HI there,

Bought this car second hand a few months ago and just noticed the air con isn't really working. Skoda Octavia 1.2 TSI MK3 2016 reg

The light goes on for the AC but the temperature of the air coming out doesn't change.

I'm going to try resetting the climate flaps which I've seen online. I'm guessing that might not work so does anyone know of a troubleshooting guide so I can try and work out where the issue is.

Was going to try and buy one of those refrigerant canisters to see if that fixes it.

Is there anything else I can try and listen out for or look at in the engine bay to try and isolate the problem?

Plenty of air blowing out but it' snot cold at all.

Thanks,

James

First check that the compressor shear-plate (on compressor pulley) is still intact.

Strongly suggest having the refrigerant gas charge checked - if that's been lost, have the A/C system leak-tested and repaired before having the system recharged by an A/C technician.

Hello @Warrior193 again and thanks for more of your help

I will have a check of that compressor pulley thing, thank you!

James

Plus 1 for gas check, mine wasn't working when I bought the car (2016 diesel vRS) a re-gas did the trick and a year on it's still fine.

A word of warning - Do not engage the aircon at speed, wait for when the engine is at low revs. A former colleague switched it on at speed on the M5, the compressor drive belt snapped and wrapped itself around the crank pulley which then dislodged the cam belt. Result? A scrapped engine which cost £4,500 plus to replace in 2014.....

3 hours ago, SwallownAmazon said:

Plus 1 for gas check, mine wasn't working when I bought the car (2016 diesel vRS) a re-gas did the trick and a year on it's still fine.

A word of warning - Do not engage the aircon at speed, wait for when the engine is at low revs. A former colleague switched it on at speed on the M5, the compressor drive belt snapped and wrapped itself around the crank pulley which then dislodged the cam belt. Result? A scrapped engine which cost £4,500 plus to replace in 2014.....

The Mk3 does not have a clutch on the A/C compressor - the compressor is permanently engaged unless the shear-plate on the pulley has failed.

Hello again,

Here is some footage of what I think is the compressor. Screw looks a bit rusted but nothing felt loose and seems to be spinning fine.

Will get the refrigerant pressure checked as next step.

@Warrior193 do you remember I had that fuel rail leak. I imagine petrol would have split over the compressor. Could the fuel leak have done any damage to the compressor? And also could the mechanic have caused any damage to the compressor or the lines during the fuel rail repair do you think?

I wonder if it's a terrible idea to buy this and give it a go first in case it's that simple... https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/267656393648

(having done some more reading I think it's a bad idea!)

Thanks again for your help!

James

Streamable

Watch IMG_4392 | Streamable

Edited 10 May10 May by harpix42

Fwiw, hopefully a regas will recover it.

I have my AC serviced roughly every two years by an really good mobile independent. He checks gas weight, vacuums it out to remove any moisture, adds fresh PAG oil too as required.

I do 12k miles per annum, use the climate all the time and it looses about 10% of the gas naturally between service visits. It's not leaking.

Got my wife a 2019 Seat Ateca last year that only had 11k miles on it from new, full dealer history but AC had never been serviced, gas weight was at ~40% of what it should have been when he came to do service on it for mE.

Best thing for any AC is use it regularly and service it, my cars now at 120k miles and the AC is still excellent.

6 hours ago, harpix42 said:

Hello again,

Here is some footage of what I think is the compressor. Screw looks a bit rusted but nothing felt loose and seems to be spinning fine.

Will get the refrigerant pressure checked as next step.

@Warrior193 do you remember I had that fuel rail leak. I imagine petrol would have split over the compressor. Could the fuel leak have done any damage to the compressor? And also could the mechanic have caused any damage to the compressor or the lines during the fuel rail repair do you think?

I wonder if it's a terrible idea to buy this and give it a go first in case it's that simple... https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/267656393648

(having done some more reading I think it's a bad idea!)

Thanks again for your help!

James

Streamable

Watch IMG_4392 | Streamable

Unlikely for the spilt fuel to have damaged the AC compressor or shear plate - the aux. belt, possibly - but that would also cause issues with the alternator.

When my fuel rail bolts failed, all the fuel was running down the front of the engine, not the offside.

good news it was just completely low on gas. so only £100 to sort out. phew!!

thanks for everyone's help!

4 hours ago, harpix42 said:

good news it was just completely low on gas. so only £100 to sort out. phew!!

thanks for everyone's help!

Did the AC technician identify (and repair) the refrigerant leak?

3 hours ago, Warrior193 said:

Did the AC technician identify (and repair) the refrigerant leak?

They couldn’t find a leak. I’m thinking it has just leaked over time maybe? The car wasn’t really serviced in 10 years, just had oil changes.

Do you think that’s at all possible?

Will have a look to see if there is any dye anywhere after a few runs of the AC.

There's nothing serviceable on the AC compressor, apart from actually checking the refrigerant charge - This'll probably trigger 'The Curse', but my 11-year old system is still operating correctly and has never been touched.

13 hours ago, Warrior193 said:

There's nothing serviceable on the AC compressor, apart from actually checking the refrigerant charge - This'll probably trigger 'The Curse', but my 11-year old system is still operating correctly and has never been touched.

Oh no what’s the curse!?

Come to think of it my 2005 Skoda Fabia had working air con for 20 years without any need for the system to be regassed.

I guess I’ll just have to wait and see if the air con stops working or not.

2 hours ago, harpix42 said:

Oh no what’s the curse!?

Come to think of it my 2005 Skoda Fabia had working air con for 20 years without any need for the system to be regassed.

I guess I’ll just have to wait and see if the air con stops working or not.

'The curse' is where as soon you mention an item to be trouble-free, it fails - AKA Sods Law. ☹️

2 hours ago, Warrior193 said:

'The curse' is where as soon you mention an item to be trouble-free, it fails - AKA Sods Law. ☹️

oh got you, should have worked that out!

On 14/05/2026 at 17:56, harpix42 said:

Oh no what’s the curse!?

Come to think of it my 2005 Skoda Fabia had working air con for 20 years without any need for the system to be regassed.

I guess I’ll just have to wait and see if the air con stops working or not.

I'm doing well with the a/c on my 2013, never been touched.

On 16/05/2026 at 03:38, ords said:

I'm doing well with the a/c on my 2013, never been touched.

Yes slightly worrying why mine ran out of refrigerant….