On 08/04/2023 at 19:53, numskull said:

Really? SWMBO 2003 MKI Facelift Ford Focus has just had the AC regassed for the first time since we bought it at 9 months old. It was at 20%. We never regassed our MKI Superb in 12 years and it was as cold as ice. 

Allowing for the fact that they simply made up the 20% figure that pretty much equates to a compounded 10% loss each year anyway, it would reach 20% after 15 years and 12% after 20 years.

 

But it would have stopped cooling long before that further proving that they make these things up as they go along which includes the famous 10% per year figure, most vehicles don't lose aywhere near that amount.

On 08/04/2023 at 18:29, ApertureS said:

By not using the AC you are allowing the system to become dry causing seals to weaken and split allowing leaks. Use air conditioning all year round as that is how it is designed to be used.

Not true on any VAG system for the last couple of decades with the clutchless  driect drive compressor, I agree that its best to use it all the time but you cannot actually switch it off, you just think you have!

On 08/04/2023 at 17:01, Danoid said:

I swear the Passat b5.5 use to turn ac off if there was a problem such as low refrigerant  whereas the superb still has the ac light on 😞 

 

Both are correct and not mutually exclusive, the aircon light comes on when you select the aircon function, if for any number of reasons for which there are compressor shut down codes in VCDS the most obvious being low refrigerant gas pressure then the modulating valve which allows the system to pump and circulate will not be actuated.

 

The aircon light will remain illuminated under the above circumstance which I agree makes little sense.

12 minutes ago, J.R. said:

 

Both are correct and not mutually exclusive, the aircon light comes on when you select the aircon function, if for any number of reasons for which there are compressor shut down codes in VCDS the most obvious being low refrigerant gas pressure then the modulating valve which allows the system to pump and circulate will not be actuated.

 

The aircon light will remain illuminated under the above circumstance which I agree makes little sense.

I may have dreamt it turned off by the sounds of it, about right

Mini update, I rang the HQ of the garage who refilled my ac and the local manager called me back saying it’s my own fault for lifting the bonnet up, err what?

 

I can see this ending up in a small claims court if it has to, I found the law which clearly states they shouldn’t have filled it and detected the leak

 

Skoda has some answering as well because I had it serviced in March and part of the oil and inspection is to do a diagnostic check, I didn’t get a report back but assumed all well and the low refrigerant would have popped up as a warning. I’m guessing error codes can be time stamped? 

Get a grip Danoid!

 

If it was cooling on the way back then the system was pressurised and working, to see it pi55ing out and to lose the pressure and cooling as fast as you say indicates the pipe finally fractured or rubbed through at that time.

 

Is  the hole visible and exactly where the squiggle is? I ask becaise its suspiciously close to the filling port but that has the cap on it so even if the Schrader valve has dirt under its seat it should not leak.

 

I very much doubt that any law says that a garage has to find a leak, finding a competent garage is hard enough, they all use these automated machines, they just connect up and walk away, if it does not hold the vacuum for the required 20 minutes (or so) it will not go onto the next stage of refilling, thats the point where they start scratching their heads and make up all the bull***t about what is wrong with the system, the truth is they have no idea about anything other than connecting the hoses to the test ports (and many cat even manage that) pressing "start" and walking away, when they return it will either say finished or could not recharge.

Edited 13 April, 20233 yr by J.R.

1 hour ago, J.R. said:

Get a grip Danoid!

 

If it was cooling on the way back then the system was pressurised and working, to see it pi55ing out and to lose the pressure and cooling as fast as you say indicates the pipe finally fractured or rubbed through at that time.

 

Is  the hole visible and exactly where the squiggle is? I ask becaise its suspiciously close to the filling port but that has the cap on it so even if the Schrader valve has dirt under its seat it should not leak.

 

I very much doubt that any law says that a garage has to find a leak, finding a competent garage is hard enough, they all use these automated machines, they just connect up and walk away, if it does not hold the vacuum for the required 20 minutes (or so) it will not go onto the next stage of refilling, thats the point where they start scratching their heads and make up all the bull***t about what is wrong with the system, the truth is they have no idea about anything other than connecting the hoses to the test ports (and many cat even manage that) pressing "start" and walking away, when they return it will either say finished or could not recharge.

The garage to my house is roughly 1-2 minutes, so it’s become evident it was leaking before they even touched it, which is why my ac didn’t run.

 

I can’t actually see the hole, the picture is from the top but if you looked from the front of the car the hole is there.

 

p.S I’d have a grip if I had my car worked on and didn’t end up in a&e having all sorts done!

I am only trying to advise you that you are drawing several conclusions without any basis as you seem determined to take this down the legal route.

 

20 years without a recharge is in anyones eyes enough normal losses for the system not to run due to insufficient regfrigeratn, their machone will have given them a printout of the vwhole procedure, the vacuum test, its duration, the the depression before and after test period, how many grammes of refrigerant removed, how many refilled and the high and low pressures when tested operational.

