Air-Con is failing in my Octy- kindly need knowledge and help

[boogz]

Anyone know of a good mechanic (Sydney area) that can have a look at my car? It's the air-conditioning that's failing. Symptoms are - left side of the dash is expelling fanned air (no air conditioning) when it's set to low and only one vent (drivers side window) and the feet vent (drivers side) is working but just barely (re-gas might be needed) my fear its an electrical (sensor) or the dual switch has gone.


2008 Octavia RS Pre-FL/6Speed/EibachSprings

[cbay]

Anyone know of a good mechanic (Sydney area) that can have a look at my car? It's the air-conditioning that's failing. Symptoms are - left side of the dash is expelling fanned air (no air conditioning) when it's set to low and only one vent (drivers side window) and the feet vent (drivers side) is working but just barely (re-gas might be needed) my fear its an electrical (sensor) or the dual switch has gone.


2008 Octavia RS Pre-FL/6Speed/EibachSprings

I'd recommend European Autotech in Mona Vale if you're in the east. I used to take my old Audi there. European Autotech: Audi Service Sydney | VW Service Sydney | Specialised Audi And VW Mechanics Sydney |Mona Vale

If you're closer to the west, I'd recommend (well, my brother takes his Golf GTI to) BWA Auto in Seven Hills. BWA Auto - European Vehicle Specialist for Audi, BMW, Mercedes, Porsche and Volkswagen.

[Martin]

Good recommendations (I use BWA Auto) - they both have VW expertise which may be needed in this case (rather than taking it to a air con specialist)

[boogz]

Air-Con is failing in my Octy- kindly need knowledge and help

Many thanks guys... I'm near Seven Hills so I'll give the guys there a call.

[Jake02]

Our air con went through around a year of that until we realised that the dealer hadn't re-gassed it when it had a service. Re-gassing is needed I'd say, and if that doesn't fix it then something more is wrong.

[boogz]

Air-Con is failing in my Octy- kindly need knowledge and help

Had the mechanic look at it today. It was a simple re-gas. But an interesting fact, when the gas is low (or in my case completely gone) there is still cold air but by the time it makes it way to the other side of the car it's no longer cold (laws of physics) point I'm trying to make is the starting point is obviously near the right side vent. All is good...

[Tigger]

Glad it is all sorted mate!

At least yours didnt smell like our fellow forum members "old socks smell"!!

[wfdTamar]

My understanding is they shouldn't need regassing as a matter of course. If there is a lack of gas it's because there is a leak. Mine lost its gas due to the pressure switch leaking (it's just to the right of the radiator). The AC place let em get my own off ebay - cost $60ish, instead of $113 from Skoda.

[donweather]

Whilst I hope my AC isn't failing, this was the only real thread I could find in the Octavia section regarding AC, hence I thought I'd post my question here.

I have a Octavia vRS wagon TSI MY12. Does anyone know the difference between the two "Auto" buttons on the AC control on the far lefthand side of the AC controls (just to the top/left of the fan control buttons)?

Which of the two "Auto" buttons should I have it set on for climate control to work? The left Auto button or the right Auto button?

My climate control seems to be very hit and miss and I asked the dealer to look at this when I put it in for the 15k service recently and of course they said they couldn't find anything wrong with it. But my wife has climate control in her Tiggy and it's chalk and cheese compared to my climate control in the Occy. For instance, when I set it to like 17-18 deg with the right Auto button on, the fan speed doesn't even jump much above 2 or 3, whereas with my wife's Tiggy, the fan speed comes on full to try and cool the car down immediately.

Sometimes even with it set down to 17-18 deg, I swear the car is still around 22-24 deg? I need to put a thermometer in there to calibrate against it. And I've changed the outlet directions to be as recommended in the manual (ie forward but slightly pointing up).

[zei20t]

the AUTO has 2 settings, low and high. high is 2 lights. its basically the fan speed.

the AC button activates the AC compressor. you can run on auto without AC being used.

so ideally for full auto, you want the AUTO light on (either 1 or 2 of them) and the AC light on.

[donweather]

the AUTO has 2 settings, low and high. high is 2 lights. its basically the fan speed.

Thanks, but I don't have 2 lights (or can never get the two lights on simultaneously). For me it's one light or the other on at any one time?

[dArK5HaD0w]

from the user manual..............

If the warning light in the top right corner of the button lights up, the Climatronic operates in “HIGH” mode. The “HIGH” mode is the standard setting of the Climatronic.

When pressing again the button , the Climatronic changes into the “LOW” mode and the warning light in the top left corner lights up. The Climatronic uses only in this mode the lower blower speed. However taking into account the noise level, this is more comfortable, yet be aware that the effectiveness of the air conditioning system is reduced particularly if the vehicle is fully occupied.

By pressing again the button , you change into the “HIGH” mode.

The automatic mode is switched off by pressing the button for the air distribution or increasing or decreasing the blower speed. The temperature is nevertheless regulated.

[donweather]

Cheers DS.

That explains pretty much what I observe so at least I know those buttons are regulating the fan speed correctly.

Still doesn't explain why my temperature settings are not doing their job!!! Looks like another trip back to the dealer then!!!!

Do others find that their temperature settings are pretty spot on? ie for instance if you jump in a relatively warm/hot car and set the AC to 18-19 deg (and have the auto fan setting to high) does the top fan speed kick in and cool the car down quickly?

[Mysticality]

Do others find that their temperature settings are pretty spot on? ie for instance if you jump in a relatively warm/hot car and set the AC to 18-19 deg (and have the auto fan setting to high) does the top fan speed kick in and cool the car down quickly?

Mine will never go above 5/7 fan speed, unless I set the temp to the extreme (blue or red)
But thats fine with me, it does its job and I couldn't be happier!

[dArK5HaD0w]

mine is pretty spot on.

i've set it to 20 degrees + auto (low) all year round.
in summer, i combine it with AC. if i don't have ac on in summer, the fan speed kicks up a notch or two to compensate, in order to still achieve the 20 deg + auto.
no need for AC in winter.

but yes - jumping into a hot car and setting the temp to 19 with AC on sends the fans to high speed