Hi all. Our beloved (not!) Karoq is in for it's second service ( just over 2 yrs old and 17k ) and the dealership is recommending the AC is serviced at a cost of almost £150 notes. Has anyone else had this request? and has anyone else felt it nescessary? My VW Transporter is 4 1/2 years old with nearly 100k on the clock and hasn't had one or needed a AC service/regas, and all the other cars/vans I've owned have never had a regas until at least 100k, and only when they needed it.

 

Another dealership attempt at daylight robbery? or are the new AC systems just not as robust as previous cars?

I always think this is a means of ripping customers off.  I’ve owned cars with AC since mid 90s and never had any issues with AC, apart from replacing a condenser on a Disco3 which wouldn’t have been prevented by any amount of servicing.

 

What’s been wrong with your Karoq?

Kangarooing, software update, more kangarooing, knocking from somewhere offside front, too many random electrical/software glitches to mention. 

👍

All that Kangarooing may have upset the a/c system. Or perhaps they're being ultra cautious and cleaning any traces of Covid-19 out of the a/c system.

 

On the otherhand, at only 2yr old it's a ripoff.  If your a/c system is working fine at 2yr old then it's best left well alone.

I leave my Climatronic aircon running all year long (as it is also very effective for reducing humidity as well as lowering the ambient temperature) and have been advised by aircon specialists that you only need to service aircon when it smells (usually affecting those who only use it in summer) or no longer pumps out cold air. And they only charge around £75 to regas the aircon too! 

 

It's not listed as part of the regular service requirements by VAG, so I see no need to pay a dealer so much extra for something that is not necessary.

 

Chris

I'd get it done elsewhere if you are having problems with it

10 hours ago, Tim1631 said:

I'd get it done elsewhere if you are having problems with it

There is absolutely nothing wrong with it, thats the point. They may as well say "your brake pads are 20% worn. We suggest you replace them now!".

If you do a bit of searching around the forum in general, you'll see that this question comes up pretty regularly.

 

Just good old 21st century upselling.

Just say no (thanks).

27 minutes ago, Scruffy said:

There is absolutely nothing wrong with it, thats the point. They may as well say "your brake pads are 20% worn. We suggest you replace them now!".

 

I meant of needed. I wouldn't go to a dealer fot it to be honest. 

What some say is.

They are 80% worn and we advise replacing the discs and pads.    Also an engine flush and a fuel injection treatment, and heavy air in the tyres and a enema without lubrication.

'Assume the position & brace yourself'. 

The technician at the main dealer did not provide my service at a satisfactory standard so the dealer offered a free aircon service as recompense. As the system had never been regassed after 5 years from new I believed it would be colder and better but there was no improvement.

My old car, 13 year old Jazz, hasn’t been regassed in it’s life, same for SWMBO’s 9 year old Jazz.  This “all cars loose x percent a year so you need a regass, sir”, to me, is a load of balldocks.  Just another ruse to part the customer from his/her hard earned for naff all benefit.👍

It's one of those "may lose up to 10% per year" things. That's not the norm, that's the worst case scenario. 

 

Our Fabia got regassed for first time aged 7, and again last year aged 14.

No other A/C maintenence or servicing other than periodic pollen filter changes or interim hooverings.

(Oh, and importantly, making sure rad fans are fully functional.  Very common for that not to be the case).

 

 

I was told when I had my last (18k) service that my air con was due service in the next 11 months.  my car is only a year old.   So interested in following this.  Not sure I have had any of my A/c systems serviced before......

 

Like the comments before....If there is an issue then I could understand.

Its definitely a different and much more expensive gas than the already very expensive R134a, the equipment to recover and regas with it is also very expensive at present.

 

Whether it actually loses pressure quicker or even at all or whether its just upselling to recoup their capital investment or just plain rip off remains to be seen.

 

Its certainly true that many decent vehicles can go 7, 10 or even 13 years on R134a without a recharge but they will have lost some charge.

 

I also think that the move in recent years to minimise the refrigerant weight means that recharge intervals will be shorter.

 

My Skodas have all been 525 grammes, I recharged a 2006 Volvo recently and think that the system capacity was 1kg, it was its first ever recharge, system no longer cooling, clutch not engaging but it still had some charge, the clutch and fans cut in after very little gas had gone in. I had not vacuumed it down and it was a hot day so the fill rate was very slow until the system started pumping and the low side pressure dropped.

