Well, firstly I've never seen so many posts on faulty a/c. Sure sign of summer?? I don't mind so much the fact that mines appears to be going wrong, more that fact that I don't know whats wrong with it.

Had this car approx 1 year. A/C ok when I bought. Had re-gassed 3 months ago. All ok. After a long journey with a/c (fitted with climate), the a/c and REC lights flashed, but system seemed fine. Did this a few times more over course of couple of weeks. Then I noticed smell (though admittedly it's never been smell free as far as I can remember), and a/c blowing warm-ish, and recycling very quickly.

A week ago, firm who gassed 3 months ago came back, said system nearly empty, so re-gassed with dye this time. No immediate sign of dye. But as black light not showing leak as within engine compartment, possible evap?

I swear though that even though system gassed a week ago, it's not as cold as should be - and sure it smells - and yesterday, just for a brief period, not as cold as it ws just 5 minutes before hand!! I think I'm getting paranoid.

My dad has a 1998 S70, that he's had for 2 years now, and his a/c still blows colder than mine! AND, his max fan setting makes my fan seem like it's turned off. My fan has in the past 'squeaked'. Sounds strange, but it does it if you go round a corner or a bend, then it starts squeaking! Can I remove pollen filter and squirt some WD40 down there?

HOW CAN I READ FAULT CODES OUT FOR THE A/C? I have OBD 2 by gear lever. Otherwise I'll pay dealer to read codes - will knowing codes help?

Any other ideas?

As I said, if it's going wrong, it's going wrong. I just want to know what it might be so I can set about fixing it as there's no way I'm paying a dealer - there's no job too difficult - unless of course you don't know what the problem is..........!!!!!!!!!!!!! Any hints as to where to look

Thanks,

K

ps - i have posted previous 'posts' but not been able till now to put 'whole picture'