Hi everyone

 

I own a 2011 mk2 octavia 4x4 estate bought a year and a half ago secondhand from a franchised Skoda dealer. I first had a problem with the air con not working whilst the car was still under warranty. The garage i bought the car from checked for leaks with a dye, found none and re gassed the air con at no cost to me. It worked for a while but in June this year failed again. They conducted the same tests and found a small hole in the condensor - cost of replacement inc labour £498.86. 

 

Thought this would be the end of my problems but oh no - it worked briefly but less than 2 months and 700 miles later, it isn't working again. Car goes back to the garage next week.

 

Has anyone else had problems with the air con on their Octavia's?

I think aircon is virtually the only problem we have had with our Octavia II 2006 Elegance.

 

First time it just needed regassing, after about 3 years, then last year it packed up again, this time it was the compressor that had failed, big bill, this year packed up again like you leaking condenser, another big bill.

 

Hopefully it will carry on working now for a while, we are thinking of replacing with a newer model, but each time we spend some money we think "we better keep it for a bit longer to get some value from the work we have paid for" Probably not entirely logical? Apart from the aircon we love it and have had virtually no other bother.

The condensor is right at the front and is very prone to stones piercing it and letting all of the gasses escape. 

The condensor is right at the front and is very prone to stones piercing it and letting all of the gasses escape. 

 

On here is a long thread about putting a plastic net in front of the condenser. Without some protection you could replace the condenser one day and have a stone damage it the next.

When I looked at mine I found a large area at the top where the fins had been crushed by stones. Then, while fitting the plastic netting I found a few pieces of concrete on the bottom painted "shelf". What does yours look like?

 

As I understand it, damage to the condenser can result in a slow leak such that a re-gas will work for many weeks.

 

Take a look at this long thread: http://www.briskoda.net/forums/topic/313189-air-con-radiator-protecter-skoda-part/

Thank you all for your replies. It does seem odd that i didn't have a problem with the air con in my Fabia mk1 vrs for 8 and a half years unless the condensor was in a different place.

 

I'm with you Baxlobs - it is the only thorn in the side of ownership. Thanks Pikpilot - i shall take a look at the thread re plastic netting.

Here is another thread. I bought on ebuy the mesh in the link in the first post.

Interesting article Pikpilot - thanks. It's raining at the mo but will check out what mine looks like tomorrow.

Here is another thread. I bought on ebuy the mesh in the link in the first post.

No link to thread is showing.

Im guessing you will have a slight leak on your evaporator.

 

Very hard to see as it is concealed behind the dash

 

Need to strip the dash to get to it.

 

I had exactly the same as you.

 

Regas - leaked out - leak test - no leaks points to new compressor - new compressor fitted - leaked out - leak tested again - traced to miniature leak on evaporator 

Here is another thread. I bought on ebuy the mesh in the link in the first post.

Here is the missing link

http://www.briskoda.net/forums/topic/361941-improved-air-con-condenser-protector/

Here is the missing link

http://www.briskoda.net/forums/topic/361941-improved-air-con-condenser-protector/

Thanks.

The aircon on my 2008 Elegance estate was a constant source of frustration & I had it checked a few times but no fault was ever been found. On hot days I used to set it to about 19c & it would be warm then cool for a few miles than go warm again. Someone told me to set it at 21c - 22c, which I did and it seems to have been working fine for the last 2 summers. I do have it maintained when the car is serviced by my Skoda garage though.

So just to summarise. The car was bought as an approved used car from a franchised Skoda main dealer?

 

The A/C stopped working whilst the car was still under the 12 month warranty?

 

The garage couldn't find a leak, so re-gassed it. This didn't work for long.

 

So, it is fair to say that at this point there is a definite leak?

 

The garage diagnoses the condensor. A likely cause as it is vulnerable to damage, but not covered under warranty due to it being damaged. Fair enough.

 

You pay the £500 to have the condensor replaced on the advice of the garage?

 

The A/C is re-gassed again, but as before the A/C soon stops working again?

 

This brings us to where we are today. The car is booked back in for the next few days?

 

Now at this point I'd be a little annoyed, not with the garage, just in general, £500 is a big chunk of cash to spend on a 4 year old car to be no better off than before.

 

The garage can either come out as a hero - the pinnacle of customer service, or attempt to charge you for more work.

 

Clearly the condensor was not the original cause of the failure of the A/C system, if it was then it would still be working now. I suspect that there was no hole in it, it was simply a known weak point and worth charging the customer for in an attempt to hopefully fix the fault.

 

So, will the garage be reimbursing you the £500? Unlikely let's be honest.

 

But, you should make it clear to them that you are not their guinea pig, you won't be paying for them to swap out anymore parts in an attempt to guess which bit might be at fault.

 

When they do finally correctly diagnose the fault, if it isn't covered under warranty I'd be expecting a £500 discount on the bill.

On here is a long thread about putting a plastic net in front of the condenser. Without some protection you could replace the condenser one day and have a stone damage it the next.

When I looked at mine I found a large area at the top where the fins had been crushed by stones. Then, while fitting the plastic netting I found a few pieces of concrete on the bottom painted "shelf". What does yours look like?

 

As I understand it, damage to the condenser can result in a slow leak such that a re-gas will work for many weeks.

 

Take a look at this long thread: http://www.briskoda.net/forums/topic/313189-air-con-radiator-protecter-skoda-part/

I have had a good look at the condensor today. A couple of the fins at the top have been squashed together but the rest of it looks fine apart from a plethora of flies and moths!!

So just to summarise. The car was bought as an approved used car from a franchised Skoda main dealer?

 

The A/C stopped working whilst the car was still under the 12 month warranty?

 

The garage couldn't find a leak, so re-gassed it. This didn't work for long.