 

I am only trying to play deviles advocat

 

sorry for typos, I cant see what I am typing.

57 minutes ago, J.R. said:

I am only trying to advise you that you are drawing several conclusions without any basis as you seem determined to take this down the legal route.

 

20 years without a recharge is in anyones eyes enough normal losses for the system not to run due to insufficient regfrigeratn, their machone will have given them a printout of the vwhole procedure, the vacuum test, its duration, the the depression before and after test period, how many grammes of refrigerant removed, how many refilled and the high and low pressures when tested operational.

 

I am only trying to play deviles advocat

 

sorry for typos, I cant see what I am typing.

That’s fine, the cars not 20 years old though it’s a 2016 it may have had a recharge before I bought it in 2018 not too sure, be in the paperwork somewhere though

Sorry about that, its either my eye condition or I confused it with another post, probably both.

 

You should be taking up the issue with the garage in the first instnace, I can't read back through but I think you said they quoted you for replacing the pipe? if it has been rubbed through then that is easonable, they should at the very least refund the cost of the first recharge but you still end up payi for it to be done after the ork and its probably better to cut your losses and find a cheaper independant garage to replace the pipe or DIY which is now a possibility as the gas has already leaked away

 

sorry for any typeos

As requested @Danoid 

there is plenty of clearance between the headlight wiring harness and the A/C compressor lines.

 

 

Hi All, sorry to drag thread back.

 

I have been experiencing issues with my AC (2018 272 Superb) it went in 2 weeks ago for aircon gas top up, as it stopped working, which i thought was odd given the age of the car, Skoda confirmed the gas was low, after a test and no leaks found. (£166 to regas)

 

Drove away all working, but didnt feel as cold as it did prior to failure. (baring in mind it seemed to stop working over night, it wasnt a gradual decline in coldness).

 

another two weeks later, and its gone again, so back to Skoda.

 

Had the call today to say that its bubbling around the hoses onto the front condensor, and they have said seals, and looks like some corrosion, hense leaking. (why this wasnt picked up first time around im unsure).

 

Because i have exstended warranty they have had to submit a report to see if its covered but they are saying probably not, so im apparently facing a £1k+ repair. 

 

Now as far as im concerned a car purchased new in november 2018 (a MY19) should not be corroding this early on, around a system which polutes the atmosphere.

 

Skoda have said its because the condensor is right behind the front grill getting water and salt pelted at it. 

 

Even still its not an old car.

 

Has anyone had similar issue? picked car up unfixed, whilst Skoda contact HQ in regards to warranty.

 

Vin

 

 

I replaced my AC condensor not because corrosion (its alloy so immune from road spray) but from being punctured by the frontal impact that wrote the vehicle off.

 

A new OE Nissens one was £30 something and took maybe an hour to fit, so £1k sounds about right for a main stealer 🤪

 

A piece of gravel at the right trajectory is enough to penetrate the condensor, your leak is from the seal with the dryer capsule and a common fault.

Edited 16 July, 20241 yr by J.R.

Oops I didn’t update the thread, so what Skoda changed on mine was the large pipe going from behind the coolant tank to the header tank and that was almost £1k pfft

 

The small pipe near the front still has some oily residue so I went back to the “executive” team and they organised for my car to go back and be checked, went there and the Skoda guy just shouted at me (short man syndrome) and didn’t check it like executive team asked

 

went back to executive team and got it booked at a different garage who checked it for free and no problems, still oily to this day but ac is perfect.

 

I then got a call from executive team and gave me a £500 voucher, so they probably finally figured out the original garage shouldn’t have charged me near £1k for a £250 pipe and Skoda workshop estimates 1 hour to change pipe not 4…

 

I’m still not sure how the gases hit me from the front pipe if it was the back one, weird

6 hours ago, Danoid said:

Oops I didn’t update the thread, so what Skoda changed on mine was the large pipe going from behind the coolant tank to the header tank and that was almost £1k pfft

 

The small pipe near the front still has some oily residue so I went back to the “executive” team and they organised for my car to go back and be checked, went there and the Skoda guy just shouted at me (short man syndrome) and didn’t check it like executive team asked

 

went back to executive team and got it booked at a different garage who checked it for free and no problems, still oily to this day but ac is perfect.

 

I then got a call from executive team and gave me a £500 voucher, so they probably finally figured out the original garage shouldn’t have charged me near £1k for a £250 pipe and Skoda workshop estimates 1 hour to change pipe not 4…

 

I’m still not sure how the gases hit me from the front pipe if it was the back one, weird

£1000 is that for the parts and labour or just parts?

 

As the pipe is priced at £270

1 hour ago, ApertureS said:

£1000 is that for the parts and labour or just parts?

 

As the pipe is priced at £270

Parts and labour, the wording for the quote was complete high pressure pipes, and they just done the one, which is why I moaned

Edited 19 July, 20241 yr by Danoid