Air Conditioning Servicing for VAG Vehicles

In early autumn 2015, we made a significant investment in genuine equipment and certified training for our mechanics to add proper air conditioning maintenance for VAG Group vehicles to the services offered by Das Auto Service. For me, air conditioning isn't simply a question of whether it blows cold air. It's a system that needs to be serviced according to the manufacturer's specifications.

Car air conditioning compressor on a table for air conditioning servicing

We purchased specialist air conditioning equipment, including one of the most efficient and advanced air conditioning service stations for Volkswagen vehicles. We attended numerous training seminars and put what we learnt into practice. As a result, we can now offer you air conditioning servicing based on the correct procedures, rather than the usual approach of "just topping up the refrigerant and calling it done".

Why Do We Say That the Service You'll Receive from Us Is Different from What Other Workshops Offer?

Volkswagen's original specifications and procedures, together with our practical experience, demonstrate one thing very clearly – simply topping up the refrigerant isn't enough if you want your air conditioning system to operate reliably over the long term. Yet this is standard practice in many workshops. Some don't even use air conditioning service machines, relying instead on pressure gauges and adding oil with a so-called "external filling syringe".

At first glance, it sounds harmless. Then we connect the air conditioning service station to the car and discover that the amount of oil is far above the manufacturer's specification. And more oil means the air conditioning system is forced to operate at higher pressure. Suddenly, "we added a little extra" doesn't sound like such a minor issue.

We've had a case that surprised even us, and we're used to seeing all sorts of things. Where the specified amount was 7 ml, we extracted 250 ml of oil from the car. That's exactly why I don't believe in servicing by guesswork.

Another common mistake is failing to replace the filter-drier. On cars manufactured after 2003/2004, it becomes an essential service item that must be replaced before every cooling season.

Why Does This Filter-Drier Need Replacing?

Its main purpose is to capture moisture, but it also collects fine metallic dust from the system. Some garages use refrigerant previously recovered from other cars, including vehicles with faulty air conditioning systems. This refrigerant may contain metal deposits from a failed compressor or another damaged component. When servicing is carried out using pressure gauges alone, this refrigerant gets mixed with clean refrigerant because there is no filter of the kind professional air conditioning service stations use to capture contaminants. As a result, metallic dust and contaminants from other vehicles enter your car's air conditioning system directly. After that, we can hardly expect it to remain in perfect working order and perform as it did when the car left the factory.

So, What Have We Learnt From Experience, and What Do We Offer Our Customers When Servicing Air Conditioning Systems on VAG Group Cars?

The air conditioning system should be serviced before every cooling season, and we follow this procedure:

extraction of oil and refrigerant
replacement of the filter-drier
replacement of the O-rings for this filter
cleaning of the condenser (air conditioning radiator)
checking the system for leaks
calculating the required amount of oil (taking into account that a small amount always remains in the system)
recharging the system while monitoring the correct readings and operating parameters
replacement of the cabin air filter
complete disinfection of the air ducts

What Do We Offer When There's a Fault in the System?

Here, too, we don't start by blindly replacing the most expensive component. The cause could be a control sensor, cooling fan, condenser, blockage in the system or, most commonly, the compressor. If the compressor has failed, simply fitting a new one isn't enough. Both the compressor and the filter-drier must be replaced, and the system must be flushed and cleaned of metal particles that could otherwise damage the new compressor as well. For this type of repair, we follow the complete procedure specified by Volkswagen. We also have the original equipment for flushing air conditioning systems, ensuring that the repair stands the test of time.

And one more thing that I don't consider a minor detail – all the service parts and consumables we use when servicing air conditioning systems are genuine and covered by a Volkswagen AG warranty.

If you'd like more information or want to book a slot, you can contact our service advisor or use the quick contact button in the bottom-right corner of the page.

You can also send us an enquiry by completing the form below.

Questions and Answers

Is Topping Up the Refrigerant Enough?

No. According to Volkswagen's specifications, the air conditioning system must be serviced using a service station, with the filter-drier and oil replaced and the exact quantity of refrigerant added. Simply topping up the refrigerant is not a complete service.

When Should I Service My Air Conditioning?

Before the cooling season, in other words, before summer.

Why Does the Filter-Drier Need Replacing?

Because it captures moisture and fine metallic dust in the system. If it isn't replaced, these contaminants remain inside and can damage the air conditioning system.