It's that time of year again, and with offers from ATS I've been giving thought to getting it regassed, but as this is the first car I've had with aircon, I'm not sure if I actually need to so open to opinions??

 

Firstly, I seem to have gotten rid of the foot smell by following a tip I read about having the aircon on cold full blast for ten minutes followed by max heat full blast for another 10 minutes which is supposed to kill the bacteria, so hopefully that's that sorted.

Secondly, I've not had the car regassed since new, and to be honest it feels pretty damn cold still, so much so that I can't hold my hand over the vent for long without it being uncomfortable.

 

I understand the general rule of thumb is that it's supposed to leak about 10% per year, but there's absolutely no way mine is anywhere near 50% colder than when I first go it, so if it's still charged okay is there any actual need to get it redone? The only thing I'm worried about is that I know there's lubricant in there and I don't particularly want it to cease up from lack of that, so is that a possibility with it having not been regassed so far??

 

What would you guys do?

My Fabia's aircon was colder after 7 years than my Octavia II after 3 years, so I opted to have the latter done at that time to see if it made a difference. In your case you could say that if it ain't broke don't fix it.

I've had mine done for the last 3 years just before the summer, as well as topping up the gas its re oiled and has the right amount re fitted, all so they put an anti bacterial bomb in the car to help stop the bugs.

My mate has a 54 reg polo since new coming up to 190k. Guess what, no service, icy cold.

If it's not cold then there is a leak. It's a sealed system just like your fridge.

Just ordered Airfresh & a/c cleaner from eurocarparts  - half price offer at 4 = 99  till Thursday, Jjust thought it might help I have no connection with them.

Mine's a 2008 & hasnt ever had a air con service & it works perfectly without any smells etc,i do have my climate on auto all the time,im leaving mine alone for the time being,if its not broke then dont try to fix it.   i believe the octy has a reputation for the compressor failing anyway so i will do it all then when/if it fails. 

Point taken on the smell factor, but I can report that that cold/hot treatment for 10 minutes really does seem to have gotten rid of the slight foot odour completely! The principle makes sense, but I'm still genuinely surprised. I'll keep an eye on it to see if it's come back but so far so good. I reckon that and the new pollen filter are key to it.

 

Saw the carbomb offer at ECP and might do it just to make it smell nice, although they do two so I wonder which is the better product for simple bacterial cleaning?

If you are thinking about using the air con bombs, I take the cabin pollen filter out before using it just to make sure I get the full cleaning effect and then replace it with a nice new activated carbon one once its all finished. Result = clean, fresh smelling air con.

My pollen filter has only just gone in so it should be alright, but good idea in general. Seems the filter is where a lot of the bacteria like to live.

 

Just spoken to Normfest who do the ECP carbomb on the '50% off until thursday' offer, and the half price £4.99 one is effectively just an air freshener. The one to disinfect is called One Shot and ECP do it but it's only reduced by about a quid so nothing special in the price.

I took mine ('59 FL vRS CR) into an F1 autocentre as it wasn't blowing cold. They hooked it up to their aircon machine and after an hour said that it'd taken out 495g gas and put in 525g, and no leaks found. So it'd only lost 30g of gas in 5 years / 100k miles.

It didn't make any difference to the temperature so they didn't charge, but it would have been £40 if they'd made it colder.

 

Skoda on the otherhand say a new compressor is required and want £660 for that little piece of work...

 

So I'd say that unless it's warm don't bother with aircon service, and then go somewhere who only charge if they make it colder.

 

As for smells I've had it a couple of times and both were sorted by the Comma aerosol stuff for £10, that and making sure the A/C is always left on.

Edited 22 May, 201412 yr by brisk

If I turn my Climate/Air Con off, fans to full ( All vents open ) and set the temp to LOW it blows cold. If I then turn the Air con on, fans on full the air gets colder so I assume mine is working. The dealer stuck a thin thermometer down one of the vents for 5 mins and the temp showed 6 degrees. ( Air con on, fans on full, temp set to 18. )  Normal by all accounts

 

Anyone else tried this

Bit different on the pre-fl: low setting is air con on.

Bit different on the pre-fl: low setting is air con on.

 

There was a modification where you could turn your Air Con off with one of the push buttons  Can't remember which one it was but I did it on my Pre FL VRs. You removed one of the button fronts and removed a plastic pin.

Andy, that modification wasn't for the air con. All it does is instantly switch the blower fan off with a single push of the button instead of rotating the switch (nearly said knob then)

Have done this with both mine (Octy's, not knobs)

 

Mike

 

Cheers Mike, I knew it did something

It is still possible to turn off the A/C on the pre-FL and have the fans continue to operate.

