What are the common probs with aircon?

It might just need a recharge. You could either get a main dealer or a specialist refrigeration / air-con servicing company to do it.

Dunno how much it'd cost - probably not too much though.

Peter

Depending on age and whether you run it in the winter, the common problem is the compressor seals failing. It's a good idea to run it for a few minutes every week or so to keep the seals in good condition.

A top-up will probably restore it for now, but if the seals aren't in good nick, it will leak away again over time :o(

Most places I've seen doing aircon checks & top-ups are around £75.

Robin.

Hopefully you just need a recharge. About £60 at an independent a/c shop. However, if it's old enough to need R12 gas you might be in for a bad surprise, as R12 is no longer legal due to worries about the ozone layer. R134A is the current compressor gas, and it may not be possible to put R134A into an R12 based system. There may be a label under the bonnet if it's using R134A. (Do a web search for R134A and you'll get an idea of the changes necessary to go from R12 to R134A.)

My Safrane's R12 based "Climate Control" a/c was OK when it worked. Once it started giving trouble I never got it sorted out. I now drive Honda - draw your own conclusions.

-- M Stewart Milton Keynes, UK

Check that the heat exchanger (usually in front of the ordinary radiator) isn't blocked with leaves, etc. And that the auxilliary fan (if fitted) - again usually in front of the rad is working.

But the usual cause is loss of refrigerant, and topping it up should prove a temporary cure. A long term cure is finding out why it's leaked.

Your Honda system will give problems at about 5 years old - they *all* do.

A top up might be a good mid term cure, if it's leaking severely though it needs fixing. Look in yellow pages for "car air conditioning" or "refrigeration" sections and ring round.