I have just received a post card from the dealer I bought my Yeti from saying that :

"It looks like your SKODA's air conditioning system is due for it's annual service. But don't sweat it, we can take of it for you."

It sounds a bit unusual to me and a bit like an attempt to generate more income for the dealer. Has anyone else had a similar missive?

 

My car is coming up to 2 years old and I didn't get this "annual" reminder last year.

 

Fred

Bi annual really, it's recommended every 2 years.

Bi annual really, it's recommended every 2 years.

I think you'll find that's biennial (bi-annual is twice a year).

Good shout

I found a dual offer, change brake fluid and Aircon recharge (just after I had a stone go through

my cooling unit) It is always looking out for Skoda Offers

http://www.skoda.co.uk/owners/service-and-maintenance/simply-fixed/pages/default.aspx?gclid=Cj0KEQiA6vS2BRDH8dq06YDHz_IBEiQAzNdBmRhumDT8noMd6_1KN6ANCXNFBni2IKyZ5vD0ub_u564aAoBQ8P8HAQ

My Fabia is still running around with nothing touched on the air-con and working like new.
But every couple of years I used to set off one of these in the closed car with the air con running and also run the air-con for 5 minutes a month when not used in the winter.

You could have left your engine oil too and it would probably be ok. Good maintenance doesn't require something to be broken before looking after it.

My Fabia is still running around with nothing touched on the air-con and working like new.

But every couple of years I used to set off one of these in the closed car with the air con running and also run the air-con for 5 minutes a month when not used in the winter.

I bang one of these through every couple of years too. Provided you run the air con regularly (or leave it on all the time) and it still blows nice and cold there's no need to do more. Dealer just trying to drum up a bit of business.

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Cleaner is a great idea, however it's not topping up your gas which does drop over time. Low gas in the system means the oil isn't circulating around correctly.

I bang one of these through every couple of years too. Provided you run the air con regularly (or leave it on all the time) and it still blows nice and cold there's no need to do more. Dealer just trying to drum up a bit of business.

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Your system will normally loose about 10% volume per year. The decrease in performance is slow and you will not notice it.

The coolant also has a lubricant in it. This is needed for the seals.

If you go for long periods without use the seals will dry out and you will loose more than 10% each year. The seals could fail and the system likewise.

If you buy at the right time, £50/60 seems achievable from non franchised dealers.

When done correctly the system is purged/emptied and then fully re-filled. It is not a case of topping up.

I have mine done every two years. This time it will be as part of my "Service & Maintenance" contract that includes one service in the 3 year contract.

 

Colin

Cleaner is a great idea, however it's not topping up your gas which does drop over time. Low gas in the system means the oil isn't circulating around correctly.

My Fabia is 11 years old and air con still working like new.

The service agents need to service them to raise funds.

If it is working well why spend your hard earned?

My Fabia is 11 years old and air con still working like new.

The service agents need to service them to raise funds.

If it is working well why spend your hard earned?

As I said why not apply that to everything. Sod changing the oil, car still brakes so don't bother changing the fluid, still moves up the road so why bother checking or servicing anything at all.

Your system will normally loose about 10% volume per year. The decrease in performance is slow and you will not notice it.

The coolant also has a lubricant in it. This is needed for the seals.

If you go for long periods without use the seals will dry out and you will loose more than 10% each year. The seals could fail and the system likewise.

If you buy at the right time, £50/60 seems achievable from non franchised dealers.

When done correctly the system is purged/emptied and then fully re-filled. It is not a case of topping up.

I have mine done every two years. This time it will be as part of my "Service & Maintenance" contract that includes one service in the 3 year contract.

 

Colin

Fully agree.

 

I used to think there was no need; thought the aircon on our previous car was fine.

Local garage said they'd do a gas/oil recharge for £35, so thought I'd give it a go, especially as my Dad had it done a while before and said what a difference it made.

Difference was night and day - shows how performance gradually declines without you realising.

It would blow cold air before, but after the recharge, the air was icy. 

Recharge is done automatically by a machine; I got a printout of how much gas and oil was removed, then how much new stuff was put in.

Turns out there was hardly any oil left, and the gas charge was way down.

 

It worked so well, I had it done on the Yeti too, and will do so every couple of years from now on.

As I said why not apply that to everything. Sod changing the oil, car still brakes so don't bother changing the fluid, still moves up the road so why bother checking or servicing anything at all.

I did not mention as far as I remember saying apply that to everything that must have been someone else's silly comment.

My car and motorcycles get very good service with the usual fluids changed religiously, I am not advocating it for all but with a 5 minute run once a month my air-con still operates as new. Some systems may lose pressure but if they don't and it is a sealed system I can see no point in having it re-pressurised, if it did start to lose efficiency it would be dealt with then.

Hi Fred

 

I had the same reminder from Station Garage as mine is also 2 years old. I find it odd that its not included in the 3 years servicing pack that I got with the car as IF it is a service item it should be included surely. Cost quoted was £70 but I decided not to have it this year.

 

Also at the 2 year service I was advised that the brake fluid and Haldex oil would need replacing next year which is also not included in the 3 year service package. However on reading the letter I got with the car explaining what was covered (and not covered) it states that brake fluid change is included in the 3rd year service so that will be something to discuss next year.

 

I did get a Polen Filter replaced this year though which is stated as 'if required' on the schedule.

 

Anybody else think that if you buy a new car with 3 years free servicing, that it should include ALL the items that are required during the first 3 years?

It's your car, and it's up to you how you maintain it, however, how do you know your air-conditioning system has not lost pressure? What checks have you carried out to confirm this?

I had an ac service carried out last summer, and I had lost a fair amount (cannot provide specifics as I can only find the receipt not the printout).

Outwardly there was nothing to indicate I had lost refrigerant, it even coped with a road trip through France and Spain in the height of summer.

I'm not advocating that anyone use this company, but you may find his Q&A useful.

http://www.autoaircon.net/car-air-conditioning.html

The one silver lining to this is I have added AC Recharge to my list of essential checks when buying a second hand car!

Running the system for 5-10 minutes a month or whatever will make no difference. Air con on or off in the controls makes no odds, the system is always on and circulating.

System pressure and gas level are two seperate things. You may have the correct pressure in the system but a low gas level. They only way to acurately know the system contents is to recover it down.

Running the system for 5-10 minutes a month or whatever will make no difference.

That shows your knowledge of car air-con.

That shows your knowledge of car air-con.

Please enlighten me

If the air-con is not used as during the winter it is recommended to run it for 5 minutes per month to distribute the lubricants and to keep the seals in good order.

If the air-con is not used as during the winter it is recommended to run it for 5 minutes per month to distribute the lubricants and to keep the seals in good order.

But as I said, the system is always on, it's always circulating. The compressor is constantly driven, it doesn't have a clutch on it.

That shows your knowledge of car air-con.

 

You do know what Techie does, don't you?

Enlighten me, if asking what good does running an unused air con system for 5 minutes a month do I'd guess at electronics engineer.
If he looked he would see I was talking about my Skoda Fabia which most definitely has a clutch.

Ac is on when it's off. It's 2% duty cycled.

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Enlighten me, if asking what good does running an unused air con system for 5 minutes a month do I'd guess at electronics engineer.

If he looked he would see I was talking about my Skoda Fabia which most definitely has a clutch.

Have a look at pdf page 7, document page 50 here