Superb 125TDI aircon

[Legion]

Hi,

I have an issue with my Superb where the aircon makes a noise like someone breathing through a straw. Its only really noticeable when I have the stereo off but it can't be just me because my daughter asked what the noise was and described it as sounding like Darth Vader. The noise stops if I turn the aircon off.

I don't trust dealers due to a number of bad experiences. That said my last skoda experience was a good one.

I went down to the dealer to book it in and see if they could give some insight which they couldn't not having inspected the vehicle. fair enough

Now they are going to charge me $153 per hour to examine the vehicle. ok

At one point I mention that I suspect it may be low on gas at which point his buddy says that's a retail sale, gas is a consumable and not covered under warranty. At that point the discussion started.

Its a 2012 model just under 3 years old physically and still under warranty.

My thoughts are that a car under 3 years old should not be low on gas or require new gas. What do you think?

I agree gas is a consumable but it shouldn't be consumed in less that 3 years.

Now I know the actual problem hasn't been diagnosed but I kind of feel that if I can't trust them with something as that conceptually am I just setting myself up for disappointment as they proceed to fulfil every dealership fear I hold.

I'm in the Beecroft area and unfortunately I have concerns with the local dealer. When servicing the Toyota they were hopeless. Great Sales, the senior guys in service want to do the right thing, but clearly they have a few special people working for them who can't be trusted to perform simple tasks.

Any other star repairers in the area? I miss the days when you had a mechanic you could trust.

[brad]

It's been 7 years since my Skoda left the factory & the gas hasn't been consumed yet. Unless there is a leak (which is a fault), the gas doesn't get consumed.

here's a question to make their brain explode: Coolant is a consumable - eg: It can't be re-used. So if they do an water pump under warranty do they charge for coolant? No they don't. So why would you charge for gas if there's a leak in the AC system?

BTW: If the car is <3 years old why are they charging for warranty diagnosis of a noisy AC (that's what the symptom is)? I'd suggest a call to VW customer service.

[Umai Naa!!]

Has the pollen filter ever been changed?

Sounds like there could be some foliage in the blower fan. Or, there's a vent slightly out of sync, remaining slightly open instead if closed, causing the hiss. All simple things to rectify.

[Legion]

It's had a factory service interval so far. I haven't changed the pollen filter but it it may be in the book.

[harlie]

Q: Does it still make the noise when the fan is running but the AC button is off (compressor not running).

If the noise stops when the compressor stops, my money is on low gas. The TX (Thermal expansion) valve will whistle if the pressure is down.

AC repairer I spoke to this week claims that refrigerant needs to be recharged every 2 years – WTF. As others have said, if it isn’t leaking it should not be low. One of our cars is now 15 years old – AC never been touched.

My Octavia (well out of warranty) is getting looked at on Saturday (mobile guy coming to home) – it is low but it hasn’t started to whistle yet.

If it is leaking, surely that’s a warranty job. It is easy to check with a pressure guage...

[Legion]

I didn't play with fan speed.

I took it to the dealer close to home this morning. The Skoda service area is with Audi and separate to Toyota (yay).

Much more helpful. Explained the problem and the response was do you have it here, bring it around front and I'll get a mechanic to have a look at it for you. He actually went for a drive with me. He thought it was gas.

I got them to recharge it and it seems nice a quite now. Very happy with their service. I'll keep going back while they keep it up.

I think the argument for consumable is that even thou its a sealed system the gas leaks through the flexible hoses over time. A bit like tyres.

removed 340gms and put 520gms in.

[brad]

I think the argument for consumable is that even thou its a sealed system the gas leaks through the flexible hoses over time. A bit like tyres.

.

No. I can't agree.

I wouldn't say my AC skills are high but I used to fit them (lots of them) and the only reason gas will leak through a hose is if it is perforated.

I would guess thre's a minor leak somewhere. Did they run the sniffer over it after recharging?

[harlie]

For what it’s worth they have to say it’s normal consumption – by law in Aus it is illegal to charge an AC system that is known to be leaking. And if they admit that its leaking then there is skoda aus to deal with…

I agree with brad. That’s a huge drop. 10% maybe they could argue the hose theory, but that’s 35% “consumption” in 3 years. No way! Considering modern systems suffer a big drop in effectiveness with as little as 10% loss (because they run so little refrigerant now), I’d be pushing this one.

The reason that the TX valve was whistling is because at that level the low side would be running at 0psi which is why the valve is opening up and failing to regulate the low side pressure – the whistle is the valve letting much larger volumes of refrigerant through. Normally the low side of r134A runs at 30+psi depending on temperatures.

If it continues to leak at that rate they should be able to find the leak with dye.

The other big problem with that level is if the leak is on the low pressure side – slow leaks nearly always are – once the system gets to the point where the low side is at 0psi it can draw air with moisture in. So the drier bag should have been changed – the desiccant filter bag (receiver/drier) only comes into play when moisture or particles enter the system – so a system with no leaks can go indefinitely without changing the bag. But if it has dropped to the level where it whistling the bag needs to be changed.

