Last year I had my 2013 Mk. 2 Fabia air conditioning (A/C) serviced by WeChillAnyCar - I had used them before on a different car.

They extracted the gas, refilled it, (allegedly) tested that everything worked and I paid them for the work..

I didn't think to test it until a few weeks later when I discovered that it didn't work at all.

After numerous 'phone calls and emails I accepted that they weren't going to admit that they hadn't actually tested it.

I gave up and took the car to an authorised Skoda Dealer for a service and to get the A/C sorted.

They also extracted the gas and refilled it. I paid for the work but this time I checked that the A/C worked - it didn't!

When I raised this with the workshop they said that I needed some "switch" which was unavailable.

I asked why they hadn't thought to mention that the A/C didn't work, despite my paying for the work to be done, they waffled and said that they hadn't been able to 'phone me - despite their having 'phoned me to say that the car was ready for collection.

Since I was donating the car to my Daughter-in-law who was learning to drive I did nothing more about the faulty A/C.

(Very) long story short does anyone know the part number of this "microswitch", whether it can "easily" be fitted and how much it should cost?

If you have read this far, thank you - if you can answer my 3 questions, even more thanks

Only things I can guess is that they are referring to the refrigerant pressure sensor, or the solenoid valve that varies the throughput of the compressor.

Ask them which of these is the problem, according to the diagnostics that you have paid for.

Whereabouts are you based?

18 hours ago, Breezy_Pete said:

Only things I can guess is that they are referring to the refrigerant pressure sensor, or the solenoid valve that varies the throughput of the compressor.

Ask them which of these is the problem, according to the diagnostics that you have paid for.

Whereabouts are you based?

Thanks for that.

I seem to recognise both descriptions but I don't know which was the alleged culprit - or whether the dealership even knew ☹️

I will ask but it was a while ago and I doubt that they would have a record - I will ask on Monday.

Location is North London but the car is now in Kirkby Lonsdale.

Well, I finally got a response out of the Skoda Workshop.

They found the paperwork and said that the problem was with the A/C Pressure Sensor.

They explained that this was not an item that they held in stock and they couldn't say what the component cost was.

They did sy that it was pretty easy to fit but hat it would require regassing the system which would add to the cost. As a matter of interest, just to avoid further failure and delay, would it make sense to replace the solenoid valve that varies the throughput of the compressor at the same time?

Any idea as to how much all of this is likely to set me back? It has been pretty hot recently!

As ever, thanks for any information 👍

That sensor has a Schrader type valve under it, so replacing it does not result in any significant amount of refrigerant loss.

Cost will vary quite a bit depending on whether a genuine VW group part is bought versus an aftermarket pattern part.

There is no reason to replace anything else until the result of replacing just the pressure sensor is known.