly driven and never fully switch off, even when you have it switched off the compressor still runs at a 2% duty cycle. It for this reason that VAG are considering putting together a service schedule for a/c much like brake fluid every 2 years.[/quote']

Sorry, but the premise that a car air-con system needs a service every 2 years is total tosh.

If your telling me that the hoses used are permiable then I suggest the car makers use a hose that isnt (copper more instance). The only reason an air-con system would leak is if a joint isnt right, or a seal dried through lack of use. But that should also be put into context as the amount of oil flowing around your air con system is minute in comparrison to the oil bath for the compressor. If there was that much oil flowing around then the system would block....R134A is very small molecularly and easily escapes and blocks compared to the now illegal R12.

I also fail to see how the air con system on different models comes into effect either. If the air-con system is sound the thats it. Or are you saying that that newer cars have vastly inferior components than the previous version?

For what its worth, when my old Octy had an air-con system failure it was me who diagnosed a lack of gas.This is very simple if you know how to use a set of refridgeration gauges ie to test low and high sides...and even then they argued it " seems cold enough sir"

A final question to ponder......would you expect to need a 2 yearly service on your home fridge or freezer?. Of course you wouldnt.

If however the car systems are designed to leak, then perhaps some Euro/Government regulation should apply to you/the car maker for allowing uncontrolled release of HCFC gases into the atmosphere...the old CFC regulations stipulated up to a

everywhere i ask they say around 18 months to 2 years at a cost of around

A/C systems on car need flexable hoses due to engine movement etc. Its a fact that these hoses over a certain time bleed gas out of the system. Yes is a perfect world all the pipes would be solid and more importantly lagged as in your fridge and building a/c systems. 50% of the total oil in the a/c is distirbuted around the lines etc and 50% stays in the sump of the compressor, the oil in the comprssor sump however doesnt lubricate the pistons in the compressor. This is done by the saturated gas.

Also gas can leak from your condensor due to damage etc, when i usually doa service on the a/c system I add a dye to check for leaks etc, would it not be better for the system to diagnose a leak before it becomes a problem?

And what I was saying about newer cars is not about poor components, its the fact that systems operate different now. Whereas on an older system the compressor isnt running all the time its not so imperative that the gas be at full charge. But on a new system it could be running with insuffcient oil.

Fridge pipes arent lagged with 1 exception generally.

If 50 % of the system oil is in the pipes, why doesnt the capillary block?

Copper tubing can be sprung and abel to take mild engine movement. The reason car makers dont use copper is purely cost.

A fridge will leak at the condenser, or evaporator if you puncture it with a knife trying to chip ice away.

Sorry but you dont convince me. I see this purely as a get out for car makers to cover their backs with inferior parts and operations, as well as another way of screwing money out of the consumer and trying to pin them down to franchised dealers.

Perhaps if more dealers actually had qualified refridgeration engineers (and I mean domestic/ commercial refridgeration) then perhaps these sort of practices would be null and void.

Fair enough, you dont want your a/c system serviced.

It may be something to consider when comparing a fridge to a cars a/c system. You fridge will spend most of its life sat in the corner of the kitchen. Stick four wheels on it and drive it to work and back for two years and see if it still works. A fridge will not have to work in the large operating temp range that a cars system does, and doesnt get bouced down the motorway at 80mph.

And as for a get out for inferior parts, you car is stil covered by warranty on your a/c system atm regardless if you actually have a service or not. but say for example your condensor starts leaking due to a very small perferation by a stone (not covered by warranty) your a/c will stop working. If you have not had a service and no dye has been added your will get charged for adding dye, refilling the system and then testing it until a leak is found. If you have had an a/c service, the dye will have been in there to start with and will have leaked out the hole, diagnosis will take next to no time.

And I am a qualified motor vehicle a/c enginner. But I am also selling a service, so of course my opinion is going to be biased.

And also which capilary are you refering to that can get blocked by PAG Oil?

No, I dont want my A/C serviced every 2 years, to me its a rip off.

"It may be something to consider when comparing a fridge to a cars a/c system. You fridge will spend most of its life sat in the corner of the kitchen. Stick four wheels on it and drive it to work and back for two years and see if it still works. A fridge will not have to work in the large operating temp range that a cars system does, and doesnt get bouced down the motorway at 80mph."

A fridge system is a fridge system. It should be designed to be rugged enough for its enviromental conditions.

