Air con service at 2 years?

[BNB90]

I've had an email today advising my Octavia is due an air con service? It's 2 years old at the end of April. Is this correct as I've never serviced the air con on previous new cars within 3 years albeit they were different makes?

 

 

 

If you have had this email previously, did you choose to get it completed? I will call Skoda tomorrow for a quote which may sway my decision!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[KenONeill]

3 hours ago, BNB90 said:

I will call Skoda tomorrow for a quote

Yell.com for mobile auto aircon. Estimate of GB£100, while you wait, at a location that suits you. See how that compares with the Main Stealer!

[SurreyJohn]

I wouldn't bother with a main dealer aircon service.   Overpriced for not much work.

 

If you never turn it off, won't get bacteria buildup, the pollen filter is separate so not really any filters in the a/c system that will get cleaned during its so called service.
 

I have known people never had it touched in 10 years, never turn it off, still works well.  
 

More realistically if you think it needs doing, get it done as a specialist every 3-4 years.   I have yet to see any evidence why it needs doing every 24 months instead of every 30, or 35 or 40 months etc.

 

 

[BNB90]

5 hours ago, KenONeill said:

Yell.com for mobile auto aircon. Estimate of GB£100, while you wait, at a location that suits you. See how that compares with the Main Stealer!

 

I'll let you know, will give them a call shortly!

 

 

10 minutes ago, SurreyJohn said:

I wouldn't bother with a main dealer aircon service.   Overpriced for not much work.

 

If you never turn it off, won't get bacteria buildup, the pollen filter is separate so not really any filters in the a/c system that will get cleaned during its so called service.
 

I have known people never had it touched in 10 years, never turn it off, still works well.  
 

More realistically if you think it needs doing, get it done as a specialist every 3-4 years.   I have yet to see any evidence why it needs doing every 24 months instead of every 30, or 35 or 40 months etc.

 

 

 

That's my thinking. I leave it on permanently and always have done. Never had an issue on cars I've had from new before! 

 

I thought the brake fluid change at 2 years was early but I'm having it done in April as I feel it's important for the service history, but air con service feels like a bit of a money maker at 2 years 😂

[BNB90]

Just called Skoda, quoted £159! Think I'll give that a miss for now 🤣

 

 

 

 

 

 

[varooom]

I can concur haven driven to the Moon and back, that I have never had AC serviced.  I always left mine on 24/7 365 and had no issues.  As long as you keep changing the filters when specified, then you should be ok, inspect old part to check condition (damp etc)

 

Any smells I ever had, I used a can of AC cleaner that you "locked" on with recirc on and left the car for 10mins whilst the can emptied.

[kodiaqsportline]

37 minutes ago, BNB90 said:

I thought the brake fluid change at 2 years was early but I'm having it done in April as I feel it's important for the service history.

 

The first car I owned which had aircon was a Honda in 1995. Every car since has had aircon ( and there's been many ) and I've never had an aircon service done on any of them.

 

Not sure if you're aware of recommended brake fluid:  1. It really should be tested to see if it needs changed and  2. some people change it regardless because it makes them feel safe, but if your only reason is for service history - according to the maintenance schedule the 1st brake service isn't due until year 3. 

[varooom]

Brake fluid schedule...

 

[EnterName]

10 hours ago, BNB90 said:

I've had an email today advising my Octavia is due an air con service? It's 2 years old at the end of April. Is this correct as I've never serviced the air con on previous new cars within 3 years albeit they were different makes?

 

 

 

If you have had this email previously, did you choose to get it completed? I will call Skoda tomorrow for a quote which may sway my decision!

The air con service seems deliberately contrived to be as expensive as possible.

I asked my mechanic about it and his advice was to use it and only mess about with it if the air conditioning performance declines.

I leave mine on "AUTO" all the time and let it get on with it.

[johndavid158]

I've had this email from my dealer as well, air-con service at 2 years?

I'll have the fluid change, but ot air-con. 

thanks for your opinions

[SurreyJohn]

Is it just me, or do others find it annoying that dealers send out letters about this highly profitable idea, but the way the letter is phrased it implies that is only extra that needs doing.

 

... no mention of other things recommended in handbook, like swapping wheels around.   But not going to be able to overcharge for that.

 

 

[kodiaqsportline]

3 hours ago, SurreyJohn said:

Is it just me, or do others find it annoying that dealers send out letters about this highly profitable idea, but the way the letter is phrased it implies that is only extra that needs doing.

 

... no mention of other things recommended in handbook, like swapping wheels around.   But not going to be able to overcharge for that.

 

 

 

There are lots of things I find annoying but I'm pretty good at ignoring them. What makes you think they couldn't overcharge for swapping wheels around if they wanted to.

 

Turning the table around, you say overcharge. if you want the wheels swapping over all you need to say it could you swap the wheels over for me at the service and they'll do it - at zero expense.

 

On 17/02/2023 at 10:07, varooom said:

Brake fluid schedule...

 

 

I've just seen this reply.

 

One annoying thing I find hard to ignore are those who are all too ready to pick you up before you hit the ground.

 

The  car being discussed is 2yr old but according to Skoda, the first brake service is at 3 years and then every 2yr thereafter.  It certainly applied to both my cars. So in the context of what's being discussed, what you've published is at best misleading. Don't argue with me, I'm only the messenger - it's Skoda you need to liase with if you think they're wrong.

 

 

 

[SurreyJohn]

8 hours ago, kodiaqsportline said:

 

 

The  car being discussed is 2yr old but according to Skoda, the first brake service is at 3 years and then every 2yr thereafter.  It certainly applied to both my cars. So in the context of what's being discussed, what you've published is at best misleading. Don't argue with me, I'm only the messenger - it's Skoda you need to liase with if you think they're wrong.

 

 

 

Another of those idiotic ones, why does the brake fluid the factory put in last 3 years, but the (identical) brake fluid used by dealers only last 2 years

 

Skoda seem to know, but I can't figure it out

 

[Ootohere]

So some of these service recommendations, guidelines or schedules for service items have changed from Skoda with new models.  Back to brake fluid first at 2 years for a change. Also from VAQ diffs and owners not being told a service is due at 3 years / 30,000 miles it then starts that some are contacted and told it is at 2 years.   @SurreyJohn I bumped the thread in the MK3 Fabia section.

Edited 9 March, 2023 by toot

[TheUltraRunner]

I just had my 3rd service at 45 000 km (car being at this time 2y and 2m old) on my RS TSI and the garage has changed the oil in my VAQ diff, but they didn't change the brake fluid (although they said they will at first, when I dropped off the car). Forgot to ask why have they changed their mind.

[varooom]

This is yet another example of the difference from the Factory maintenance schedule and then an importer seems to decide that it doesn't matter/apply.

 

So Factory says it's every 2 years.

Skoda UK say 3 years, then every 2 years after.

 

The same thing occurs with 1.5tsi act engine timing belts, Factory says lifetime, Skoda UK recommends every 5 years.

 

 

Factory and importers should be singing off the same page, to stop all the confusion.

Edited 9 March, 2023 by varooom
Spellink

[PetrolDave]

3 minutes ago, varooom said:

Factory and importers should be singing off the same page, to stop all the confusion.

Well said 👏

[jjm_vrs]

I got a letter too, ignored it as they're just after money.  They also sent me an email about a service due at 2 years, when I've only just had my first oil service with them a few month ago.  The car has electronic/variable service schedule and is telling me it's not due for about another 700 days!