Yeti now coming up for 12 years old - had it from new. Still a great car. I know that the recommended two year service interval for aircon is way, way over the top, but if everything's working fine and it's used all year round, what do you reckon?

Once every 5 years OK? Every 7? Never?

Is there any harm to be done by just leaving it alone unless there's a problem?

Leave it alone until it stops getting cold and that's the sign it needs gassing

2 minutes ago, skomaz said:

Leave it alone until it stops getting cold and that's the sign it needs gassing

That was the way I was thinking, but given that the car's nearly 12 years old (very low mileage though) I don't want to skip something that's likely to rebound later in the shape of repairs or breakdown of the system. Thanks.

9 minutes ago, docc said:

That was the way I was thinking, but given that the car's nearly 12 years old (very low mileage though) I don't want to skip something that's likely to rebound later in the shape of repairs or breakdown of the system. Thanks.

That's a fair point. All I would say is that in my experience the older installations like you have seen to be much better than the ones in newer models.

1 hour ago, skomaz said:

All I would say is that in my experience the older installations like you have seen to be much better than the ones in newer models.

That has been my experience with my 20+ year old Octavia ( still seems to heat and cool on request )

24 minutes ago, olddog said:

That has been my experience with my 20+ year old Octavia ( still seems to heat and cool on request )

No aircon services?

No, None! Bought it when it was a couple of years old ( doubt any aircon service done before I bought it ) and have had it ever since .. replaced the rear springs some years ago as one of them had broken...

Problem now is wires going to drivers door.....well, that 'n I'm old & its old

( all strictly O/T as its not a Yeti )

I think every 4 or 5 years is spot on to be honest. The Yeti has the cheaper gas (my Audi was 3x the cost at the same garage). Might help the compressor as well if things are running low?

I have had mine simply re-gassed twice in 13 years. It has never got to the point where the pressure has dropped below the threshold for operation to be inhibited, but always seems to produce colder air after being done. Not too much to pay for a year round essential item. Nobody wants to go back to the bad old days of winter motoring with damp interiors and misty windscreens. I wouldn't bother with getting the "air" side of things deodorised etc.

Edited 10 December, 202510 Dec by Austin 7

At 12 years old the condenser is likely near the end of its life expectancy anyway, so no point servicing it! Wait until it fails and just get it fixed and regassed at that point.

50 minutes ago, CzechPassat said:

At 12 years old the condenser is likely near the end of its life expectancy anyway, so no point servicing it! Wait until it fails and just get it fixed and regassed at that point.

Good point. The mileage is only around 20,000, but I suppose age matters as much as mileage with most components.

The Condenser sits right at the front of the car in front of the radiator so it gets exposed to rain, salt grit etc. I’ve had to replace them at about 10 years but with your such low mileage it’s probably going to last longer. But really you don’t need to do any work on the aircon unless it starts to cause issues.

As the decline in performance is gradual you will seem to think it is working fine, when actually it is not.

A lot of owners also do not use the system frequently, when they should do, as the gas has lubricants added that keep the seals in order. If you do not use it the seals dry out and you loose the gas.

The compressors draw on the engine is also minimal and will effect mpg no more than driving with the window open, probably less, so a false economy not to use it.

I always run the car with mine on and stick to a 3 year re-gas. I did this with cars prior to the Yeti and now with my Audi A3. When I'm in France in the summer and it hits high 30's, even low 40's c the car is nice and cold.

The cost advantage lies with the Yeti owner over more modern cars when it comes to a re-gas as you are faced with a £60/70 bill as opposed to a £120/140 bill due to the different gas used in post 2019 ? cars.

Do yourselves a favour, use it, re-gas every 3 years and make the most of what you have in a great car.

Colin

1 minute ago, eribaMotters said:

As the decline in performance is gradual you will seem to think it is working fine, when actually it is not.

A lot of owners also do not use the system frequently, when they should do, as the gas has lubricants added that keep the seals in order. If you do not use it the seals dry out and you loose the gas.

The compressors draw on the engine is also minimal and will effect mpg no more than driving with the window open, probably less, so a false economy not to use it.

I always run the car with mine on and stick to a 3 year re-gas. I did this with cars prior to the Yeti and now with my Audi A3. When I'm in France in the summer and it hits high 30's, even low 40's c the car is nice and cold.

The cost advantage lies with the Yeti owner over more modern cars when it comes to a re-gas as you are faced with a £60/70 bill as opposed to a £120/140 bill due to the different gas used in post 2019 ? cars.

Do yourselves a favour, use it, re-gas every 3 years and make the most of what you have in a great car.

Colin

Thanks - it's been in use year round ever since purchase. As you say, the costs are minimal.

Was in my local (North West) Skoda dealers this week. They had an offer on for air con regas for £75. I'm not sure if this is a national campaign or specific to them. If you decide on a regas, it's probably worth checking the price at your local dealers. But as they say, if it's working leave it alone.