To tell if mine is cold enough if the side of my face aches and goes numb then it is OK. I had Bells Palsey 4 years ago so I know the feeling of paralysis down one side of my face. Apologies if anyone is suffering from the complaint. It does go eventually

I had my car serviced today by Wings in King's Lynn.  They suggested the aircon service too but I refused.  My Karoq is coming up to 2 years old, 17,000  miles and the aircon works fine as far as I can tell.

This document https://az749841.vo.msecnd.net/sitesengb/alv1/d300a459-5ef6-433f-a49f-65f3638efaa1/national-price-servicing-min.63862747c3e6286ede19bc446a023030.pdf from the Skoda website suggests aircon service every two years (but the schedule does not have years 1 and 2).

I think it is definitely a case of upselling, as they tried to sell me a 5 year service plan even as I was telling them the car goes back next April.

Ever re-gassed your fridge or freezer.

 

No ****in’ chance.

 

They're all At It.

8 hours ago, BoxerBoy said:

Ever re-gassed your fridge or freezer.

 

No ****in’ chance.

 

They're all At It.

Think you’ve find a fridge has a hermetically sealed system and the compressor is actually enclosed in the system. Vehicle systems are completely different with open compressors with shaft seals that can leak, also has flexible hoses to allow for vibration that can also leak. It is well documented that vehicle systems can loose up to 10% gas annually. Add the fact that your fridge doesn’t have a pollen filter that requires changing and your car systems condenser is a harbour for bacteria that requires disinfecting now an again, can’t see how you can compare apples with pears.

Edited 15 August, 20205 yr by Kenny R

On 09/08/2020 at 18:45, edbostan said:

The technician at the main dealer did not provide my service at a satisfactory standard so the dealer offered a free aircon service as recompense. As the system had never been regassed after 5 years from new I believed it would be colder and better but there was no improvement.

‘cos it wasn’t broken!

11 hours ago, Kenny R said:

Think you’ve find a fridge has a hermetically sealed system and the compressor is actually enclosed in the system. Vehicle systems are completely different with open compressors with shaft seals that can leak, also has flexible hoses to allow for vibration that can also leak. It is well documented that vehicle systems can loose up to 10% gas annually. Add the fact that your fridge doesn’t have a pollen filter that requires changing and your car systems condenser is a harbour for bacteria that requires disinfecting now an again, can’t see how you can compare apples with pears.

Let’s not mix our apples and pears - with AC systems and pollen filters.

 

A filter is clean or not. Simple. Change it.

 

Losing 10% per year of your AC gas is ****** in my 20+ years experience of cars with AC.
 

My AC systems are functionally tested every time the cars are driven as they are always ON. I’ll know when they need a “service” when the performance drops off. Then I’ll pop into my local service emporium and have the AC “serviced”.

Skoda dealers just want to unjustifiably screw us at every turn.

15 hours ago, BoxerBoy said:

‘cos it wasn’t broken!

You are right. I only took up the offer because it was a freebie and curious if I would notice any difference. It proves this 'about time to have this done' should be 'don't fix it if not broke'. My  son's 5 year-old- Fiesta was re-gassed yesterday as it was not blowing cold but my brother-in-laws Galaxy never was re-gassed in the 11 years he owned it.

Edited 16 August, 20205 yr by edbostan

I had my second service at 18000 miles last week. Advisory items included an a/c service (recommended every 2 years) for £139. Some years ago I read it was better to keep air con on all the time to avoid the seals drying out and having done that can't say I've had any issues at least not after two years. Also advised an antibacterial cleanse of a/c and interior  (recommended every 12 months) for £39.99. Again, never noticed any funny smells and not too worried about my germs in the car, they must be all over the house. Key Fob battery replacement (recommended every 2 years), at £4.69 didn't think that was too bad so will probably take both keys in next time. Advised to replace wiper blades as noisy, been like that at times almost since new, at £37.20 again didn't think that was too bad but as this seems to be a common issue I'd rather take suggestions on here from people that have had the same issue and choose the make of blade myself.

 

Cost for the service was £249.20, this did include a pollen filter. Sadly these covid days no wash and vac but you do get a video of the underside of your car.

 

Interestingly the oil on the invoice was Castrol Edge 0W-20 which looking at the Castrol site doesn't seem to have a VAG rating, at the last service they used a 5W-30. The switch to the 5W-30 resulted in a small but immediate increase in fuel consumption while going back to 0W-20 which I think was the original spec has resulted in an immediate drop in consumption.