Just had a 30,000 mile service on my Kodiaq 190ps Scout reg Jan 2018. Have come away with a list of requirements!

Immediate action - Air Con Service at £139

Haldex oil change due in 3 months at £99

Brake fluid due in 3 months at £65

 

Although a 30,000 mile service car has done just over 24,000 miles.

 

Could I ask for comments please as I am thinking that air con should be ok for more than 3 years and brake fluid the same. Don't know about the Haldex oli.

 

Regards

 

Ken

I had a 3 year service back in June, I remember the brake fluid change was part of the schedule. I was only recommended to take up the air con service, but I passed on this option. No mention of the Haldex fluid change was made, but I only had 17,000 miles on the clock.

Why was the 3rd service carried out so early, it surely wouldn’t be due til Jan 21.

Has it missed its second service, as they normally want to carry out the air con service every 2 years.

Haldex and brake fluid change is normal for 3rd service.

Not only is the Haldex Oil change due at 3 years.  You want to know it is not just the oil being changed.

It is not 30,000 miles, but some need doing before 3 years or 30,000 miles.

Especially if your car is a keeper.

 

The Brake Fluid is first due @ 3 years then each 2.

It can be checked for H2o content.

 

The A/C service is up to yourself if you want doing.

Edited 7 October, 20205 yr by e-Roottoot

Have to admit to being very cynical of Main dealers - any make. This has been only my second service, 1st was at 9,000 miles. Car has only just started to tell me a service is needed at nearly 25,000 miles.  Dealer carried out a 30,000 mile service. OK with Haldex oil change am amused that brake fluid needs changing at 3 years. I am retired and used to service my own cars, only recently has the need to replace brake fluid become apparent. The way I drive now I cannot see me boiling the water content of the brake fluid off!. However will get that done. As an ex maintenance fitter with some refrigeration experience I cannot see why a service to the air con is necessary every three years when the system is working well. I am also told that the spare canister is due to expire.

I appreciate I need to maintain my Kodiaq, which has proved to be a great car. Am I being to cynical about all these added costs?

 

 

The Brake Fluid change is a Recommendation or Guideline,  and only 10 years ago that was first at 2 years then each 2 years.

So you know how and where your car is kept and driven so can decide if checking the brake fluid annually is all you need to do.

 

As to the A/C, there you go, by knowing what you think, so VW Group recommendations / guidelines are just something general that they let people know about.

 

Pity that They and Dealerships are not so hot on letting owners or even desk & workshop & sales employees know more about Haldex Servicing.

When haldex is due, make sure to get the dealer to clean out the filter. Plenty of haldex 'failures' for Golf R owners are due to dealers not cleaning out the filter inside the haldex unit.

 

Edited 8 October, 20205 yr by ZacDaMan72

2 hours ago, KScout said:

As an ex maintenance fitter with some refrigeration experience I cannot see why a service to the air con is necessary every three years when the system is working well. 

I appreciate I need to maintain my Kodiaq, which has proved to be a great car. Am I being to cynical about all these added costs?

 

 

Automobile air conditioning systems are a totally different beast from hermetically sealed domestic/ industrial systems. Vehicle systems are well documented to loose up to 10% of gas annually through compressor shaft seals, and rubber hoses. 

You also need to factor in the need to change pollen filter and clean the system of bacteria at some point, probably not every 2 years though as Skoda suggests.

But as someone with A/C maintenance experience he knows that if the system is working well there is no need to line the pockets of the garage.

 

Regarding the brake fluid change, I dont think that anybody questions that it is hygroscopic and will with time deteriorate but there are many affordable and accurate testers available.

 

The fluid on my MK1 Octavia was tested every year in the workshop of the Lycée Technique where I worked (they taught mechanics, body repair, supply chain logistics and HGV driving) and always passed, the tester was sent off for calibration every year. 

 

It would have still had the original fluid when I scrapped it at 18 years old but I had cracked & changed the fluid in its last year, I did repeated abusive brake tests till the pads were smoking both before and after the fluid change and there was no noticeable difference, the pedal was not any firmer, I simply had some imaginary peace of mind.

 

Had my vehicle been main dealer serviced a lot of money would have gone on unnecessary (in this case) brake fluid changes and anything else that they dream up to fill their coffers.

 

OTOH I had one of the first RHD Ford Galaxies that had a recall because rian water shed from the scuttle was entering the master cylinder reservoir through the sensor cap & then finding its way to the lowest point rusting everything in its path.

 

I had by that time already replaced my rusted master cylinder & naturally I bled the entire system, the front calipers literally bled pure water initially & prior to the master cylinder failing I would frequently suffer brake fade & a spongy pedal when driving too spiritedly towing a trailer with my race car & the vehicle full of pit tools, wheels & tyres etc.

 

So I know first hand the importance of not having deteriorated brake fluid but all they need to do is test it during a service & then they could have another line to trot out like brake discs & pads 75% worn

 

 

Edited 8 October, 20205 yr by J.R.

Regularly maintaining your aircon can be worthwhile, specially if you plan to keep the car. The gas also contains a lubricant for the compressor. I waited a little too long on my last car and paid the price.

Edited 8 October, 20205 yr by jasoncmiles

1 hour ago, jasoncmiles said:

The gas also contains a lubricant for the compressor.

