Hi, I've had an aircon leak test on my 2017 fabia mk3 and the condenser shows as needing replacement.

 

I'd happily go with no aircon but the technician said that the compressor might fail if I leave the gas low in the system and that would be an extra cost down the line.

My general mechanic questioned this and suggested I could leave it ungassed and with its current condenser. 

 

The compressor is apparently belt driven and runs whenever the engine runs unlike older ones that idle.

 

Can I get away without this expense or will I indeed wreck my compressor into the bargain if I leave it?

 

Thanks in advance for any suggestions!

Do you want aircon or not??!?!? Working aircon will of course will help when it comes time to sell it..... 

When answering, bear in mind that aircon does air heating and air drying as well as air cooling functions.

Ken, Jars, thanks, yes thats the conundrum-  will the compressor go, and knock out the rest of the ventillation system if I leave the condenser problem? Basically I'm happy to leave the expense of a fixed aircon for now as long as it wont damage anything else down the line.  Jars, I am really missing my 06 diesel Fabia. It was such a beast. I was overtaking audis up hills in 4th in that thing.

48 minutes ago, nicholas75 said:

will the compressor go, and knock out the rest of the ventillation system if I leave the condenser problem?

You'll be left with an old school heater and fan, but even then the functionality will be somewhat downgraded. My old Octy has an early Climatronic, and I normally leave it in full automatic set to 18C unless I want the demist or defrost mode.

Having gone from having air con, to going without, to having it again. I can confirm it makes a world of difference, especially for demisting your windows.

4 hours ago, nicholas75 said:

Jars, I am really missing my 06 diesel Fabia. It was such a beast. I was overtaking audis up hills in 4th in that thing.

 You're welcome  

 

You, love the shove you get in the MK1 Fabia vRS, especially after a few choice mods 

I keep almost bumping into and reading Daily Express headed guff about huge fines being handed out if your car interior is too hot, I’d almost be willing to believe that plan, lovely extra money into the treasury. F’ knows how cars that don’t have AC will be handled, probably driver will get a good flogging! Daily Express likes to put out “good” stories.

1 hour ago, rum4mo said:

Daily Express headed guff

I don't do Daily Excess guff. The point about working a/c doing other things besides "cooling air" is entirely true, even if it has appeared in the Excess (don't know or care).