 

So, it is fair to say that at this point there is a definite leak?

 

The garage diagnoses the condensor. A likely cause as it is vulnerable to damage, but not covered under warranty due to it being damaged. Fair enough.

 

You pay the £500 to have the condensor replaced on the advice of the garage?

 

The A/C is re-gassed again, but as before the A/C soon stops working again?

 

This brings us to where we are today. The car is booked back in for the next few days?

 

Now at this point I'd be a little annoyed, not with the garage, just in general, £500 is a big chunk of cash to spend on a 4 year old car to be no better off than before.

 

The garage can either come out as a hero - the pinnacle of customer service, or attempt to charge you for more work.

 

Clearly the condensor was not the original cause of the failure of the A/C system, if it was then it would still be working now. I suspect that there was no hole in it, it was simply a known weak point and worth charging the customer for in an attempt to hopefully fix the fault.

 

So, will the garage be reimbursing you the £500? Unlikely let's be honest.

 

But, you should make it clear to them that you are not their guinea pig, you won't be paying for them to swap out anymore parts in an attempt to guess which bit might be at fault.

 

When they do finally correctly diagnose the fault, if it isn't covered under warranty I'd be expecting a £500 discount on the bill.

You are correct in your summary. I will not be paying out another £500 less than 2 months after doing so. If they cannot find a solution i will take things further - 1st to Skoda UK and if that fails then to Auto Express who i have subscribed to for many years and who have a habit of getting results. In the meantime i shall order the fly mesh as suggested by Pikpilot. I think it was very remiss of the dealer not to point out that there is a condensor protector available as a Skoda part however ineffectual it is. Thanks for your input.

The aircon on my 2008 Elegance estate was a constant source of frustration & I had it checked a few times but no fault was ever been found. On hot days I used to set it to about 19c & it would be warm then cool for a few miles than go warm again. Someone told me to set it at 21c - 22c, which I did and it seems to have been working fine for the last 2 summers. I do have it maintained when the car is serviced by my Skoda garage though.

I'll give that a go thanks.

I had a similar 'lets charge the customer and change parts until we stumble upon the right one' with a previous car (Ford). After they too gave me a bill for £500, which did not even fix the problem at the time, I stood my ground and refused to pay. I argued my way up the chain for two weeks (during which they had my car, but I didn't really care as I could walk to work and the shops) but in the end, they just told me to take the car and go.

 

Fight them.

 

Setting AC to a higher temperature is a waste of time. The higher temp you set it to just means its not working as hard so wont switch off as fast. Its clearly leaking and faulty and the fault is not the part they changed, unless they did it wrong, in which case its still on them.

 

I had a similar 'lets charge the customer and change parts until we stumble upon the right one' with a previous car (Ford). After they too gave me a bill for £500, which did not even fix the problem at the time, I stood my ground and refused to pay. I argued my way up the chain for two weeks (during which they had my car, but I didn't really care as I could walk to work and the shops) but in the end, they just told me to take the car and go.

 

Fight them.

 

Setting AC to a higher temperature is a waste of time. The higher temp you set it to just means its not working as hard so wont switch off as fast. Its clearly leaking and faulty and the fault is not the part they changed, unless they did it wrong, in which case its still on them.

 

It wouldn't be the 1st time the garage has cocked up - they fitted a new fuel filter which got squashed in fitting and then leaked diesel everywhere. Skoda Assist sorted that out for free. Couldn't claim from the garage as 1st service (when it was carried out) was free.

I have had a good look at the condensor today. A couple of the fins at the top have been squashed together but the rest of it looks fine apart from a plethora of flies and moths!!

 

Is this the old original condensor or the new one?

 

Having the old condensor to prove it isn't holed might be handy.

It's probably worth getting a aircon specialist to have a look at and give a quote of work involved, as dealers sometimes don't have a clue on what's going on and change parts at the customers expense.

Is this the old original condensor or the new one?

 

Having the old condensor to prove it isn't holed might be handy.

It is the new one unfortunately. The dealer will have got rid of the old one by now. The garage did the dye test and found a small leak in the old one.....or so they said!

I can confirm that since I fitted the mesh to the grille, all has been absolutely fine. The amount of rubbish in the form of insects and other rubbish is incredible -- and it's nice to know that all this isn't getting through to the condenser itself.

 

Mike

Will be ordering some of this mesh today.

UPDATE - car went in yesterday to find out latest problem with my seemingly ongoing air con problems. This time the leak was coming from the Pressure Switch which has been replaced along with its seal. The dealer has relieved my bank account of a further £160. I did point out to them that it seems to be failing in reverse from the front of the car and any further problems would be taken up with Skoda UK and beyond if necessary.

 

The guy said to not take it personally - easy for him to say after i've parted with £560 in the last 2 months on a 4 year old car with only 51000 on the clock with the standard cambelt/water pump due for renewal in 6 months and we know how much that costs!!

 

The fly mesh should be delivered this week and will be fitted asap for peace of mind for the condenser at least - thanks Pikpilot for the heads up on this.

Well glad you've found the source of the leak so progress but £160 for a pressure switch plus fitting? I'm sure they're only about 50 quid max and right at the front of the engine bay. If I'm talking about the correct part. I would say for a garage to change that part would take no more than 10 minutes. I would change garages tbh.

Well glad you've found the source of the leak so progress but £160 for a pressure switch plus fitting? I'm sure they're only about 50 quid max and right at the front of the engine bay. If I'm talking about the correct part. I would say for a garage to change that part would take no more than 10 minutes. I would change garages tbh.

The cost of the part was £54 plus the dreaded vat. Problem was that they had to find where the leak was coming from meaning the dye test again, then draining the gas, fitting the part and regassing the system - all time consuming and therefore expensive with labour making up the rest of the bill.