Air conditioning maintenance

[ERIC3451]

Arranging an appointment for the 2 year service on my Leon SC 1.4 SE TSI.

I see in a brochure issued back in 2013 that there is no need to budget for maintenance of the air-conditioning system until Year 4 then do a gas top-up in Year 5 followed by maintaining the system and regasing in future alternate years.

I am getting cool air, but I'm not convinced that my air-conditioning is really as effective as it should be. I am considering adding the maintenance of the air conditioning to the 2 year service.

Maintenance of the air-conditioning is not cheap at £69. Can anyone tell me what the maintenance involves?

 

[Porker3]

AC maintainance cant really consist of much, it will be a regas which you could get done for half that price. Wait until the end of the seaon and the prices will reduce at indipendants and specialists.

Requiring a regas on a 2yr old car may point to an issue unless you havent been using it regularly so Id recommend requesting a dye to be added just incase you need to hunt a leak out.

 

[Fmxvxx]

Seat recommends a Regas every 2 years anyway, book it in for a free AC efficiency check which gives you £10 off the price of a regas anyway.

 

[Porker3]

You only need a regas on a 2yr old car because the gas has escaped through an issue as its a fully sealed system. As long as its used regularly it should last years. You only need a regas when its no longer cold. Dealers will say you need a regas to help with bad odours, again a regas wont make any diffrence but using it regularly prevents odours.

If a system is not run for long periods rubber componants dry out and suffer from microscopic cracks which the gas can leak out of. Running AC regularly keeps the system lubricated and no way for the gas to escape other than mechanial failure.

 

[dw911]

They aren't always fully filled at the factory, which should be pick up at the pdi as Seastormer mentioned in his post.
This from post 6 might be useful

http://www.seatcupra.net/forums/showthread.php?t=420693

Mine was also low when I picked up the car, as it wasn't as cold as it should be, the dealer refilled it with the correct amount of refrigerant and oil

 

[Fmxvxx]

You only need a regas on a 2yr old car because the gas has escaped through an issue as its a fully sealed system. As long as its used regularly it should last years. You only need a regas when its no longer cold. Dealers will say you need a regas to help with bad odours, again a regas wont make any diffrence but using it regularly prevents odours.

If a system is not run for long periods rubber componants dry out and suffer from microscopic cracks which the gas can leak out of. Running AC regularly keeps the system lubricated and no way for the gas to escape other than mechanial failure.

Most new cars today come with low gas to start off with same goes for all fluids this is supposed to get picked up in PDI but I know some franchises where this is not the case, Seat recommend an AC service every 2 years regardless, An AC service is not for odours it is for the performance of the Air con for Odours The Ac refresh is the one to go for.

As for you only need to do it when it's not cold that's just wrong in pretty much every way, an ac service not only replenishes the refrigerant it also removes moisture build up which can help to Prevent odours (not cure them once already present) it will also remove the old oil and replace it with fresh oil which will help to ensure the longevity of the Ac system Normally leak dye is added as well to make any diagnostic work finding leaks quicker and easier.

 

[Porker3]

Most new cars today come with low gas to start off with same goes for all fluids this is supposed to get picked up in PDI but I know some franchises where this is not the case, Seat recommend an AC service every 2 years regardless, An AC service is not for odours it is for the performance of the Air con for Odours The Ac refresh is the one to go for.

As for you only need to do it when it's not cold that's just wrong in pretty much every way, an ac service not only replenishes the refrigerant it also removes moisture build up which can help to Prevent odours (not cure them once already present) it will also remove the old oil and replace it with fresh oil which will help to ensure the longevity of the Ac system Normally leak dye is added as well to make any diagnostic work finding leaks quicker and easier.

Moisture is removed by the Dessiccator, you need to replace that to remove moisture, if thats saturated a regas wont make any diffrence. As for the oil in the system I have no idea what the deteriation point of that is so wouldnt comment. The refrigerant does not come anywhere near the cabin air or any air as its a sealed system so again I dont know how a regas affects that. Im always open to be corrected though as Ive only worked on older AC systems. Id have thought you would need to flush the ducts to remove odours I cant see how a regas would improve smells but a fully working system would prevent them in the 1st place so Id agree on the refresh.

