Got in my car today front windscreen had condensation on, started the car had aircon on waited and waited and waited, didn’t even touch it.

 

So I had to resort to my trusty sleeve as I got annoyed.

 

Whilst driving I remembered my old Passat the aircon didn’t work at temperatures less than 5oC or something like that, is that the same as the Superb?

 

Outside read 3oC, when I arrived at my location I asked my wife to stand by the engine and listen for a click (usual aircon engaging sound) couldn’t hear a thing. I also didn’t notice the revs changing.

 

So either it doesn’t operate at low temperatures like my old Passat or my aircon has randomly decided to die

Air conditioning should operate at all temperatures! It is not a 'air cooling' system like people assume it is, it conditions the air, dries it, cools it and deoderises it. There is no lower temperature limit. That being said, the air conditioning is only as efficent as its ability to expel the heat through the condensor. If the outside air temperature is very cold it will struggle as there is a lower temperature gradient.

The evaporator temperature sensor will ensure the N280 compressor valve is at its minimum if it reads at or below 0°C, so no cooling will occur. 

 

Don't necessarily expect to hear magnetic clutches clicking on modern Skoda systems, most models have a variable displacement system regulated by a proportional solenoid valve, N280; effectively 'always on', albeit only at a duty cycle of a few percent when not required to produce any cooling. 

 

If yours is a model with a magnetic clutch they do apparently have an outside temperature switch that will disable the system below 2° and not re-enable until 5°C.

Edited 20 January, 20224 yr by Wino

15 minutes ago, Wino said:

The evaporator temperature sensor will ensure the N280 compressor valve is at its minimum if it reads at or below 0°C, so no cooling will occur. 

 

Don't necessarily expect to hear magnetic clutches clicking on modern Skoda systems, most models have a variable displacement system regulated by a proportional solenoid valve, N280; effectively 'always on', albeit only at a duty cycle of a few percent when not required to produce any cooling. 

 

If yours is a model with a magnetic clutch they do apparently have an outside temperature switch that will disable the system below 2° and not re-enable until 5°C.

Ah I must admit I’ve never heard the clutch engage or even hear a different tone with ice cold air in the summer.

 

On the VW site it mentions it doesn’t work below 0oC, couldn’t see anything on the Skoda site.

 

I guess it just had too much condensation to do anything, where my car is it’s in the sun all day then with these silly cold temperatures it fogs up, probably doesn’t help I’ve not cleaned the inside of the windscreen since I bought it 4 years ago, and usually only use it on the weekends 😬

Edited 20 January, 20224 yr by Danoid

I had similar issue where I always had a condesation and fogging issues. Took it to the service and they discovered that the humidity sensor was broken. 
It got replaced under the warranty. 

2 hours ago, Luei said:

I had similar issue where I always had a condesation and fogging issues. Took it to the service and they discovered that the humidity sensor was broken. 
It got replaced under the warranty. 

Mine doesn’t fog up whilst driving, only when it’s been unused all day, gets a bit of warmth from the winter sun then cold evenings

21 hours ago, Danoid said:

I guess it just had too much condensation to do anything, where my car is it’s in the sun all day then with these silly cold temperatures it fogs up, probably doesn’t help I’ve not cleaned the inside of the windscreen since I bought it 4 years ago, and usually only use it on the weekends 😬

I remember a story from a while ago where a Jaguar owner took his car to the dealer after 3 years and complained that his headlights were very poor.  When he returned to collect his car, they asked if he'd ever cleaned the inside of his windscreen since he bought the car, to which he replied "No".  They said his lights should be OK now and all they'd done was clean the inside of his windscreen.  He was looking through a "fog" that made his lights appear to be very dim.

 

The windscreen picks up a film from the plastics and the air blowing from the vents and should be regularly cleaned.  I've found that condensation and misting are much reduced if the windscreen is kept clean.

2 hours ago, Penpusher said:

I remember a story from a while ago where a Jaguar owner took his car to the dealer after 3 years and complained that his headlights were very poor.  When he returned to collect his car, they asked if he'd ever cleaned the inside of his windscreen since he bought the car, to which he replied "No".  They said his lights should be OK now and all they'd done was clean the inside of his windscreen.  He was looking through a "fog" that made his lights appear to be very dim.

 

The windscreen picks up a film from the plastics and the air blowing from the vents and should be regularly cleaned.  I've found that condensation and misting are much reduced if the windscreen is kept clean.

Funny you say that as I do think my xenons are rubbish.

 

The screen from inside looks good but I do need to the inside of the glass. I’ve got some isopropyl alcohol somewhere for a good clean

I read Mk2 Fabia Owners manuals and any typos / revisions and there it said + 2 degrees C for the AC to work. 

 

Remember that cars take the ambient temperatures at different heights on different vehicles.

Some might be at the front and low or at the mirrors.

The temperature is different at Grass / Ground temp or 'Air Temp' which is well above ground temp.

There can be a few degrees temp difference 0-18" above the ground or 36" above. 

 

 

Edited 21 January, 20224 yr by roottoot

Sometimes the oldest tricks still work. Clean inside your glass, check your carpets aren't damp (water ingress), then fault find your A/C. 

I understand the new refrigerant r134a leaks more easily than the older type, so you might 'just need a regas". My 2017 Passat needed one at 2 years old. Interestingly Hyundai class refrigerant loss after 6 months as "normal". 

But eliminate the simple stuff first

On 20/01/2022 at 18:38, ApertureS said:

Air conditioning should operate at all temperatures! It is not a 'air cooling' system like people assume it is, it conditions the air, dries it, cools it and deoderises it. There is no lower temperature limit. That being said, the air conditioning is only as efficent as its ability to expel the heat through the condensor. If the outside air temperature is very cold it will struggle as there is a lower temperature gradient.

I'm sorry to inform you that you did not pass this year's class. 😉

To avoid condensation on the inside of the window then turn off the a/c several minutes before turning off the engine while keeping the fan turned on, to fully dry out the evaporator. This has the added benefit of preventing or at least slowing the growth of fungus and bacteria, which requires a wet moderately warm environment to flourish and nothing better than a wet evaporator when the car is parked up overnight. This is the reason for the smell that often develops in a/c systems.

Check the spare wheel well for a puddle, not common in Skoda admittedly but in some cars (Focus estates I'm looking at you!). If you think a damp carpet causes condensation you should see what a wheel well full does to a car... (fungi that I wouldn't eat even with garlic butter)