Fellow Volvo Owners,

I just discovered this site. Please forgive my ignorance and some stupid statements/questions which are about to be typed.

My wife and I bought our first Volvo 245 station wagon in Germany in 1983.

We were young, with 3 little angels, and wanted to travel safely in Europe and in US. I'm retired military- please don't hold it against me.

Our Old Betsy lasted for 250,000 miles and only because of improper care by me- lived on salt coasts of England and Florida- rusted badly- reluctantly gave her up. Had some air conditioning problems with the 83-

Well, wife and I both missed our 245, and bought a used 92- 245 in 1998.

The car runs like a top, just as we remembered our sweet 83. However, we've had a consistent problem with the A/C.

We are located in the deep sunbelt- central Florida- Orlando. Have used a local non-Volvo dealer air conditioning "speciality air-conditioning" shop.

They couldn't find a leak- used "ultra violet light and die in system to find leaks???"- I just read about the freon leak sniffer on your board- never heard of such a thing-- I've bought a condensor-$429- 2/1/99- convert to R134A for $186, bought another condensor- $401- 9/23/99 and accumulator- $50- got store "discount of $75" due to being so close to first job- now the air conditioner "smelled funny last night" while I was driving and the wife tells me today it wasn't cooling at all. NOT Acceptable in Central Florida- windows down doesn't cool enough.

I'm thinking Volvo from Sweden doesn't make good air-conditioning units- OR- do I have wrong shop.

Fellow Volvo lovers, I'm not a mechanic, I have changed timing belt, done the spark plugs and oil, but never done A/C work.

Your thoughts would be appreciated.

My "shop" says they can put in a new non-R-12 system for $1200!!! I'm very frustrated- love the car, but am tired of air conditioning problems seemingly constantly.

Here are the stupid questions-

One- do I put in the new system- does the cost seem about right??

Two- do I put in new compressor/ condensor again?

Three- Is there anything I can do to help the air conditioner last more than one season? We use the A/C about 10 months yearly.

Thanks for any constructive comments- Regards, Rick