Heat Pump Servicing

[girarcat]

Hi,

Just talked to the chief mechanic from the Cupra dealership I was addressed to, where they should be able to perform the heat pump servicing. He told me it was the first time he heard anything related to the heat pump needing its gas to be replaced. They even checked on their computer with my VIN and told me it said nothing about the heat pump.

So, long story short:
-My local Cupra Dealership first told me the cooling agent had to be replaced, then, when they realized they were unable to do so, I was told it was not necessary.
-Not entirely convinved with their answer, I wrote to Cupra Spain and they confirmed the cooling gas had to be replaced every 2 years and addressed me to another Cupra Dealership which is 70 miles away from my house, were they should be able to perform the procedure.
-After several calls, I finally got in touch with their chief mechanic. They checked and confirmed no heat pump servicing was required (he also thought it would be pointless).

That's crazy

[Elea4]

-After several calls, I finally got in touch with their chief mechanic. They checked and confirmed no heat pump servicing was required (he also thought it would be pointless).

That's crazy

Bingo.

There are 3 factors at play here: greedy dealerships, clueless Cupra Support and poorly informed mechanics.

The videos I posted earlier have all the info a person needs to understand the R744 maintenance process here.

FWIW, in Germany ID.3 owners going for their 4-year inspection are being charged around 130 euro (in addition to the inspection) to change out the R744 CO2.

Interestingly, as of MY2025 the interval for changing out R744 is now specified as 8 years.

[girarcat]

-After several calls, I finally got in touch with their chief mechanic. They checked and confirmed no heat pump servicing was required (he also thought it would be pointless).

That's crazy

Bingo.

There are 3 factors at play here: greedy dealerships, clueless Cupra Support and poorly informed mechanics.

The videos I posted earlier have all the info a person needs to understand the R744 maintenance process here.

FWIW, in Germany ID.3 owners going for their 4-year inspection are being charged around 130 euro (in addition to the inspection) to change out the R744 CO2.

Interestingly, as of MY2025 the interval for changing out R744 is now specified as 8 years.

Ok so all ID3 owners are being asked to replace their R744 every 4 years just because some units have had leak issues?
Why would Cupra ask to do so every 2 years? Maybe Cupra also wants to have it replaced at the 4th year and here is where all the confusion comes from (Cupra Spain, not using my VIN, saw there was some generic maintenance to be done to the heat pump and told me to do so, while the dealership did use my VIN and since they could only see the scheduled items for the 2nd year maintenance, told me it was not required).

I still can't see the point in changing the gas every 4 years. If there's no leak why would they want to change it?

Thanks for your help!

[Elea4]

Whoever said that Cupra is demanding R744 being changed every 2y is flat out wrong.

End of story. The official statement for maintaining your warranty is 4y for pre-2025 models and 8y MY2025 and later.

Why 4y - or 8y?

My guess: it's such a high-pressure system that some small leakage is inevitable and that decreases the heat pump's ability to function. But that doesn't necessarily trigger a low coolant warning.

Also, if you watched the videos I posted, you'll see that a tiny bit of oil is added when the CO2 is flushed out. This lubricates the internal valves and mechanisms.

[girarcat]

Whoever said that Cupra is demanding R744 being changed every 2y is flat out wrong.

End of story. The official statement for maintaining your warranty is 4y for pre-2025 models and 8y MY2025 and later.

Why 4y - or 8y?

My guess: it's such a high-pressure system that some small leakage is inevitable and that decreases the heat pump's ability to function. But that doesn't necessarily trigger a low coolant warning.

Also, if you watched the videos I posted, you'll see that a tiny bit of oil is added when the CO2 is flushed out. This lubricates the internal valves and mechanisms.

Thanks! Today I've been provided by Cupra Spain a website where using my VIN I can check all the maintenance required by my car depending on age and milage. I've feen fiddleing with it a little bit and no matter how old the car is, there is no such thing as a required servicing related to the heat pump. Neither 2 years, nor 4 nor 8.
That's a bit weird though, considering VW do require a gas replacement every 4/8 years.

[Elea4]

I'd like to add some nuance to my previous statements that nevertheless doesn't contradict what I said about the UK & Germany:

Page 8 of the MY2022-2024 Cupra Born service manual:

As you can see from the list , it's 2y in hotter countries due to increased potential for leakage from higher temperatures.

