Okay, I have a problem with my air conditioning in my Octavia. I'm going to take it to a main dealer to try and get it sorted but I thought I would check to see if anyone has any ideas before I go down there so I know what I'm talking about and don't get swindled with something I don't need.

The Air Con isn't working. The light comes on on the dashboard when I press the button (normal air con only, I don't have climate control). The fuse is fine and has been checked several times by myself and an independant garage. Now the independant garage says that power isn't getting as far as the compressor, clutch or water pump so the problem doesn't lie there. They say the problem must be electrical somewhere to stop the power getting that far but they don't know enough about the electrics in the Octavia to be able to properly diagnose it. Any thoughts?

There will be a relay somewhere. Maybe its faulty or has come loose, or even missing.

There will be a relay somewhere. Maybe its faulty or has come loose, or even missing.

Assuming worst case I need a new one. Is this an expensive and longwinded job or simple cheap and easy?

Get someone local to you to plug VAG-COM in and see if any faults have been logged - it may help narrow down the relay/sensor which is at fault A common problem with the Octy's was the compressor clutch falling off, but it doesn't sound like this is your problem (phew!!)

Chris

If there is too little gas in the system the pressure switch will cut the compressor out so you need to see if it has gas in it. (will also log a fault for this).

If everything is ok but the compressor still isnt powering up is fairly common that the compressor loses its earth signal. On the top of the starter motor there is a two pin plug that carries the compressor wiring, this quite often gets water in it and corrodes out. Quite often missed as so many people check for positive supplys at consumers but forget it also needs an earth to work.

Have seen a similar fault on a Seat Alhambra and, when checked, there was almost no gas in it. Tried to recharge with a can from Halfords and it poured out as quick as it went in. I believe its off to the aircon specialists next.

Not uncoomon that Dilbert, fecking things allways leak.

tut tut, all those HFC's going off into the atmoshphere. :P

I can go to prison for doing that....apparantly.....

I wonder how often stone chips are the downfall of a condenser seeing as it's more or less the leading edge of the car ie right at the bl0ody front!

Not that many in my experiance to be honest.

tut tut' date=' all those HFC's going off into the atmoshphere. :P

I can go to prison for doing that....apparantly.....

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Cars have been using R134a since about 1992 and have been HFC free havent they? R12 was outlawed years ago because its enviromentally unfriendly.

Has anyone topped up there gas or is it best left to a specialist.

Has anyone topped up there gas or is it best left to a specialist.

I did the topup on my Mondeo using the kit from halfords, however thats a cheap car. I had the Boxster done at a specialist.

Okay, turns out it was a burnt out wire. One of the feed wires between the relay and the compressor had corroded and burnt out. Total cost £76. Much better than the fact that another dealership in Tunbridge Wells wanted to charge me £968 for a new compressor despite the fact I knew it wasn't the compressor.

Thanks for the feedback and good to hear it is sorted.

Cars have been using R134a since about 1992 and have been HFC free havent they? R12 was outlawed years ago because its enviromentally unfriendly.

R134a is a HCFC. Unfortunately R600 doesn't appear to be a safe bet for car air-con being iso-butane mix. However it's a better refridgerant and better for the enviroment.

So until they find a new replacement it's R134a with all it's micro molecular problems.

Much better than the fact that another dealership in Tunbridge Wells wanted to charge me

R-12 = CFC (huge ozone depleting potential cos its a Chlorofluorocarbon)

R-134a = HFC (much smaller ODP due to it being a Hydrofluorocarbon but still not brilliant for the Ozone layer.

It's the chlorine part that does the damage by breaking up 03 ozone molecules.

Carbon dioxide is the most viable refigerant for future air con systems, non flammable, generally non toxic and very stable

There are others, R717 (aka ammonia) has a zero ODP but is very dangerous if it escapes, R600a (isobutane) and R290 (propane) are very good refrigerants and are zero ODP but as you have probably guessed, they go boom!

With the many millions of cars on the roads that have leaking compressor seals alot of R134a is heading into the sky so the eco mentalists will want to do something about it, regulations on refrigerant useage are changing all the time.

Name & shame !

That's shocking from a Skoda dealer who should surely have trained staff able to distinguish between a faulty compressor & a burnt out wire ! :eek:

Hey I've no problems with it, everything I say is factual. It was Caffyns Skoda in High Brooms. The woman on the service desk didn't listen to me when I was telling her about the problem, didn't pass that information to the service team. When I went to pick the car up I specifically asked if she was sure it was the compressor that was at fault and she replied "Yes, 100% sure", exact words.

Motorline Skoda in Canterbury had the car for a day and a half from the following day. They squeezed me in at very last minute short notice, gave me a lift home, took note of what I told them and after spending time on the problem found the faulty wire and replaced it. Highly recommended.

Sorry for sort of hijacking your thread buddy.

Glad to see you have your air con sorted.

Motorline Skoda in Canterbury had the car for a day and a half from the following day. They squeezed me in at very last minute short notice, gave me a lift home, took note of what I told them and after spending time on the problem found the faulty wire and replaced it. Highly recommended.

It would be helpful to our members in the future - and the dealer might appreciate it too - if you could also post comment in Motorline Skoda's entry in the Review Centre below. TIA.

http://www.briskoda.net/forums/skoda-dealers-south-south-east/motorline-skoda-canterbury/38219/