 

[Fmxvxx]

Moisture is removed via receiver drier and yes once it is full it does need replacing but when you place the AC system under a vacuum you will get a lot of moisture out (again correct if it is over saturated a regas will not help it) The Oil used is Pag Oil which has hygroscopic tendencies and like any oil needs changing regularly.

In terms of the moisture in the pipes being directly related to smells this was a mistype on my part moisture in the pipes does not have any collation with odours out of the vents the moisture inside mealy reduces operating efficiency and the systems life cycle. Odours are caused by the pollen filter becoming clogged moisture getting in via condensation or from a blocked drainage line there are more but these are the most common.

 

[Fred99]

My last Leon didn't need a regas until it was 10 years old - and the aircon is on every day for 11 months of the year.

 

[Seastormer]

My last Leon didn't need a regas until it was 10 years old - and the aircon is on every day for 11 months of the year.

Running it all year round is the best thing anyone can do, none of my previous SEATs have had any service or re-gas in the time I have had them.

 

[concerned cat]

Running it all year round is the best thing anyone can do, none of my previous SEATs have had any service or re-gas in the time I have had them.

Agreed. Run it at least once a week, especially in winter & it will be fine.

 

[ERIC3451]

Although I feel that my air-con may not be as effective as I would like, it does blow cold
on its highest settings.

There are no nasty smells either and I am comforted that the pollen filter is changed at the 2 year service anyway.

After reading some of the comments here I changed my original service booking to drop the Air-con maintenance.

My dealers service desk didn't think that there was any special test that could be done on the air-con other than a check on its operation during usual checks at the 2 year service. Bit confused by that since the option of some sort of free check was offered at the online service booking. Will Just have to wait and see what happens at the service

Thanks for all responses received so far.

 

[Seastormer]

Although I feel that my air-con may not be as effective as I would like, it does blow cold
on its highest settings.

There are no nasty smells either and I am comforted that the pollen filter is changed at the 2 year service anyway.

After reading some of the comments here I changed my original service booking to drop the Air-con maintenance.

My dealers service desk didn't think that there was any special test that could be done on the air-con other than a check on its operation during usual checks at the 2 year service. Bit confused by that since the option of some sort of free check was offered at the online service booking. Will Just have to wait and see what happens at the service

Thanks for all responses received so far.

That test shows what temp its chucking out, mine was 4 degrees (3 to 6 is the tolerance) worth it IMO especially as it's free.

 

[ERIC3451]

Thanks Seastormer. Gives me a good idea what to request and what result to expect.

 

[Fmxvxx]

That test shows what temp its chucking out, mine was 4 degrees (3 to 6 is the tolerance) worth it IMO especially as it's free.

The test is called an air con efficiency check the check measures the temperature at the vents compared to the ambient air temp outside the vehicle.

There is a scale 3-6 is from 0-15C 15-25c 5-12 25C+ 12-16

These are rough numbers I have a chart with the exact figures if anybody is interested.

 

[dephead2004]

The test is called an air con efficiency check the check measures the temperature at the vents compared to the ambient air temp outside the vehicle.

There is a scale 3-6 is from 0-15C 15-25c 5-12 25C+ 12-16

These are rough numbers I have a chart with the exact figures if anybody is interested.

Yes please

 

[ERIC3451]

Been away for a few days. Don't understand what the figures mean . Maybe the chart would help.

 

[Fmxvxx]

Sorry got the info completely forgot to upload it

Test conditions:

Read and note Ambient air temp
Switch AC to full cooling and with vehicle doors open place test probe in one central vent with all other vents closed Hold engine RPM at 2000 RPM until Temp reading is at it's lowest point Record the Temp.

Conversion chart

Temp in vehicle 15C and below
Air Outlet Temp 2-8C

Temp in vehicle 15-20C
Air Outlet Temp 4-10C

Temp in vehicle 25C
Air Outlet Temp 5-12c

Temp in vehicle 30c
Air Outlet Temp 6-13C

Temp in Vehicle 35c
Air Outlet Temp 8-14C


If the vehicle does not fall within those parameters seat recommend an AC service and that is the Free Ac efficiency check.

 

[dephead2004]

Thanks

 

[ERIC3451]

Thanks from me to.

Not sure what the Grades 3 to 6 are but now know exactly what to expect and how to query the dealer after the service.