I own a Skoda fabia 2010 model. For the past 6 months, the AC works intermittently.

After the engine is started, the AC will turn ON and will run for 10  mins or 20 mins or sometimes till it is turned OFF.

It trips after 10mins and again to turn ON, the vehicle has to restarted. There is no regular pattern on when the AC will work.

Service center is not able to fix the problem. Any suggestion from any of you on this type of problem ?

Is the system the standard climatic, or the digital climatronic?

It's standard climatic..

I had issues with my AC on my 2010 fabia, it would turn on and off very fast because the plug for the AC compressor was shot and was heating up really fast and loosing connection to the cars wiring loom. I had the plug replaced and it worked fine for about 10miles when the bolt that engages the AC Clutch snapped in half... overall I got a new AC Compressor fitted and all is well. 

 

It could be a faulty plug or it could be signs of the compressor failing. Do you use the AC all the time or just in winter to clear windscreen and in the summer??? 

A/c will most likely turn its self off if there is a fault, to protect the compressor. If its the switch, it might be doing its job unless its broken as described above. There have also been reports, quite commonly, of speed selectors failing on standard systems. Often, the high speed works but lower speeds fail. They often need the resistor replaced, which is  moderate task, if you are mechanically minded. Skoda will hit you with a heftier bill to do it by the book, so to speak. I suspect though, that this is not your problem! The climatronic system is more complex and expensive so thats a bonus to you... I suspect the above post will more likely be related to your issue. Regular use of the system, on any vehicle, is a must... People who think they'll save a few quid in fuel by not using it at all, or very infrequently, will have expensive repairs further down the line as it self-lubricates during use and will stay healthier if used regularly. 

Edited 21 August, 20178 yr by mrgf

Thanks for your response Mr. JGrindel. The problem looks similar to what you have written. During my regular service at work shop, they say Compressor is OK. 

I need to check with different wok shop to have a second opinion.

On 8/22/2017 at 04:24, Gaje said:

Thanks for your response Mr. JGrindel. The problem looks similar to what you have written. During my regular service at work shop, they say Compressor is OK. 

I need to check with different wok shop to have a second opinion.

If you turn the car on turn the AC off  then look down at the compressor the disk with the belt on will have a smaller disk inside the disk, this should be free and probably spinning slowly if not at all. Get someone to turn the AC on and if you hear a clunk as the AC Clutch engages the disk should start to spin. If that works then the system is doing its job.

 

I am no expert but that is how to check if the actual compressor is engaging. If it turns off quickly then it could be a sensor failing or the system sensors sensing a leak in the system and shutting down for safety. Get a garage to run a de gass and pressure test to see if its holding pressure.

I thought all Fabias used clutchless compressors?

15 hours ago, Wino said:

I thought all Fabias used clutchless compressors?

Mines a 2010 Elegance and it uses a clutch compressor! I also thought it used a clutchless compressor too, until the garage told me it didn't. Might be different depending on your engine?

 

 

16 hours ago, JGrindel said:

If you turn the car on turn the AC off  then look down at the compressor the disk with the belt on will have a smaller disk inside the disk, this should be free and probably spinning slowly if not at all. Get someone to turn the AC on and if you hear a clunk as the AC Clutch engages the disk should start to spin. If that works then the system is doing its job.

So your replacement compressor does this?

I'm just surprised 'cos I had a quick look at current flow diagrams yesterday, and all I saw was the  N280-valve variable displacement system, rather than a clutch system, maybe I didn't look hard enough.

Wino, I agree with you there, I didn't think that there was any future for "clutched" ie ON/OFF compressors in this modern world - VARIABLE DISPLACEMENT compressors is the way forward, plus I'd think that anyone looking to buy a replacement AC compressor for any of these Fabia/Polo/Ibiza from 1998>2018 would find it hard to find a suitable "clutched" one.

 

I that they all use the same Denso or Sanden unit type but with bespoke bodies to fit the application to the different engines, ie to minimise additional fittings/brackets.

One other thing about this "which type of compressor does Fabia/Polo/Ibiza 2010 have?"  - @JGrindel, my VW main dealer argued until they were blue(very slightly) in the face that my 2000 VW Passat 4Motion did not have a cambelt - it was always a chain, even some of the techs agreed - but it did have a cambelt as it was an Audi V6 engine that was fitted to these cars and not a VW VR6 as they had assumed/known, so garages can make mistakes like us all.