Skoda Octavia - Climate Control (Automatic Air Conditioning)

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Wed 27 May 2015 13:28
Skoda Octavia - Climate Control (Automatic Air Conditioning) - Glaikit Wee Scunner {P}

My air conditioning (climatronic) has just been checked/ serviced, for the first time, at a local specialist for £49.95. I watched the whole process. 335g out of 525g of refrigerant remained after 6 years and 80000 miles. I thought 6 years was long enough- although the system was still functioning.

The temperature at a dashboard vent was tested. Before service 6.5C and after 4.9C running flat out in the manual mode. I normally run in AUTO so I don't demand chilled air just the regulated 21C or so cab temperature which is fine for me. Unless the car mists up or deicing when the manual over ride is needed.

I was told that aircon temperatures can vary between 0.5C (a recent Ford after a service) and 7C (an Astra ditto) in their experience.

What is an acceptable performance from climate control and/or manual air conditioning?

Edited by Glaikit Wee Scunner {P} on 27/05/2015 at 13:28

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Wed 27 May 2015 14:11
Skoda Octavia - Climate Control (Automatic Air Conditioning) - RobJP

'Acceptable performance' to me is that it does it's job - if you get into the car on a really hot day, within a minute or so the temperature has dropped considerably, for example.

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Wed 27 May 2015 19:21
Skoda Octavia - Climate Control (Automatic Air Conditioning) - elekie&a/c doctor

Performance very much depends on demand ,outside temp ,and various other factors.Also make sure the pollen/cabin filter has been replaced recently,as this can make a big difference.

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Thu 28 May 2015 10:30
Skoda Octavia - Climate Control (Automatic Air Conditioning) - Railroad.
Firstly the air conditioning works exactly the same whether your system is manual or climate control. The climate control system uses a controller to move various servo motors allow for airflow direction, temperature and recirculation. On a manual system you have to do this yourself.

Under the bonnet you will see two aluminium pipes. The larger one is the low pressure and the smaller one is high pressure. Start the engine and switch on the system. It makes no difference whatsoever what temperature you have the climatronic set to. After a few seconds of engine running the larger pipe (low pressure) should become noticeably cold to the touch. If it is then the system is working fine. On a hot day you should see clear water dripping under the car when the A/C is on. This is the evaporator drain, which is another good sign that the system is working properly.
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Thu 28 May 2015 11:02
Skoda Octavia - Climate Control (Automatic Air Conditioning) - Glaikit Wee Scunner {P}

Thanks for your sane comments. I also fitted a new pollen filter yesterday.

I had no concerns that my system was not working- rather I wanted to make the point that system was still working after 6 years without maintenance.

As to AC performance - well everyone you meet claims their aircon, mpg etc. is better than yours.

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Thu 28 May 2015 14:58
Skoda Octavia - Climate Control (Automatic Air Conditioning) - old-school-tech

6 years isn't bad, having said that there isn't an awful lot of maintainence to be done on an AC system, there is oil in the compressor, but that doesn't get replaced in the same way your engine oil does,

I think the main problem with AC systems in the UK especially is that they are dormant for 9 months of the year, not so bad with climate control as long as it doesn't have an on/off switch as the system is in constant use.

A/C may use a bit more fuel, but if you want the thing to work when summer gets here then its not a bad idea to leave it switched on all the time.

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Fri 29 May 2015 11:17
Skoda Octavia - Climate Control (Automatic Air Conditioning) - Railroad.

I'm not even convinceed that A/C systems do use more fuel, especially modern systems with variable displacement compressors that are very efficient. Even if the fuel comsumpton was increased this would only be small due to the engine driving the compressor and the increased load on the alternator due to the cooling fan running, both which would be quite minimal. No-one ever stops to think that driving with the headlamps on would use more fuel.

Without the A/C on the driver would almost certainly drive with the window and/or sunroof open. This would create drag which would certainly increase fuel consumption.

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Fri 29 May 2015 12:21
Skoda Octavia - Climate Control (Automatic Air Conditioning) - Ordovices

A scroll compressor consumes somewhere between 1 and 3 kW in typical use (1.3 to 4 hp) so a barely noticeable increase, and assuming some degree of capacity control, the system won't be actively compressing all of that time.

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