Hello everyone,

 

The aircon in my Octavia had been slowly losing pressure for a while and last autumn I got a mobile aircon guy in to look at it. He diagnosed a leaking condenser due to stone damage. This was duly replaced by him for £250 in total, which I thought was quite reasonable.

 

The aircon had since been working fine until the recent warm weather when I noticed there didn't seem to be any cooling anymore. I got the same chap back, and he diagnosed, yes you guessed it, stone damage to the condenser again. I was sceptical initially but he pressurised the system with nitrogen, sprayed the condenser with a soap solution and sure enough there was a tiny stream of bubbles coming from the front of the new consenser. So another bill for £250 only six months after the previous one 

 

Have I just been unusually unlucky? I don't remember driving on any roads with recent stone chippings in the last six months particularly. The aircon engineer reckoned gritter trucks can be responsible for this happening by flinging sharp pieces of grit through the front grille of the car as they pass.

 

Has anyone else got through a condenser as quickly as this? I am seriously considering putting some sort of mesh behind the lower part of the grille to reduce the chances of this happening again.

 

I am seriously considering putting some sort of mesh behind the lower part of the grille to reduce the chances of this happening again.

That's exactly what I did after mine was replaced.

I've had to replace two condensers in my old Octy, for the same reason.

 

I was informed by Whiitehill Motors, near Gravesend, Kent, that there is a genuine VW stoneguard that clips to the lower-half of the condensr.

The part-no. is not known to me but a google might help.

 

If you can fir some protective mesh behind the grille too, that would probably save you a few pennies!

 

DC 

Condenser protector part numbers, ex' Whitehill.............

 

Protector.               1KO 820 746  1-off  @ £6.41 each  + VAT

Securing Clips.       3DO 867 646  8-off @ £0.28  each  + VAT

 

HTH, David C.

Thanks for the suggestions and particularly for those part numbers, much appreciated.

Condenser protector part numbers, ex' Whitehill.............

Protector. 1KO 820 746 1-off @ £6.41 each + VAT

Securing Clips. 3DO 867 646 8-off @ £0.28 each + VAT

HTH, David C.

Is this a VW part or a Skoda part?

Is this a VW part or a Skoda part?

It's a Skoda part.

It wasn't initially designed to protect against stones, but it seems particularly effective against the small, sharp stones that do the damage. You do need to check the grille from time to time as they do get cracked when hit by larger stones.

My used Octavia looked like its condenser was on its last legs so I bought a sheet of 5mm square galvanised mesh from a local DIY chain, the kind sold as bird caging.

Folded it in half and affixed to bodywork in front of condenser with cable ties, I sleep better now.

just open the windows

 

my last car had air con after that went i managed 4 years without needing it

 

then again i live in scotland

My used Octavia looked like its condenser was on its last legs so I bought a sheet of 5mm square galvanised mesh from a local DIY chain, the kind sold as bird caging.

Folded it in half and affixed to bodywork in front of condenser with cable ties, I sleep better now.

Copycat!

 

Except mine is 6mm and spray painted black.

Are you sure he replaced the first one and didn't just bodge it?

@Huskoda

I actually used black Hammerite!

@moanthebairns

I live in Scotland and there are a few days when air con is a blessing.

Old car had busted air con and sitting in pal's jag with cooled seats was just the thing for Betty Swallocks!

I may be tempted this year to get one of those airflow seat cushions that plug into the cigarette lighter socket .

Are you sure he replaced the first one and didn't just bodge it?

 

Yes the first condenser was the original black-painted VAG one with numerous battle scars on it, the replacement is silver coloured, a different make and a slightly different design, and was definitely brand new at the time. Still looks almost brand new now apart from the tiny hole in it!

 

I have wondered if the aftermarket replacement wasn't as robust as the OEM one actually. After all, the original lasted 6 years but the replacement only 6 months.

The other thing you need to do to avoid punctures, is to straighten any flattened fins, otherwise if a stone hits the same point, it is far more likely to cause a leak.

Where is the condensor located?  Any chance of some photos to show where to fix the mesh.

 

Thanks

just open the windows

 

my last car had air con after that went i managed 4 years without needing it

 

then again i live in scotland

I live in Scotland and didn't realise my a/c was not working until I went to dover couple of years ago , wondered why all the heat .   

Where is the condensor located?  Any chance of some photos to show where to fix the mesh.

 

Thanks

It's the first of the three radiators at the front of the car.

In order: aircon condenser, intercooler, radiator.

The mesh needs to go behind the vents under the number plate as the holes allow large stones straight through.

Can you do this without removing trim/jacking??

Yep, just lift the bonnet and shove it down infront of the crash bar. Cable tie at the bottom.