Hello,

I live in Thailand and it gets hot at this time of year, so I have been trying to improve my AC.

Having checked and changed everything else, I resigned myself to changing the evaporator and expansion valve, a big pain in the arse.

I ordered a new valve and evaporator from a reliable part shop in Bangkok, using chassis number, OEM number etc.... so I was confident the parts were correct.

After taking the dash apart, I found the evaporator and valve were nothing like the ones I ordered.

The part number I found on the removed valve - TCDF 1,5 no.323304 -  it looks like it is from a Citroen or Fiat or something like that - https://www.buycarparts.co.uk/expansion-valve/peugeot-308   

https://www.motor-doctor.co.uk/expansion-valve/citroen/saxo/saxo-s0-s1/5616-1-5-d

 

I have no idea where the evaporator comes from, part number brings up nothing.

 

My mechanic insists the parts weren't retrofitted, and are original (from production) as the fit they plastic housing perfectly and there are no signs of manipulation.

 

Does anyone know if there are different evaporators and valves for fabia mk1s?? 

Is my mechanic just wrong, and it has been retrofitted ?? 

Edited 14 April, 20188 yr by richardwalker

Aircon components are often generic rather than being manufacturer specific, it looks like your parts supplier has given you the wrong evaporator.

 

Skoda part number is 6Q0820103 for evaporator and valve assembly complete.

 

https://skoda.7zap.com/en/cz/fabia/fab/2003-225/8/820-820010/#20

 

Item 20.

Thanks for your help.

That is the one I ordered, the one on the right >>>

The one on the left is the one I took out of the car.

I can't find any information about mk1's having any other evaporator, than the one I ordered, the one you mentioned.

 

It would lead me to think it had been fitted after, but the correct one doesn't fit and the old (unknown) one fits perfectly into the plastic housing.

 

Do you know if all mk1's have the same evaporator ??

 

Thanks again ??

 

 

 

 

Yes, they're all the same, your old one looks correct, your new one is a mystery, it's been incorrectly supplied, maybe incorrectly labelled, anyway it's no good and will need to go back.

As I said the new evaporator should come with a new valve to suit, it's listed as a complete assembly in that link I posted.

Thanks again, 

The new one is on the right, part number -  6Q0820103 - the one shown on 7zap.

The old one, the one I took off,  is the one I am confused about.

Even stranger the new (correct) one won't fit

 

Edited 14 April, 20188 yr by richardwalker

Here is the number for the expansion valve I ordered - SKODA : 6Q0820679

 

1 hour ago, richardwalker said:

Thanks again, 

The new one is on the right, part number -  6Q0820103 - the one shown on 7zap.

The old one, the one I took off,  is the one I am confused about.

Even stranger the new (correct) one won't fit

 

 

Look, it's very simple, the new part you've been given is wrong:

 

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Vw-Polo-9n-Seat-Ibiza-Skoda-Fabia-02-09-Air-Conditioning-Evaporator-6q0820103b/131583097804?hash=item1ea2f6bbcc:g:YZ0AAOSwgQ9V0z7Y

 

There is the right part complete with valve as it should be.

Thanks, 

The one I took off the car is not the same as this -- the one I took off is on the LEFT in picture.

 

The evaporator I ordered and the valve are the same as in the link you sent. 

The evaporator I ordered is - SKODA :  6Q0820103 

The valve is - SKODA : 6Q0820679

These are the ones I received, The parts I can't ID are the ones I took off the car.

I got the parts I ordered, the same as shown on 7zap, the same as OEM numbers.

Sorry for the confusion.

 

 

In that case I'm at a loss unless the housing has been swapped as well, it could be that the complete assembly has been taken from a Peugeot/Citroen and mated to the Skoda air plenum chamber.

Here is your valve:

 

http://www.egelhof.com/egelhof/us/autoklima/tcd.php

Some pics of the 'normal' evaporator housing here, for comparison with what you have:

 

 

Thanks for your help.

I can't go and check the car again until Thursday, because of work, but I'll post an update when I know what I am dealing with.

Seems most likely the whole AC system is a retrofit; if the mechanic is correct, and only the old evap and valve will fit the housing, the whole thing must not be original. 

 

Edited 15 April, 20188 yr by richardwalker

Update on this one - 

I showed the mechanic the pictures you sent of an original housing and it turns out it was not the same as the one on the car. 

