Using R12. Now that I look at the bill, Pep did not charge me for the checkup (even though the manager said they checked it, it was full, and "blew cold at times when the mechanic fiddled with the switches or wires (he could not remember which.))

That said, it probably was never checked...

Now here is the interesting part. I called my regular mechanic and he agreed with your assessment that it should not be "where the charge would be OK and the compressor would be fully functional but there would be no cooling." He also asserted that the charge was unchecked.

A few moments ago, I started the car (a 940 by the way) put the air on and left it running for five minutes. The area on the front of the compressor inside the pully did not turn at all during this time. I then turned the ignition off and on again -- and the pully did turn this time. It cycled 10 seconds, stopped, cycled another 10 seconds, stopped, and then cycled for about five minutes but no cold air!

I did notice that one of the two silver pipes that goes into the firewall felt cool to the touch and had some condensation on it...

Thoughts?