Who's doing this ? Would they do a VW ?

Skoda main dealers.

I'm no microbiologist, but my hunch is that an ideal environment in which bacteria might flourish would include something for them to eat.

Agar jelly for instance.  I don't believe any automotive AC supply companies coat their hardware in this.

Hey guys. Apologies if I'm not supposed to post this but a well known daily offer website are offering an ATS deal on air con recharge and the anti-bac clean for £32.95. That's a bargain. Might be worth considering if anybody needs it done?

Hey guys. Apologies if I'm not supposed to post this but a well known daily offer website are offering an ATS deal on air con recharge and the anti-bac clean for £32.95. That's a bargain. Might be worth considering if anybody needs it done?

Thank you !

Thank you !

Although somewhat pointless if your compressor is goosed?

:(

The old Fabia VRS now10 years old and local Skoda garage said air-con was due for a service every 2 years.

Never had the heart to tell them never had it done,in all that time, and fella slightly put me off informing me the charge would be £75.00.

 

With an open sunroof I seldom every think of putting AC system on to keep cool, but do sometimes use it for unsteaming windscreen occasionally.

Yes probably your AC compressor is made to last unlike these in the mk5&6 golf , presumably these will also be in skoda,seat and Audi also ? Bloody nightmare

Bacteria. Moisture, Heat. 

And this would be prevented by changing the refrigerant how?

 

God give me strength . . .

Although somewhat pointless if your compressor is goosed?

:(

Yep ! I'm going to get it regassed because if it doesn't get cold I will not be charged , then I will see if there is a good will gesture or go it alone , luckily my son has all the tools and ramp to get it done for me but still need to purchase the compressor which will not be cheap !

Sorry vxh26, you are talking about the Regassing are you and not the Cleaning of the System.

?

Which filter are you talking about the Pollen Filter in the post on page 1?

post #21

 

http://skoda.co.uk/owners/caring-for-your-car/air-conditioning/default

Edited 13 June, 201511 yr by goneoffSKi

I'm no microbiologist, but my hunch is that an ideal environment in which bacteria might flourish would include something for them to eat.

Agar jelly for instance.  I don't believe any automotive AC supply companies coat their hardware in this.

Maybe this helps explain:

The problem comes to play when the filtered, often not so filtered, return air deposits mold spores and bacteria on the moist coil surfaces. (Most air conditioner filters will not filter mold spores and bacteria and actually act as a breeding ground for mold and bacteria.) As the air conditioner system cycles on and off, the air conditioner gets damp, cold, and warm. This wet, dark environment is a perfect breeding ground for mold and bacteria.

Air Conditioning in vehicles involves Refrigeration but it includes humidity and conditioning air in vehicles and is not just about cooling.

Fridges and A/C or Climate Control in Cars are rather different.

(a Fridge in a car is similar to a Domestic Fridge.)

 

I have almost identical cars, 1 with AC and one without it was never fitted,

funnily they live in the same conditions and the one without AC gets cooled and dried out with the windows open a bit and never steams up when the weather is damp.

The one with A/C steams up often and is actually a PITA and needs the A/C used.

(and even though it is serviced, you get the bluey haze / film forming on the screen over time which is also a PITA)

Usually the pollen filter needs changing when this happens George, this often gets 'missed' on servicing at dealerships. Either that or the evaporator drain is not draining. Oh, or if you have a holed heater matirx

The Pollen filter is a Major Inspection Service Item, 2 yearly, 

and it gets missed now at times due to the Variable Servicing rather than the Minor, Major, Minor Fixed Servicing and 

Service Plan Servicing. 'Changed where required'.

Maybe this helps explain:

The problem comes to play when the filtered, often not so filtered, return air deposits mold spores and bacteria on the moist coil surfaces. (Most air conditioner filters will not filter mold spores and bacteria and actually act as a breeding ground for mold and bacteria.) As the air conditioner system cycles on and off, the air conditioner gets damp, cold, and warm. This wet, dark environment is a perfect breeding ground for mold and bacteria.

Nope. Sounds like nonsense, sorry.

 

 I refuted "ideal environment" and now I refute "perfect breeding ground".  Both obviously incorrect due to the language used. If one were to say that an aircon evaporator is a place "where bacteria can survive"; which is a very much toned down version of what is being trotted out in this thread, I could accept it.  Hyperbole and scare stories reduce credibility, not increase it.