Looks like the whole AC system is a retrofit.

We cleaned the evaporator and valve and now the AC is nice and cold again, hopefully now it will stay that way for a while. (before there was no cabin pollen filter, 15 years of dirt on evaporator) 

Thanks for the advice and taking the time to send pictures, it was a great help.

 

 

I'm still having the same problems with this.

 

It seems impossible to find out what parts were used when the retrofitted AC system was put into the car.

 

I re-gas, it's ok for a few months then the cold just fades away.

 

WINO - Would you know where I can get the housing etc.... you posted in the photos?    I'm going to have to retrofit the retrofit.

 

You can identify the system from any part numbers you can find, manufacturers have part number formats unique to them.

Unfortunately, no one I have spoken to can identify the evaporator taken off my car. The sticker seems to say "THECO" ???? I can't even find that company. It might be easier to just take out the back end of the AC system and fit genuine Skoda parts. Just need to work out what this would entail. 

 

 

Has the Skoda airbox been modified to fit that core? 

I showed my mechanic the pictures Wino posted of the Skoda airbox and he said it's not the same.

I wasn't able to see it for myself as I was in a rush to get the car back on the road and told the mechanic to just clean it and reassemble the dash (this is now turning out to be a bad idea, I should have been more patient) and it's such a pain in the ass the get to the evaporator, I can only assume that the airbox must the right size and shape for the evaporator and valve that are fitted to the car. Looking at the genuine Skoda parts next to mine; the valve is oriented a different way and the evaporator is a different size - so must be a different airbox. The mechanic said there were no signs of "butchering" on the plastic either. 

 

4 hours ago, richardwalker said:

WINO - Would you know where I can get the housing etc.... you posted in the photos? 

 

I was looking for some part of the system, I forget which, and put its part number (such as one of those listed in the link sepulchrave has supplied) into the ebay search box.

The whole lot including everything but the fan was listed on ebay for £20 delivered from some scrapyard, so seemed like a bargain...

I suspect because most of it is plastic, it has low materials value, so scrapyards will be keen to sell rather than recycle.  Presumably Thailand has scrapyards?

 

I think the whole lot probably comes out in one piece fairly easily once the dashboard is removed.

 

It seems likely that the system has developed a leak, leaks usually occur in the condenser or the pipework due to vibration cracks.

Rather than assume that the rogue evaporator is to blame get the system properly leak tested using fluorescent dye and pressurized nitrogen, the alloy pipework is usually repairable by having it welded and the condenser must be a VAG part since it has to fit in with the VAG radiator and fan assembly.

Thanks for your help with this.

I'm finding it difficult to find a garage that can do a proper nitrogen leak test.

I have found these UV tests...

 

https://www.lazada.co.th/products/ryt-automotive-car-r134a-r12-air-conditioning-a-c-system-leak-test-uv-dye-kit-28-flashlight-repair-uv-glasses-tool-protective-set-led-i632178423-s1211608784.html?spm=a2o4m.searchlist.list.1.f36759d3pnkAb6&search=1

 

And this audible testing device.....

 

https://www.lazada.co.th/products/elitech-wjl-6000-air-conditioning-halogen-leak-detector-i520908040-s926544587.html?exlaz=d_1:mm_150050845_51350205_2010350205::12:1498579383!58089999096!!!pla-296030489971!c!296030489971!926544587!143742613&gclid=CjwKCAiAvonyBRB7EiwAadauqf4Bo2VS_8cCfbeC69ba_nX1plYtJ2CIpRvrIQKC_6aGvA6D5CvZrxoCLqkQAvD_BwE

 

Is it worth trying one or both of these?  Or better to keep looking for a better garage?

 

Thanks again.

 

 

 

The system needs to be fully connected together to get pressure checked along with either some dye and/or R134A - the first kit relies on gas/oil tainted with UV dye, the second with need some R134A fridge gas in the system to sniff for leaks.

Any main dealer should have a proper aircon diagnostic machine and a tech suitably trained in its use.

 

Surely there's a town near you with car dealers, you don't need it to be Skoda, ANY main dealer should have this facility.

Thanks, 

We have Toyota and Mazda dealers here.

I'll go see them and get a proper check.