Speaking of which, this is from the Born's AC w/ R744 service manual:

"Smaller leaks in the refrigerant circuit (less than 100 g refrig
erant loss per year) cannot usually be found by means of the
vacuum test or pressure test. The amount of air entering the
system or the amount of escaping refrigerant is too low to
detect the faulty area through noise"

[girarcat]

I'd like to add some nuance to my previous statements that nevertheless doesn't contradict what I said about the UK & Germany:

Page 8 of the MY2022-2024 Cupra Born service manual:

Screenshot 2025-02-13 at 11-31-33 2022 Cupra Born Manual - Maintenance _ Pdf Download - Cupra Born - Maintenance Manual.pdf.png

As you can see from the list , it's 2y in hotter countries due to increased potential for leakage from higher temperatures.

Speaking of which, this is from the Born's AC w/ R744 service manual:

"Smaller leaks in the refrigerant circuit (less than 100 g refrig
erant loss per year) cannot usually be found by means of the
vacuum test or pressure test. The amount of air entering the
system or the amount of escaping refrigerant is too low to
detect the faulty area through noise"

Hell, I don't understand a thing. Now it turns out the service manual states the refrigerant does need to be replaced every two years in Spain?? I thought it was clear no pump service was required.
In that case, why are they not aware about this in the dealership where I asked, nor can't I see it on the official online maintenance calculator I was provided yesterday?

What a mess they have here

[milkyway55]

I'd like to add some nuance to my previous statements that nevertheless doesn't contradict what I said about the UK & Germany:

Page 8 of the MY2022-2024 Cupra Born service manual:

Screenshot 2025-02-13 at 11-31-33 2022 Cupra Born Manual - Maintenance _ Pdf Download - Cupra Born - Maintenance Manual.pdf.png

As you can see from the list , it's 2y in hotter countries due to increased potential for leakage from higher temperatures.

Speaking of which, this is from the Born's AC w/ R744 service manual:

"Smaller leaks in the refrigerant circuit (less than 100 g refrig
erant loss per year) cannot usually be found by means of the
vacuum test or pressure test. The amount of air entering the
system or the amount of escaping refrigerant is too low to
detect the faulty area through noise"

Just proves you shouldn't believe some random self-titled experts on the internet.

[milkyway55]

I'd like to add some nuance to my previous statements that nevertheless doesn't contradict what I said about the UK & Germany:

Page 8 of the MY2022-2024 Cupra Born service manual:

Screenshot 2025-02-13 at 11-31-33 2022 Cupra Born Manual - Maintenance _ Pdf Download - Cupra Born - Maintenance Manual.pdf.png

As you can see from the list , it's 2y in hotter countries due to increased potential for leakage from higher temperatures.

Speaking of which, this is from the Born's AC w/ R744 service manual:

"Smaller leaks in the refrigerant circuit (less than 100 g refrig
erant loss per year) cannot usually be found by means of the
vacuum test or pressure test. The amount of air entering the
system or the amount of escaping refrigerant is too low to
detect the faulty area through noise"

Just proves you shouldn't believe some random self-titled experts on the internet.

[girarcat]

I'd like to add some nuance to my previous statements that nevertheless doesn't contradict what I said about the UK & Germany:

Page 8 of the MY2022-2024 Cupra Born service manual:

Screenshot 2025-02-13 at 11-31-33 2022 Cupra Born Manual - Maintenance _ Pdf Download - Cupra Born - Maintenance Manual.pdf.png

As you can see from the list , it's 2y in hotter countries due to increased potential for leakage from higher temperatures.

Speaking of which, this is from the Born's AC w/ R744 service manual:

"Smaller leaks in the refrigerant circuit (less than 100 g refrig
erant loss per year) cannot usually be found by means of the
vacuum test or pressure test. The amount of air entering the
system or the amount of escaping refrigerant is too low to
detect the faulty area through noise"

Hi! I can see this image is from a 2022 Manual, referring to 2021 Born models. Do you think for later units any issue with the heat pump might have been already adressed and that's why in my case (MY2023) they are telling me no servicing is required?