Just wondering what common problems there are with regards to air con, just brought a '96 Calibra and when you switch air con on the fan starts up but the light doesn't come on, oh, and the minor detail - the air is not cooled....
Check it still has a belt connected to the compressor, disconnect the wiring loom from the compressor clutch and see if the light is working.
Other than that, the only real solution would be to take it to an air con specialists for a gas test, I suspect all of the gas has leaked out through either the compressor seals or a split pipe or loose connection somewhere.
I would have said nearer £80 might be typical. There's a big "but" though - without knowing how long the a/c has not been working, there is no way of knowing what state the seals are in, whether there's a leak, etc. A pressure test will probably push the cost up to nearer a ton, but might be advisable (if it leaks, you might get the cost of recovered gas back).
[I speak from experience, having just been in for the 3rd time in 6 months to have mine looked at. Luckily for me, and armed with some info from the very helpful Andy Hewitt, I am getting a leaking condensor foc. But my car is less than 4 years old.]
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