Air Con Not Working In Ford Fiesta

[maggie01]

I haven't used it for some time and forgot you are supposed to run it regularly..Well nw there is no cold air coming from it.
I don't think I am alone in not realizing that a car service does not cover the air con.
Could I have done a lot of damage and what's. the maximum I can expect to pay to put it right

[Zacs-Master]

You can buy a recharging can from Halfords and I'm pretty sure they will DIFY for a small charge.

[Zacs-Master]

Probably about £25/30 in all.

[arwyn]

A.T.S charged £45 when I did the same with a Corsa I had, they refilled it. I too never knew I was meant to run it in winter.

[tonyav]

You might get away with having the air con system recharged, or the rubber seals on the connectors on the air con pipe work my have gone brittle and thats how the gas has escaped.
There is a lubricant in the air con gas that stops the seals going brittle, but you have to run the air con regularly for this to work.

Couldn't say how much money it will cost but expect to pay approx £40 for an air con gas recharge.

[Zacs-Master]

Very good for delisting windows too. £45 is a bit steep. Several places round us do it for £40.

[Zacs-Master]

Grrrr. DeMisting.

[Zacs-Master]

http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product_storeId_10001_catalogId_10151_productId_812353_langId_-1_categoryId_165632
£39 for Halfords to do it including an air con cleaner (with£10 cash back when you take the can back).

[sunny-dave]

Why wouldn't you just leave the aircon enabled all year ??

These days it has naff all effect on your mpg (certainly less than running with windows open in the good weather), helps with demisting and condensation in the winter and will be working properly when you need it in the summer.

[maggie01]

Sunny dave. I didnt realise you used it in winter. Didn't read my manule. Tjid is the first car that is solely mine so learning the hard way

[Hopkirk]

I had my 10 year old Astra recharged for the first time last winter, and it is lovely and cold now.

At the time you could book on line and get it for £29 at Kwik Fit.

Funnily enough, now it is hot weather that offer is no longer on and they are charging £49.

[ladybirder]

Well I hope that's all it is Maggie. I use my air con all the year round for all the reasons stated above and plus it's recommended in the literature. I have it serviced every other year as well. Yet I have had to pay £1,130.60 a couple of months back to have my air con compressor replaced. Ouch!

[maggie01]

Ladybirder. It will be windows in that case. I have just had both front suspension springs replaced

[ladybirder]

I hesitated to have it done Maggie and wondered whether to sell. But as it's low mileage and never had to spend any money on it before I decided to have it done. Can't have a car without air con. One month later it stopped working and found a stone had gone through the condenser - another £515. I'm still recovering from the shock and I do hope yours only cost £25 to fix:-)

[Zacs-Master]

Maggie, a garage will be able to tell whether there is a more serious problem when they try to have it regassed as it won't hold pressure (the gas is pumped in under pressure).

[tonyav]

They put a dye in it and if there is a leak, traces of the dye show.

[tonyav]

Jaysus ladybirder, you have had some serious bad luck.

[ladybirder]

Well tony they say it comes in 3's don't they? Although nothing to do with the car, in between the air con compressor and the condenser, I adopted a sweet wee rescue dog. I had to have her PTS on her 10th day with me as her kidneys packed up. The vets bill for her treatment was about £620. I still shake my head when I think about it all:-(

[maggie01]

Ah!.That's sad about your dog .I will be in touch with a garage tomorrow.. Have thought about getting rid of the car but it has low mileage

[tonyav]

Yes ladybirder, I remember your post about that poor little dog.
Terrible shame that.

[ladybirder]

Don't forget to let us know what happens maggie.
Yes tony, it was heartbreaking. She was so lovely with her snaggly teeth. She looked like Ken Dodd (in the nicest possible way).
But watch this space as if all goes to plan there will be another rescued mutley on my sofa within the next month:-))