Air Con - just how rubbish is 'normal' for an Ibiza..?

[MijIsTired]

Hi folks

We've had a 2010 Ibiza since new year, so have had very few occasions to need air con, but when we have, it's been so useless I assumed it needed a recharge / whatever you do to AC.

But I've read a few threads here and elsewhere that suggests that SEAT / Ibiza air con is a bit weedy. Our other car is a Skoda Fabia Combi 2011, which I've had for nearly 10 years, and that AC is so good that the kids nicknamed the blowers the Ice Blasters. Though that was when the resistor pack went, so the only settings we had were Off or Arctic ?

Does anyone else have any benchmarks I can use to work out is out is normal-rubbish or extra-rubbish?

And if ours is broken-level of rubbish, is sorting AC a garage job or something I could have a stab at? Bearing in mind I have no driveway or garage, live on a hill, am determined but low in bulk/oomph/grip*, and have decent but not extensive set of tools..?

thanks in advance

*though I do have small hands so can get in places others can't!

 

[dm222]

Mine is OK, not super cold but enough to make the ride confortable in all weather, but I never recharged it in 17 years and I usually drive alone, don't know how it feels in the back

 

[Seriously?]

It was pretty good on our 2014 Ibiza; although we did specify climate on that car, so maybe that makes a difference?

 

[Robstokie]

Have to say that the AC on my wife’s 1.2 TSI. 2014 is the coldest I’ve ever felt, daughters 2017 plate however, average


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[MijIsTired]

Sorry to take a year to respond, other issues overtook concerns about AC.

So I’ve taken from this that ours is definitely iffy. Our Skoda (similar age) blasts ice cold air as well as it did a decade ago, and while I’ve seen lots of garages offering ‘AC re-gas’ for £99 or so, I’ve also seen a lot of folk say it’s rarely necessary, and I don’t even know if that would help with this issue.

Any other ideas about why cold would be cold any more?

 

[RUM4MO]

All car HVAC systems leak slightly, it is unavoidable as so parts are connected to each other using "rubber" hoses, and all AC gas types get "sneak" through that type of material, it is all down to the molecule sizes, ie the gas molecule size allows it to get through the "rubber" pipe material and so over time the AC gas load will drop below what is said to be its critical - or optimal gas load for efficient use and adequate cooling output.

Just take it to a local place that works on car AC and they will recover the existing gas, place it under vacuum for long enough to remove any water vapour that is in it - while at the same time checking(a legal requirement) that this system is leak free (enough) to get recharged with the correct gas load.

Maybe also "go mad" and run an AC system cleaner "bomb" while the pollen filter is out of the system but its box cover fitted, then fit a new pollen filter either plain, or better carbon coated or even better the version that filters out even more, like in the case of Mann filters, the Frecious version.