Hi all

 

I have a Mk II 1.4TSI Octavia 2012 estate. Since buying it second hand from a Skoda dealer a few months ago, there has been a problem with the heating/cooling system. When set to cold (or 'neutral'), the system pumps out hot air seemingly randomly. It may do this every minute, or after 30 minutes. It happens whether or not air con is on, and whether it is internal or external air feed. It happens on hot and cooler days. Turning the heater dial to hot, then cold again usually turns the heat off, though this can take several attempts. Otherwise, I have to turn the fan off and set the air flow to internal circulation - this avoids any air flow.

 

I took it into another dealer, who updated the software and changed a motor, but the problem remained. I then took it to another in France (which is where I live much of the time). They changed another component (not sure but I think the heater exchange - a big component anyway). Again, the problem remained. Now they are telling me it is normal, which I do not believe as it blows hot air randomly when set to cold in cool and hot days.

 

I am minded to try to get rid of the car. It was like this when I bought it, when makes me think the last owner had the same issue! Neither the original dealer not two Skoda garages subsequently seem to have tested the car for this. But I would like some information before taking it in again for an attempted repair.

 

Can anyone help? Has anyone experienced something similar?

Edited 4 September, 201411 yr by lastgas

Seems like a strange one but one question is have they or do you have the results of a any diagnostic check to see how they came to the conclusion of replacing the above parts??

As this seems like a case of "replace most of the parts until we find the fault! I would be looking to get a member with VCDS and have them run a scan then go in to the HVAC module to see what's going on as I doubt you trust the dealers much, as to replace a flap motor and a heat exchanger is a little bit worrying as they are two different parts not connected to each other.

I would be looking at getting the flap motors reset to make sure one of the others or indeed the new one are not stuck or sticking during operation and then possibly looking at the cabin temp sensor but a scan and a good check should help you greatly before having to sell the car!

Steve

Edited 4 September, 201411 yr by steveo82

Thanks for the reply steveo82. So yesterday I took it back to a dealer here in France (who thought thy had fixed it). They have basically never seen the problem before, but nor have they seen many models like mine, which has manual hjeating controls (not climatronic/automatic). Two Skoda dealers in the UK have not seen this problem before either. The original Skoda dealer in the UK advised me that they suspect a software issue or control unit issue, though any updates should have been indicated by both dealers who have tried to resolve it so far (the software version should be SW608 apparently). Will update once if/when is fixed.

Right that makes sense with the manual turny controls! But I was under the impression that they still use electric motors rather than cables to open and close the vent flaps and air flow direction but I could be wrong on that!

 

I'm not overly convinced on software affecting the heater controls as I would expect, and I stand to be corrected, that it still uses a heater matrix and coolant running through it to provide warm air and simply changing cold draws either outside air or recirculated air from the cabin!

 

Basically something must be stuck open or partially to cause this fault however two or three dealers can't find the answer maybe I'm way off but personally I think they aren't using "proper old school" diagnostic techniques and relying on a computer to do it for them!

 

Let us know how you get on

 

Steve

I have the same problem on 2010 Octa estate. Dealers cannot rectify so still living with the problem. 

 

On 13/06/2023 at 12:46, xylast said:

I have the same problem on 2010 Octa estate. Dealers cannot rectify so still living with the problem. 

 

 

Have you plugged it in?

 

My left vents blow colder than right. I've narrowed it down to the temp sensor in the left hand side vent. You can get around it by selecting the feet blower aswell, which seems to override the reading coming from the vent.

 

I've checked all the flaps work using VCDS and the only thing now being a problem is the sensor.

 

Get someone to plug it in and check

Quite probably the sensor in question is good but its contacts have oxidised over the years.

 

A simple removal/disconnecting and contact cleaning will likely fix the issue.

On 13/06/2023 at 12:46, xylast said:

I have the same problem on 2010 Octa estate. Dealers cannot rectify so still living with the problem. 

 

This has been checked several times by both dealers and non franchised garages. Each time they claim something different is causing the problem but after spending lots of money and not solving the problem, I have just left it as it is. Turning the ignition off and restarting usually cures the problem but it returns like toothache.