What does an air conditioning condenser do?

The condenser sits at the front of the radiator and is an integral part of your air conditioning (AC) system. It converts the refrigerant gas into a cold liquid to provide chilled air throughout your vehicle, to keep you and your passengers at a comfortable temperature on a hot day.

Skoda

Skoda Auto is a Czech automobile manufacturer originally founded in 1895 as Laurin & Klement. In 1925 Laurin & Klement was acquired by the industrial conglomerate Skoda Works, which itself became state-owned in 1948.

In 2000 Skoda became a wholly owned subsidiary of the Volkswagen Group.

How popular is Skoda in the United Kingdom?

Skoda’s growing success has been down to strong support from its parent VW Group and its credibility as a mainstream supplier of great value sensible cars.

The number of Skoda cars on the road in the UK has grown consistently over the past 20 years to over 740k and rising.

Great value, solid, sensible motoring

With models so closely related to those of Volkswagen, Audi and Seat, it’s no surprise that the mechanics behind Skoda’s straightforward range of practical town and city cars has proven so reliable and increased in popularity over time.

They deliver models from city car to saloon, and as you’d expect in today’s market, there’s a couple of SUV models thrown in to complete the set.

Skoda supply an abundance of choice and trim for differing budgets

There are a plethora of trim levels available for every model—and that’s not forgetting Skoda’s entry into the electric car market too.

The Skoda Citigoe iV

Skoda’s 4-seater city car electric model is powered exclusively by a 36.8kWh lithium-ion battery allowing for a range of 265km. With zero emissions and compact dimensions, the Cititgoe iV is the ideal city car, taking into account its practical interior storage, nimble footprint and ecological performance.

How often should a condenser need replacing?

A well-maintained and properly serviced condenser should last as long as your car will. However, as with all vehicle components, they’re prone to wear and tear, and leakage and blockage can create irreparable damage.

The law, vehicle regulations and your MOT

A faulty air conditioner won’t affect your car’s MOT but it can affect the comfort of you and your passengers. It’s worth keeping your air conditioning running at its optimum performance as the impact it can have on your vehicle’s fuel efficiency could significantly affect the day-to-day cost of your motoring.

What happens when we replace your condenser?

• Our efficient and fully qualified mechanics will check for possible fault codes relating to your air conditioning that could lead them directly to a condenser fault.

• Wherever required your condenser will be replaced and you’ll be advised of any other connected or associated problems arising from its malfunction.

• You will also be advised of any other parts that may need to be replaced for the best operation and health of your vehicle.

• Once the faulty condenser has been replaced, our mechanics will test it thoroughly to ensure the correct running of the new part and make any adjustments required for its premium operation.

What causes an AC condenser to stop working correctly?

There are a variety of reasons your AC condenser could need replacing. It could be that the fan has stopped functioning correctly, or that the condenser has developed a leak or blockage somewhere. It may be because it has become clogged by refrigerant contaminated with unwanted elements, infiltrating it from other parts of the system. It’s also possible that objects being thrown up from the road—including gravel, litter and other debris—could cause damage to interfere with your condenser’s correct operation.

Symptoms of a malfunctioning AC condenser

Your air con isn’t as cold as normal or not working at all

Your condenser could have stopped working correctly if you notice that the air conditioning in your car isn’t providing the usual levels of cold air as normal, or if it isn’t working at all.

You can hear a ticking sound or see liquid

A ticking sound from your engine or areas of liquid leaking around the air conditioning unit are signs that your condenser could be malfunctioning.

Your fuel consumption isn’t as high as normal

A malfunctioning condenser could also affect your fuel consumption, so if you notice that you’re not achieving your usual mpg, it could be time to have your condenser checked out.