 

Hit the ECON button...

 

The on/off modification was the best thing I've done to my Octavia.

 

I have an OCD where everything electrical has to be turned off before the engine

It is still possible to turn off the A/C on the pre-FL and have the fans continue to operate.

 

Hit the ECON button...

 

 

If the air outside isn't warmer than 16 degrees anyway (the lowest reading on the heater) then the aircon isn't used anyway. Why anyone would want the heater on if it's above that would be a mystery to me but I like the cold.

Edited 22 May, 201412 yr by blackspaven

I took mine ('59 FL vRS CR) into an F1 autocentre as it wasn't blowing cold. They hooked it up to their aircon machine and after an hour said that it'd taken out 495g gas and put in 525g, and no leaks found. So it'd only lost 30g of gas in 5 years / 100k miles.

It didn't make any difference to the temperature so they didn't charge, but it would have been £40 if they'd made it colder.

 

Skoda on the otherhand say a new compressor is required and want £660 for that little piece of work...

 

So I'd say that unless it's warm don't bother with aircon service, and then go somewhere who only charge if they make it colder.

 

As for smells I've had it a couple of times and both were sorted by the Comma aerosol stuff for £10, that and making sure the A/C is always left on.

 

Mine's just had a service (main dealer) and they confirmed my suspicion of an aircon problem. New condenser to be fitted under warranty. Car is coming up for 2 years old.

Mine's just had a service (main dealer) and they confirmed my suspicion of an aircon problem. New condenser to be fitted under warranty. Car is coming up for 2 years old.

I too had mine done at main dealer. Slightly dearer than the guy I used for our 12 year old puma, but we are talking pennies when compared to the cost/value of the car.

Next one will be with our independent AC guy though.

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My A/C is making some strange noises although it works fine. I'll be getting an A/C service carried out in a few months time just beofre the warranty expires.

 

£75 according to Skoda's Fixed Pricing.

 

http://www.skoda.co.uk/owners/service-and-maintenance/national-pricing/maintenance

 

My main dealer has quoted £69.

If the air outside isn't warmer than 16 degrees anyway (the lowest reading on the heater) then the aircon isn't used anyway. Why anyone would want the heater on if it's above that would be a mystery to me but I like the cold.

Wrong

1. It uses the temp sensor inside the car, not the outside

2. The air con will work at any temp above 4c

3. It's also a demister which you can use on any heat.

Proven tonight by the fact it's 10c, I had climate set to auto 19 half way home and then I switched off the ac. Within seconds the glass started steaming up. I only switched the ac off as I've got a sore throat but it also proved this point rather well.

On or off the compressor runs full time so I wouldn't worry too much about mpg. Use it if you want to use it, it will use less fuel than the windows being open. Also need to run it every week or so to keep the system lubricated.

My A/C is making some strange noises although it works fine. I'll be getting an A/C service carried out in a few months time just beofre the warranty expires.

£75 according to Skoda's Fixed Pricing.

http://www.skoda.co.uk/owners/service-and-maintenance/national-pricing/maintenance

My main dealer has quoted £69.

I paid £69 at Progress in Northampton

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I've just had my 2011 Octavia re-gassed after using for the first time this year, the local mobile aircon agent said that it's common practice for the manufactures to just put enough gas in the system to get the vehicle through to the end of the warranty period.

 

He recons that now he's fully charged it it should last for years.

 

Cost £45.00 cash & done at my home address.

Edited 24 May, 201412 yr by IdioSyncrasy

The local mobile aircon agent said that it's common practice for the manufactures to just put enough gas in the system to get the vehicle through to the end of the warranty period.

 

Haha, well he would say that wouldn't he!

 

I guess that they put just enough oil and brake fluid in too

Wrong

1. It uses the temp sensor inside the car, not the outside

2. The air con will work at any temp above 4c

3. It's also a demister which you can use on any heat.

Proven tonight by the fact it's 10c, I had climate set to auto 19 half way home and then I switched off the ac. Within seconds the glass started steaming up. I only switched the ac off as I've got a sore throat but it also proved this point rather well.

On or off the compressor runs full time so I wouldn't worry too much about mpg. Use it if you want to use it, it will use less fuel than the windows being open. Also need to run it every week or so to keep the system lubricated.

Okay, I'm just going by the manual which says the interior is not cooled in econ mode, but feel free to argue with Skoda if you like.