While I’m passing on really good news. If the leak is on the low pressure side its bad. Low pressure side consists of the TX valve, evaporator and the pipe back to the compressor with a service valve. Most of the pipe and the service valve are under the bonnet, but the TX and evap are behind the dash – deep behind the dash - to the point where the evap is one of the first items fitted when the car is built – before the dash frame goes in. So to get it out… On the up side because VW AC systems have such a high compressor failure rate, all the parts are readily available at a reasonable cost, and there are plenty of good shops doing the job for far less than the dealers.

If it was me I would write to Skoda and at least get it on record, a replacement evap with run well over $1000 in labour.

[Shakey]

Hey Legion,

There are plenty of websites giving warnings about Air Conditioning Compressors and the faults listed. I've pinned some pages here for you to look at. I've also written to Volkswagen Australia and complained about my Air Con. Hopefully will be fixed next time I take it in for service.

http://www.vwwatercooled.com/forums/f150/superb-3t-c-compressor-problem-91621.html

CR170 - &#39;tinkling&#39; noise - Skoda Superb II - BRISKODA.net - The Skoda Forum and Community

http://www.vwwatercooled.com/forums/f15/air-con-problem-mk5-r32-74900.html

http://www.vwwatercooled.com/forums/search.php?searchid=1501332

[skodian]

Hi,

I have an issue with my Superb where the aircon makes a noise like someone breathing through a straw. Its only really noticeable when I have the stereo off but it can't be just me because my daughter asked what the noise was and described it as sounding like Darth Vader. The noise stops if I turn the aircon off.

This can be caused by the turbo exhaust gasket which my (same Hills) dealer tried in the 1st attempt. It does improve which suppressed some noise but not end of story.

I don't trust dealers due to a number of bad experiences. That said my last skoda experience was a good one.
That depends , I used have Frank(sales) to look after me with Matt in the service area. The new Service manager are quite friendly.

I went down to the dealer to book it in and see if they could give some insight which they couldn't not having inspected the vehicle. fair enough

Now they are going to charge me $153 per hour to examine the vehicle. ok
Not sure why. They are liable to inspect and try to recognize the symptom which then report to VAG and start warranty claim

At one point I mention that I suspect it may be low on gas at which point his buddy says that's a retail sale, gas is a consumable and not covered under warranty. At that point the discussion started.
I got the car brand new (2012 Jan built ) which has loud air con noise and lack of cool air (significantly compare to center and right vent) with nearly
warm air hot on the left hand side vent. It is hard to convince at the time since it is in April in Oz (20c Avg). I finally got their attention in the hot day.
Resolution at the time is to re-gas the air con which has improved the temperature but not 100% on the noise

Its a 2012 model just under 3 years old physically and still under warranty.
As above, they are liable to inspect and try to recognize the symptom which then report to VAG and start warranty claim

My thoughts are that a car under 3 years old should not be low on gas or require new gas. What do you think?
see above (it can happen in new car)

I agree gas is a consumable but it shouldn't be consumed in less that 3 years.
Definite it is a leak or not correct installed. It happened in my friend's 1st batch of Audi A5 as well which the stealer re-gas prior to 3 summer seasons (within the warranty). That particular (non Hills) Audi dealer is really bad

Now I know the actual problem hasn't been diagnosed but I kind of feel that if I can't trust them with something as that conceptually am I just setting myself up for disappointment as they proceed to fulfil every dealership fear I hold.
Talk to Service Manager Michael IRC

I'm in the Beecroft area and unfortunately I have concerns with the local dealer. When servicing the Toyota they were hopeless. Great Sales, the senior guys in service want to do the right thing, but clearly they have a few special people working for them who can't be trusted to perform simple tasks.
I have serviced my car their for 3 time(s) which I found the followings:

1) Simple service being performed by apprentice and QA by master mechanic

2) Service adviser is good in dealing relationship and you should use them to refer you to the right (master) mechanic to explain the cause and resolution.

3) QA definitely not properly performed 110% of the time same as other stealer apart from Merc Stealer and VAG specialist garage which I found.

4) I found their (5) warranty claims and diagnose is quite thorough . But at least , you have to tell them and sit with them(mechanic) have a drive to expose the issue if it is not obvious. I have never been rejected for warranty claims (including ones caused by users)

5) some times they fix one (warranty)defect and create another one (e.g. forgot to plug back a cable when re-assemble component) which needs you to go back. I suspect all dealer have this issues

Any other star repairers in the area? I miss the days when you had a mechanic you could trust.

PS. I have finally suppressed 99% of the Air-Con noise during a warranty claim on the alternator (failed bearing) which they claimed also it may screwed up the air con compressor or vice versa since they are running on the same driving belt. Then I got my new compressor replaced on the same day and being informed surprisingly when I picked up the car.(bonus warranty items)

[Legion]

Went to Canberra for a few days, Aircon was nice and quiet.