Air Conditioning Failure

[boatmancalls]

Hi
wondering if anyone out there has had issues with the air conditioning on their Sirocco? Mine is 3y old & 1 month (170 TDI GT) and the air conditioning has stopped cooling. Took it into Pullman VW (Durham) on Friday and told parts alone to repair are ~£1200 (condenser and compressor) but they will ask VW for some contribution as it's only 1 month past expiry.
Feel a bit miffed as it was prob not working during warranty but only switched on as weather began to slowly warm. Car has full service history from Pullman and they refilled unit as part of last years Service (May 2012).

If anyone has had similar "just out of warranty" issues I would love to hear from you.

P.S
Pullman gave me an "UP" as a courtesy car! I know I should be grateful but somehow I'm not!!

[Cuprabob]

I had the condenser replaced on mine at 1yr old.

Odd that both the condenser and compressor need replaced.

[RocMan]

That must be frustrating. Could the failure be because you haven't used it for a while though? It's best to leave it on all through the year as it's not just to cool you down, in winter it decondenses the air

[rm0rgan]

Doesn't help I know but as RocMan suggests, leave your AC on all year round. Often if it is left not running the seals go which in turn lets the system lose gas - within the gas is the oils that lubricate the system.

Hope you get good support from the dealer and VW

[janherko]

I just had the similar situation last week on my 07/2009 2nd hand Rocco...
The fan worked alright, heating up during the winter worked as well...I tried the real AC for the first time recently as I bought the car in January...there was simply no cooling at all, setting the climatronic to LO with AC switched ON did nothing but ventilating the very same warm air as outside...
I took it to the non-VW dealer as I was first advised it`s quite possible they would try to convince me that compressor is broken or find another "cheapest" way...I`m out of warranty, of course...the garage I took it in specializes in AC and happily, it was "just" literally no gas in it due to longer period without using AC at all, new pollen filter and some sealings...paid 70 euros (I`m in Bratislava, Slovakia)

I suggest to take your Rocco to the similar non-VW dealer and hear what they say...stealers steal anywhere, doesn`t matter if it`s UK or mainland EU

[Mark V]

I suggest to take your Rocco to the similar non-VW dealer and hear what they say...stealers steal anywhere, doesn`t matter if it`s UK or mainland EU

To be fair there are good and bad main dealers and non-franchised VW specialists eveywhere. Its not a simple case of 'main dealer bad, specialist good'.

[janherko]

I suggest to take your Rocco to the similar non-VW dealer and hear what they say...stealers steal anywhere, doesn`t matter if it`s UK or mainland EU

To be fair there are good and bad main dealers and non-franchised VW specialists eveywhere. Its not a simple case of 'main dealer bad, specialist good'.

You`re definitely right and I totally agree...it`s just a matter of some bad experiences with main dealers` habits around here...
nevertheless, hearing another opinion from another dealer is always a good thing...pretty much like with doctors

[boatmancalls]

Dear all
Many thanks for all your input - first time I've used the forum and most impressed by the helpfulness of you all. Great news for me, when I called on Monday VW Pulman in Durham offered to repair in full at no cost to me ! They said VW made a contribution towards parts. Only the compressor needed to be replaced in the end, but sounded like quite a big job with bumper off and lots of flushing etc. The fault was a "loose centre bolt on the compressor" (not uncommon apparently?). Not entirely sure why they couldn't just tighten up the bolt.....but not complaining as working again and at no cost.

VW pulman have been great - supplied a courtesy car too (VW UP - makes you appreciate the scirocco!)


Thanks again for all the help!