My aircon seems to kick in after 5mins of driving/idling. Compressor has already been replaced, I also replaced the failed fan (causing the compressor to fail). The car cools really nicely after approx 5mins, but by that time i've already cooked in the recent weather. I had initailly thought it was the control unit and my frustrated/random button pressing got the aircon going, but its not that. I've reset the flaps through both VCDS and recirc/econ button pressing. No errors being flagged up on VCDS.

 

Any ideas? Lots of forum posts about aircon stopping after 5mins; yet havent found anything on it starting after 5mins.

Cheers,

 

Steve

Mine did something like this, then I left it at the airport for 2 weeks and then it didn't do anything at all, just hissed out of the middle vents. So I locked it in Econ and got it booked in soon to get it checked out.

I've been running it like for ages now, the compressor is relatively new and the a/c fan too, so I can only assume its a sensor or something mechanical sticking thats causing it to jam.

Whats interesting is the a/c kicks in at the same point on the to work and on the way home from work every day (and I know when its actually in a/c mode as I get a horrid smell-which is improving the more cleaner and the more I use the A/C)

Mine did this when low on gas. I suspect it took longer to compress as it was less pressurised in the first place.

Got it refilled with gas, initially it didn't work and the guy had to manually clear the low pressure fault code before the compressor would kick in. Quite a scare followed by relief. He said the system had no gas in it whatsoever when I brought it in.

Good result. But keep an eye as to be that low suggests a leak to me. And the compressor shouldn't be run ehen gas is very low I believe.

I'd been meaning to get it regassed for a while as I don't think its ever had its done and its 6 this year. I did turn off the AC as soon as I realised it was doing something odd (hissing at me and no cold air). Lets hope it stays working

Mine has occasionally seemed slow in starting up when the car was blazing hot but kicked in before I started moving.

Might be worth your while getting a leakage dye test done if you haven't already.

 

My Pre-FL Octavia started doing the gurgling/hissing thing with a general drop in cooling back in April & I got it refilled.

 

At the time, they put some UV dye in which came in handy when the car started gurgling/hissing again last week as it showed up a tiny leak in the high-pressure switch which was replaced yesterday.

 

Nice & cool (not to mention quiet) again now.

looks like i'll be getting it tested/refilled again. Shame as when I purchased the car the aircon didnt work at all, kwikfit didnt charge me to empty, pressure test and refill; but it did cost me a new compressor. Now it looks like the compressor is fine, but im losing gas! One day I will get to the bottom of this and enjoy my Octavia with aircon that works!

 

 

Mine has occasionally seemed slow in starting up when the car was blazing hot but kicked in before I started moving.

 

The climatronic seems to ramp up the blower speeds after start up, but even by the time its on full its still blowing hot. Its after 5mins of driving the aircon kicks in and I get cold air.

 

On Friday I went to my local skoda dealership for a full aircon service (including a regas) and they came back 45mins later and said that all was ok (actually refusing to take £50 from me) as the aircon function was no different. They confirmed that the system as a whole appeared to operate and there was gas in the system at the correct pressure, but something wasnt right if the aircon wouldnt function on ignition.

Does anyone have any ideas? The compressor appears to work (it does go cold after 5mins of driving), no VCDS faults on the HVAC module (or elsewhere) and the climatronic flaps have been reset. The fans have been replaced and appear to operate (with ECON turned off) and stop spinning when ECON is on, though they dont spin initially (from cold start) but surely this expected as the engine/compressor wont need cooling?!?

You're lucky Steve, my local Skoda told me that I need a new compressor (about £800 they reckon), even though the compressor is working after engine is warm?   I have a very similar problem to you, takes about 10 mins to get cold air first thing in the day. 

 

2006 2.0 tdi 140 DSG 45k miles.

 

I have noticed that the fans do not come on from cold, or when I press the a/c button (Manual a/c only).  I compared with my mates Golf (same year and engine etc.), his engine was warm at the time, press the a/c button and the fans started slowly straight away, and they went off immediately the a/c was turned off.  Mine do not do this, they only run fast, and only once the engine is warm, they don't seem to come on in relation to the a/c button, but merely with increased engine temps, and never slowly?  My reading on here and the symptoms indicate that its the high pressure sensor or the fans themselves?  Just bought a VCDS today and now need to work-out how to use it with my laptop.... will let you know if I have any fault codes etc...

In my case its not the compressor, its the signal to the compressor (RCV-Refrigerant Control Valve). The part isnt available in the UK and you may be forced to buy a new compressor.

Oldjohn did loads of research on this and combined with a willing AC Specialist we were able to fit the new valve into the existing compressor and get an instant solution.

 

Thanks to Oldjohn for getting the parts imported from overseas and I hope it solves your delayed aircon like it solved mine!

Steve

How much did it cost you? I suspect I my need to get this one as I got my air con regased a few weeks ago but it's still blowing hot air.

Well, over a month all the gas escaped again and I got the hissing back. So took it back to the mechanic, they couldn't find a leak, so refilled it FOC and it went back again a few days later. They found two tiny holes in the condenser pipework, so I have had a new one fitted.

 

I'm thinking to put in a metal mesh behind the front grille to keep stones off it.

New RCV valve fitted yesterday, tried from cold this morning and was working straight away for the first time in ages.  The new valve seems to have done the trick, it can take 3 hours to install (for an expert), the platic engine protector and wheel arch liner need to be removed first.  The system evacuated, then all compressor connections removed, the compressor drops out through the wheel arch.  The valve is quick to replace.  I think the valves either become faulty or slightly clogged with debris causing them to operate lazily.  We will now see how long the compressor lasts with it's new valve?  Who knows, it may last a week, it may last two years or more?

 

During the last few weeks I have learnt that CompressorTech in Birmingham are about the most knowledgeable and the cheapest for replacement compressors, if you actually need one that is....

 

Special thanks to Steve_Birdie for his help and input into solving my a/c issue.

 

Top tip, if you can't find the valve anywhere in the EU try Alibaba.com (like ebay), they are about £30 including postage from China.  If you don't have working a/c that takes a few minutes from a cold engine to start blowing cold, then it probably isn't the RCV, a VCDS lead really helps you see what's happening when you press the a/c button.

 

Oldjohn

So are Skoda dealers fitting people up over A/C issues?

I think the fact that they are dealers means they can only supply the parts that Skoda have on their shelves, and these are not.  Draw your own conclusions as to why Skoda don't bother selling the valves on their own, there are many reasons I suspect.  One being, that the labour costs of removing, supplying and installing a new valve are probably higher than the cost of the compressor itself at £100 ph plus VAT, making it a costly gamble if it doesn't cure the problem?  Another reason might be that it was swarf from a failing compressor that blocked the valve in the first place?  I'm sure Skoda have their reasons, be it economic or otherwise?  But, drivers of 5 yr old Skodas aren't made of money, that's for sure.  Skoda are in the business of selling new cars mainly, let's face it, they get less interested in you the older your car gets, don't they?