FMDSH, what is it?

Full Main Dealer Service History.

And the air conditioning system is not sealed. A shaft passes through mechanical seals to drive the compressor. Time and lack of use allows the refrigerant to leak past the seals.

Coolant radiator, intercooler(for a diesel) and air-con condenser are sandwiched at the front of the car. No idea in which order they present. On my old Passat the coolant radiator was first in line to the salt spray and started to leak at 80,000miles.

Will update on Tuesday evening.

The condenser badly bitten just under the number plate grill but fine behind the bonnet and that's why the engine temperature ok

There are two normal problems with condensers. 1 being leakage - you will always see an oily mess on or behind the condenser. 2 being blocked air flow. If you read his last post the air flow must be ok because his engine temperature is fine, ie the air goes through the condenser before getting to the radiator. If blocked - less air to radiator - hot engine.

If he gets air con man out he can leak check with a sniffer even if he has to put a little gas in if totally empty.

Just trying to save the guy a few hard earned pounds. Plus I can tell without seeing the car because I used to be an air con engineer in a previous job.

Regards

Pete

And how do you know there is no sign of oil? Oh, and there is not ALWAYS a mass of oil when there is a leak. And yes I do know what I'm talking about being a former commercial vehicle technician, including refrigeration. There may well be signs of oil you can't see in the pictures. You can't just say that it's not a condenser issue.

Edited 5 May, 201313 yr by JB-)

And how do you know there is no sign of oil? Oh, and there is not ALWAYS a mass of oil when there is a leak. And yes I do know what I'm talking about being a former commercial vehicle technician, including refrigeration. There may well be signs of oil you can't see in the pictures. You can't just say that it's not a condenser issue.

I give up mate leave it in your capable hands. Ps re read ALL the OP posts.

And how do you know there is no sign of oil? Oh, and there is not ALWAYS a mass of oil when there is a leak. And yes I do know what I'm talking about being a former commercial vehicle technician, including refrigeration. There may well be signs of oil you can't see in the pictures. You can't just say that it's not a condenser issue.

I'm not for 100% sure but when I was looking the place under the condenser there nothing like oil.... but I may not see it...

Was to the Skoda dealer today, explain the problems, they said i have to pay £50+VAT to detect the problem in 7 days time after re-gas the system.Fine!

Went to air con specialist in Hunger Lane, West London, he said that he gona charge me £65+VAT to find the problem in 30 min time while I wait. Told him if he accept just £65 without VAT we would get a deal, he said OK and the job agreed.

Well, I was seating in the office with some car magazine in hends when he call me to the worshop and ask my opinion about the problem, after this long topic I was not stupid in this any more and he feels that.... Suggestion been my heavy bitten by stone chips condenser and he said that I wrong.

When the technician connect their hell machine to the car they found lot of gas still there, no even trace of the leak but COMPRESSOR is dead!!!!

Ok, fine, the problem found, second thing was the cost of repair. The owner of the garage told me that is not a big deal if i pay him £635.

The price include: 1 Reconditioned air compressor.

1 New condenser

- Alternator clutch replacement

- Regasing

- Labor

-One year warranaty for all system

http://s1172.photobucket.com/user/krotov71/media/IMG_07811_zps827fa56f.jpg.html

http://s1172.photobucket.com/user/krotov71/media/IMG_07801_zps3fc132e4.jpg.html

What do you think about it guys???????

To give you an idea of costs you can source the parts - compressor - £230, condensor £70. Not sure why you will need an alternator clutch replacement. Regas £50 so a good £350 in parts

To replace the compressor is fairly simple but the condenser is a pain as it requires the rads all to come out which is not a 2 second job.

It doesn't sound too far out of the ball park. Now you know its faulty just ring up a few air con places and get some quotes.

To give you an idea of costs you can source the parts - compressor - £230, condensor £70. Not sure why you will need an alternator clutch replacement. Regas £50 so a good £350 in parts

To replace the compressor is fairly simple but the condenser is a pain as it requires the rads all to come out which is not a 2 second job.

It doesn't sound too far out of the ball park. Now you know its faulty just ring up a few air con places and get some quotes.

Super post, thank you

All garages are greedy like hell so I don't really believe in good discount.

To give you an idea of costs you can source the parts - compressor - £230, condensor £70. Not sure why you will need an alternator clutch replacement. Regas £50 so a good £350 in parts

Compressor breaking down can (sometimes) stall the alternator - mine did anyway and caused all sorts of problems.

I had my compressor replaced early last year with a 2012 spec, brand new Sanden unit guaranteed for 2 years. With gas, etc i got a bill for less than £500.

My a/c guy is in the process of giving up his unit and going almost exclusively mobile - doesn't bother me and won't stop me using his services.

One thought occurred to me - my a/c man told me the Skoda has a relatively small capacity system, which would suggest that when the gas runs out (stopping the circulation of lubricant) the pumps then pack up readily.

Skoda said that is not neceserely to replace all stuff if only compressor faulty. But a/c man said if he take the compressor off and see some parts flakes there then condenser should be replaced because of filter which is one part with condenser. So I ask him only compressor to change. Price is £385 . Skoda dealer £950 compressor and about £300 labor! No difference?...

If you are replacing the compressor due to an internal fault the system must be flushed which means the drier must be replaced. On one of the types of condenser fitted (there are at least two types) the drier is part of the condenser. when ou flush the expansion valve needs to be removed and a dummy put in its place so the system is open to flush.

So you will at the very least need

Compressor

Condenser (or drier if available on its own)

Seals (these must be replaced)

And at the very least give the expansion valve a good clean out as its not in the system when flushed.

Also worth noting a genuine compressor holds 100% oil capacity for the entire system. This isn't an issue if flushing the system as that will remove all the old oil. However if you are replacing due to a faulty drive coupling then it is essential to remove the old compressor and drain out the old oil into a measuring jug (or similar) and match the same ammount of oil in the new compressor. If you just bolt it up and run it there is a very good chance you are going to damage the new one due to too much oil being in the system.

I God! It is useful but for me to complicate. I hope a/c man knows what's he doing if give a warranty for the job. I'd like to safe some money on it. Skoda said just compressor change and probably good flush and ac should good. Thank you for the good respond