 

What the heck is 'filtered, often not so filtered" anyway? And what's "return air"? Where did you copy/paste that from, some air-conditioning service supplier by any chance?

Nope. Sounds like nonsense, sorry.

 

 I refuted "ideal environment" and now I refute "perfect breeding ground".  Both obviously incorrect due to the language used. If one were to say that an aircon evaporator is a place "where bacteria can survive"; which is a very much toned down version of what is being trotted out in this thread, I could accept it.  Hyperbole and scare stories reduce credibility, not increase it.

 

What the heck is 'filtered, often not so filtered" anyway? And what's "return air"? Where did you copy/paste that from, some air-conditioning service supplier by any chance?

Nope not an aircon servicer, just a site explaining the workings of aircon. I'm not sure what's so hard to believe about bacteria existing in aircon units. It's a generally accepted fact that ive not heard disputed before.

Any where that gets damp and cold can go mouldy, that causes the smell.

Yep ! I'm going to get it regassed because if it doesn't get cold I will not be charged , then I will see if there is a good will gesture or go it alone , luckily my son has all the tools and ramp to get it done for me but still need to purchase the compressor which will not be cheap !

I'd be jiggered if I would regas a car with a faulty compressor amd drag all that crap back into my machine and filter...lol

I'd be jiggered if I would regas a car with a faulty compressor amd drag all that crap back into my machine and filter...lol

The old guy at the garage is a bit of a AC guru so will check it before doing anything , I just want it fixed ! I've been on VW Facebook page to slag themselves off we will see if this helps

Nope not an aircon servicer, just a site explaining the workings of aircon. I'm not sure what's so hard to believe about bacteria existing in aircon units. It's a generally accepted fact that ive not heard disputed before.

As I said in my last post, it's not at all hard to believe bacteria can exist in aircon units. What is impossible for me to believe is that such places are either 'ideal environments for them to flourish' or 'perfect breeding grounds'. Both statements are clearly nonsense. If they weren't, aircon would be very dangerous and undesireable.

 

Those who are in the trade will tend to exaggerate the problems to encourage your spending; that's all.

Nope not an aircon servicer, just a site explaining the workings of aircon. I'm not sure what's so hard to believe about bacteria existing in aircon units. It's a generally accepted fact that ive not heard disputed before.

 

I would guess that the site in site in question is one connected with the air conditioning service industry rather than some independent medical or scientific research centre?  It would be unusual for an organisation selling a product or service to maintain web pages suggesting that their product or service is a waste of money.

 

There are the essential elements of a car A/C system in most kitchens - when did you last hear of a fridge getting serviced because of the smell?

 

Notwithstanding this argument, far be it from me to discourage gullible suckers lining the pockets of snake-oil salesmen

VAG recommend the system is serviced every 2 years, because the gas leaks out over time and even over 2 years can become less efficient.

http://www.volkswagen.co.uk/owners/servicing/what-we-check-and-why/air-conditioning-service

My car is 8 years old.  Still on the original gas.  The gas shouldn't leak out.

 

About the only part that should be over-serviced in that manner is the pollen filter.  I do mine every 12 months.  It's cheap & easy.

^ Spot on.

Many things shouldn't happen but do, and location location location, use and style of use and climates needs consideration.

 

Some people use the A/C all the time, and the seals are lubricated and there never are leaks,

some use occasionally and maybe not actually long enough or often enough, 

and some never use and then after a few years do.

 

Preventative maintenance or regular or no maintenance or care is a matter for the owner,

but how some people use cars and components differently and in different world regions and climates is why a general advice 

and Service Schedules & Guidelines might not apply to every model and in every country and some common sense is necessary,

or you trust to what a Dealership or Technician advises, but they have no idea how you use the vehicle 

or previous owners have.

It's recommended every two years.

Yes you state it is in warranty but they would not pay for a replacement compressor if you had neglected to stick to their 2 year interval and it broke.

Phil

Yes they would.  It's mot part of the service schedule & therefore doesn't have to be done.

 

As well as A/C service & sanitising of the open part of the system the other popular  up-sells at the moment appear to be the injector clean, the engine flush and nitrogen in the tyres.

Many things shouldn't happen but do, and location location location, use and style of use and climates needs consideration.

<SNIP>

 

This almost reads like an explanation as to why changing the DSG oil in the UK is not a "safety issue" requiring VOSA guidance and why some people have problems with excessive oil consumption - EVEN on replacement engines!