 

No it doesn't.

7 hours ago, J.R. said:

 

No it doesn't.

the gas itself doesnt contain lubricant, but some is added by the air con machine when anything is regassed, PAG oil

I did articulated the point incorrectly as highlighted by Brun, my point was just to highlight oil is added and it does lubricate the system which does protect components.

Edited 9 October, 20205 yr by jasoncmiles

5 hours ago, BRUN said:

the gas itself doesnt contain lubricant, but some is added by the air con machine when anything is regassed, PAG oil

 

If its done, and its a big if, then its the de minimis amount that was seperated from the gas evacuated before recycling.

 

Do you realise that there are at least 10 different types of Pag & equivalent oils that are compressor specific?

 

If the wrong type or wrong viscosity is used or if the system has more oil than the specified limit then compressor damage will ensue.

29 minutes ago, J.R. said:

 

If its done, and its a big if, then its the de minimis amount that was seperated from the gas evacuated before recycling.

 

Do you realise that there are at least 10 different types of Pag & equivalent oils that are compressor specific?

 

If the wrong type or wrong viscosity is used or if the system has more oil than the specified limit then compressor damage will ensue.

 

i work in parts at a main dealers, the machine used to gas the cars has a reservoir for the oil, and another for dye, the machine puts the oil in

 

and yes i know their are many different PAG oils

JR - So your original response that lubricant is not required is superseded by a masterclass in PAG oil specificity stating the percentages are minimal. Excellent.

 

On 08/10/2020 at 13:57, Kenny R said:

Automobile air conditioning systems are a totally different beast from hermetically sealed domestic/ industrial systems. Vehicle systems are well documented to loose up to 10% of gas annually through compressor shaft seals, and rubber hoses. 

You also need to factor in the need to change pollen filter and clean the system of bacteria at some point, probably not every 2 years though as Skoda suggests.

Pollen filter comment is spot on.

But i have to disagree with the comment about 10% loss annually.

My 13 year old passat never had an aircon service and was working like a champ when i sold it few months back.

Still works cause my friend bought the car.

 

@Acidhburn

Your 13 year old Passat was just that and the AC now is not as with it.

 

Then the 10% comment if you look was can lose up to 10% of gas annually.   

That could read 'might use from 0% up to 10%' as up to is a top figure, there will be an average figure if you count millions of cars.

Edited 13 October, 20205 yr by e-Roottoot

Many thanks for all the replies. The information and photo of the Haldex filter from ZacDaMan72 is especially interesting. The paperwork given after the service simply stated Haldex oil change. I will check with the dealer that they will indeed clean the filter, although will have to take their word for it. Air con is still working well but will get the brake fluid changed as I want to take my caravan into France next year (2,000 miles of towing) covis 19 allowing.

On 08/10/2020 at 08:34, Kenny R said:

 

 

@ZacDaMan72, is such a price schedule available for Nz ? wanting to avoid surprises after my prepaid package ends

No

When you get the Haldex done (and insist on filter being done), worth bearing in mind the tyre wear.   

Whilst the newer versions of Haldex do not insist that the tyres are of a similar circumference (ie tread depths are similar), it clearly increases the load if tyres rotate at different speeds, so if your tyres are unevenly worn I suggest you get them swapped around to even out the wear, rather than increasing the divergence of tread thicknesses

 

In my experience as long as air conditioning is run continuously, and not turned off for periods, it is unlikely to need servicing.   If you really want it done, get it done at an a/c specialist who will probably charge a lot less.

 

 

On 16/10/2020 at 19:44, KScout said:

Many thanks for all the replies. The information and photo of the Haldex filter from ZacDaMan72 is especially interesting. The paperwork given after the service simply stated Haldex oil change. I will check with the dealer that they will indeed clean the filter, although will have to take their word for it. Air con is still working well but will get the brake fluid changed as I want to take my caravan into France next year (2,000 miles of towing) covis 19 allowing.

 

No, they didn't. Cleaning the gauze is not included in the Skoda workshop manual so is never done at franchised main dealers (at least here in the UK). Crazy.

 

I spoke to my preferred dealer (Des Winks in Scarborough) and they agreed that when mine is in for it's first Haldex oil change I can request that the gauze is cleaned. They'll do it as an "extra".

 

Call me cynical but the official brake fluid interval is three years from new, then every two years after that. How does the brake fluid from the factory last an extra 12 months? It isn't just coincidence that Skoda UK's servicing regimes are solely focused on fleet buyers looking to minimise running costs across a typical fleet cars three years on the books.

 

This is one of the reasons why I'm a fan of the fixed service intervals for private purchases on vehicles to be owned well beyond the manufacturers warranty period.

Brake Fluid is what it is.

New Brakes, Pipes, Seals and no H20 for 3 years as checking over the decades has found.  Test it for H20 and maybe see, maybe good for 5 or ten years.

10 years ago the brake fluid change was at 2 years then each 2 years.

 

10 Years ago the Haldex Oil change was at 4 years / 40,000 miles.

3 years ago it still was with Skoda and VW had it at 30,000 miles, then @ 3 years as it is now.  Still no screen clean though.

Vorsprung Durch Technik went out the window.