"And as for a get out for inferior parts, you car is stil covered by warranty on your a/c system atm regardless if you actually have a service or not. but say for example your condensor starts leaking due to a very small perferation by a stone (not covered by warranty) your a/c will stop working. If you have not had a service and no dye has been added your will get charged for adding dye, refilling the system and then testing it until a leak is found. If you have had an a/c service, the dye will have been in there to start with and will have leaked out the hole, diagnosis will take next to no time."

If manufacturers were that concerned they would instal the UV dye as standard.

"And also which capilary are you refering to that can get blocked by PAG Oil?"

That will be the capillary that runs from the dryer (inside the evaporater suction line) to the evaporater.

Havent read the whole thread, but after 3 1/2 years my octy vRS climatronic is just as efficent as it was on day 1, and has no attention from the dealer.

Told you you wouldn't get the right answer.

You set me off now....

As I found on other forums, evertime the subject of a/c servicing crops up, the "experts" show up. Usually, as here, they are people who profit from a/c servicing or others who are absolutely convinced that their way is the only way.

The analogy of having a bosch fridge-freezer strapped into my engine bay doesn't hold any sway with me either.

Let me state the following to illustrate

If you buy a Toyota, its highly unlikekly you'll ever need your a/c repaired (aka serviced) unless its damaged. If on the other hand you buy a VW Sharan (or its sisters) you are virtually guaranteed a constantly leaking wallet chasing leaks and corroded bits and bobs.

My experience of dealer service and a/c is that things go rapidly downhill as soon as they touch one. UV dye? Ha. Three attempts and

Sadly the days of using high and low gauges to check the air-con system seem to be gone, this was a far easier and quicker way of telling if the system is fully charged, blocked,or weak compressor.

As for the dryer not being replaced, I have noticed that and pointed it out top a few VW personel, the reply being one of cost reduction.

Try doing that with a domestic fridge/freezer.

I is confused now

Should the dealers be replacing driers or anything during a service? Ive not asked my dealer to do anything to my AC yet. Car has just turned 3 yeard old.

Are there any servicable parts on the AC system? Filetes etc? I am completley ignorant when it comes to this he he :confused:

Dont worry Paul.

The only time VAG advise replacement of the reciever dryer or filter dryer (depending on model) is when the system has been opened for component replacement.

Also for anyone carrying out repairs remember if replacing a compressor they are as they are fitted on the assembly line, they have 100% system oil capacity in them. You need to drain the oil from the old compressor, weigh the oil, then adjust the new compressor to the same amount. If this is not done you run the risk of having to much oil in the system and hydraulicing (sp?) the compressor. Also the air gap needs to be set correctly on the magnetic coupling (if it has one). This was the problem with A4 Octavia compressors when the clutch used to fall off, the air gap wasnt set right and it used to drag, excess heat build up caused the nylon in the locknut to melt and the nut came loose.

A little off the track but some info for you.

Well I don't claim to be an aircon expert , but systems installed in office buildings do get periodic services so it's not unreasonable to expect that a car system would also need attention occasionally.

I won't be getting mine done after two years as I'm sure that manufaturers and dealers build in a very good safety margin to their "replace every 2 years..." items but neither would I see it as a rip off if I get it done after say three years for 60 quid.

Usually the service consists of

Evac and Re-gas (and addition of UV dye, also any PAG Oil removed during evac replaced)

Check and clear any fault codes in a/c system control unit

Reset Climatic/Climatronic motors (as some of you know these can loose settings creating all sorts of hot/cold problems)

Clean Condensor from foriegn objects and dirt

Clean bacteria from Evaporator by a means of a spray

Leak check

Performance check (a/c should reach around 5 degrees, but genrally wont cool more that 15 degrees below ambient so on a really hot day it may well struggle).

Ok its not completely neccersary as mentioned before, but isn't most routine maintainance like that? Why change your Haldex oil at 20k when it gets a full oil and filter at 40k, wont it last until then, chances are yes it will.

The missuz has been on the phone saying its defo not working as it took about 15-20 mins to clear the screen last night.

Would peeps recomend main / franchised dealer for ac sericing or a local independant specialist - eg http://www.autoclimate.com.

ta

Out of interest Ross - since I got the Fabia back after the accident the air con goes mad and frequently sticks on 30 degrees.

Turning the engine off and restarting cures this but it's a pain.

It's going in for a service next week so hopefully it will get sorted.

Does any of the air con stuff run in the passenger side of the engine bay?