Hi, I'm new to Skoda with a Fabia 1.4 (2000). The aircon is blowing just ambient air, not at all cold. I can't seem to feel anydifference when switching on the aircon - no difference in engine noise or revs.

The dealer I bought it off is arranging a aircon regas - but I'm not convinced it'll be sorted properly - it seems like its not switching in at all. Should any other fan be switching on, or is there another way to check the compressor is working?

Threads on here point to the evap sensor as something which can go wrong, but I think I need a diagnostic tool to check this. Any suggestions of speciallist or someone who can read these in the Sussex (Brighton/Worthing) area who can read these?

Also, engine makes a bit of a tappet rattle when cold (diesel kind of sound). I'm surprised as I thought this engine would have hydraulic tappets?:confused: Any ideas?

Other than these things its a great car..fun to drive and a very economical.

Thanks!!!

The aircon isn't going to blow out cold air, it merely conditions it. If when you press the button the air hitting you just "feels fresher" you know it's working.

Difficult to judge in the temperatures of this season. Heck I think someone said the aircon basically doesn't work under 5C.

If, however, with the engine warm and the temperature dial all the way around to the coolest setting, the air is still notably ambient temperature, that is something you can claim as a fault.

The revs rise slightly on idle and I loose approx 2Mpg when Air Con is in use. Aside from that I can't say as I notice any audible difference. Oah' and set to it's coldest setting it can get very cold indeed. Does take a couple of min's to adjust fully though.

On my car, you can't hear any more noise with the A/C on than with it off (except for the squealing noise it now makes but never used to!). I didn't notice any engine revs increase either that I can recall; however, I may well just not have noticed.

When I bought mine, the A/C did nothing, and it turned out that the evap temp sensor was broken; I did VAG-COM it though.

The evap sensor is IIRC 16 quid, so it's probably not too bad a place to start, as long as you don't value the skin on your knuckles too much.

Cheers

Rob

Evap temp sensor is a common failing point and the symptoms I had were that the car would only blow freezing cold air when the outside air was cooler - mine failed in the middle of a very hot August!

If you get it done at a dealers the procedure used to be to remove the entire dash to replace it. There's an excellent guide on here that Ap0gee did about DIY'ing it with the dash in place and just sourcing the relatively inexpensive sensor from Skoda

Chris

The air-con compressor starts working only when engine's temperature rises to the normal level (90 in my car)

When my car (fabia 1.2 12v) is idle and air-con is turned off the rev counter indicates nearly 600rpm when turned on it increases to 1000

Fuel consumption when idle is 0.6 l/h with air-con turned off and 1.0 l/h when turned on

An additional fan behind the radiator works when air-con is turned on

Every year before the hot season you may consider injecting new Gas and radiator filter cleaning

as for noise you can't tell whether the air-con is on while inside the car , but if you lever the bonnet you can hear a remarkable noise

Also, engine makes a bit of a tappet rattle when cold (diesel kind of sound).

If its the 8v MPI engine your more than likely hearing the timing chain

The air-con compressor starts working only when engine's temperature rises to the normal level (90 in my car)

When my car (fabia 1.2 12v) is idle and air-con is turned off the rev counter indicates nearly 600rpm when turned on it increases to 1000

Fuel consumption when idle is 0.6 l/h with air-con turned off and 1.0 l/h when turned on

An additional fan behind the radiator works when air-con is turned on

Every year before the hot season you may consider injecting new Gas and radiator filter cleaning

as for noise you can't tell whether the air-con is on while inside the car , but if you lever the bonnet you can hear a remarkable noise

Mine works as soon as the engine is started, the air con doesn't require the engine to be hot, just running.

My car will drop the revs slightly when the fans cut in but it recovers straight away.

Both my fans come on a a slower rate and one will increase if the engine overheats.

I think the recommended time is every 3 years for a regas.

You won't hear the pump clicking in on the Fabia as it runs all the time even when the aircon is switched off, (at the lowest rate).

Ben

My air con is on permanently (appart from when the outside temp is 4 or lower).

I leave mine on 20 degrees and it's great, no misting up and no difference to the fuel economy!

Ben

Thanks for replys. I've just tried it at idle again (from cold) in the car park - neither of the two fans infront of the radiator switch on either with or without the aircon.

Which fan is for the aircon?

Thanks!

Both of mine come on when the aircon is working.

I did have the same situation a while back where the fans were not cutting in at all and the dealers changed both fans and it worked again.

Chap in the dealers said they don't get many of what happened to me, he heard that they were more common on the golfs?

Ben

One of my fans has more blades in it and I would have thought that this was the engine overheat fan????

So, which fan is aircon?

I could hear the aircon fan(s?) but now no sound at all. Nor is there any longer a rev drop when switching aircon on.

I suspect compressor, fan(s?) and possibly evap sensor (but don't believe that's the fault coz nothing is happening) all need replacement which is beyond me for DIY & far too expensive at a dealer or pro mechanic.

Plus the power steering is on the blink (literally!) - steering angle sensor?) so it's soon time for the scrap yard. :-(

Is there no-one here willing or able to answer?

My fabia 1 1.2 estate's 2009 aircon works well.The only thing Is,Is that the throttle response Is rather hesitant,blip the throttle and It stutters a bit then the revs suddenly kiks In,a sort of delay.

is there anything wrong here? Is It normal? If not,how can It be fixed? With the air con switched off the engine performs perfectly.

Have you checked the fuse??? :wonder:

Edit; Sorry mate, don't mean to sound patronising! As an engineer, I know how easy it is to overlook the simple things when you automatically think "oh no, somethings bloody broke again!"

Edited 28 July, 201213 yr by Seanl

If he's still waiting for an answer, he's got cobwebs on him by now.

And by now he is just a skeleton sat at his computer!

BTW my air con fan is on the left as you stand in front of the car looking at engine!