With this lovely weather we are having of late, using the A/C is the norm, but mine is not a cold as it should be. I think that mine has never had a recharge of gas, as the connection caps, still have there vertical anti tamper strips on. MW 7 years old this September, so booked in for a pressure test and recharge of the gas.

Question is how often should you be doing this... or is it about the more you use it, you need to recharge.

Somebody in the office said he gets his recharged every 3 years..

I have mine done every two years. If I leave it any longer (a) it doesn't deliver cold enough air and (b) it starts to smell.

i've had my stilo since feb'09 never had to recharge it.. Really AC shouldn't ever need recharging unless there is a leak.
Have you ever changed the pollen filter on the car? My AC seemed to not be working at all but when i changed the pollen filter it started coming out ice cold. Well worth checking before spending money on recharging etc.
In the stilo you need to remove the plastic panel next to your clutch foot and its behind there

Regarding smells, the actual gas can't make it smell, that is impossible - its a sealed system and the air doesn't come into contact with it. The air its blowing out come directly from outside or recirc from inside the car. Any smells are the result of bacteria building up in the air-circulating part of the system.

blu73 said:

Have you ever changed the pollen filter on the car? .

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Yes. Changed at weekend with a activated carbon type, the one that was changed must of been in there since build, as it had August 2005 in the Fiat Filter, and was very heavy compared to the new light one. Fan power a little improved, but sill very good. But gas needs recharging.

coolio, just thought i'd check

Does anyone know where the air intake is, either for fresh air or recirculating the cabin air? There are some heating system cleaners around, that you supposedly just spray near the air intakes and it cleanses/sterilises/freshens the system - and I read somewhere that if you use some Milton sterilising spray or an antibacterial cleaner and spray it near the intakes, this can also be used...

TangerineTractor said:

Does anyone know where the air intake is, either for fresh air or recirculating the cabin air? There are some heating system cleaners around, that you supposedly just spray near the air intakes and it cleanses/sterilises/freshens the system - and I read somewhere that if you use some Milton sterilising spray or an antibacterial cleaner and spray it near the intakes, this can also be used...

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Intake grill is below the front wiper mechanism i believe.

i would have thought anything anti-bacterial would do the job.. even some dettol would work i reckon.. Don't go over the top though, i wouldn't think its getting soaked would be a good thing.

I was thinking of using dettol aerosol air freshener - they do one that can also be used as an antibacterial surface spray.. just stick the heating in recirculate mode and spray it near the interior air intake - if anyone knows where that is...

no idea sorry, but sure it'll work

thats got to be the worst description ever, what actually is it??

They come in a slow release spray can. You close all the car windows, start the engine, switch the A/C on and close the recirculatory flap, open all the vents. Then place the can on the floor of the car (some cans say in the front of the car, some say in the back) and press the button on top of the can. Get out of the car and close the doors then just leave it for about 20 minutes.

ah right, cool - i'll bear it in mind if i ever have a smell problem with any of my cars with AC.

Peat said:

Exactly as Davren explained.

This is the one I used. It explains a little more clearly! ->

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/CAR-VAN-LORRY-AIR-CON-CONDITIONING-CLEANER-AND-PURIFIER-/280707135454?pt=UK_Car_Accessories_Car_Care_Cleaning&hash=item415b72f7de

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That's the one they sell in Aldi every summer.

MW went into A/C place today for its refridgerant recharge and guess what, it failed at the first hurdle!!

No gas was in the system. Did a pressure test and blowing out of the non-flow end from the condenser. Oh :bang:.

You could clearly hear it. So that's why i thought in the last month it needed a recharge after being lovely and cold in the past. No doubt a stone has punctured the condenser.

No charge, Thanks Mate.

Now to get repaired, do you feel this is a resonable quotation.

New Fiat Condenser #135 inc VAT
Pressure Test & Redfridgerant Gas #45 inc VAT
Labour #90.00

All in #270.00 inc VAT.

Good or Bad ? .............

I doubt the condenser has failed. Much more likley to be a broken pipe. Very common fault due to metal fatigue in the alloy pipes...

Yellow Peril said:

I doubt the condenser has failed. Much more likley to be a broken pipe. Very common fault due to metal fatigue in the alloy pipes...

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Its the condensor. Passenger side on non flow end. Pipes fine. I was there, but a little stunned with the whoosh of air coming out with the pressure test.

FiatFleetFamily said:

New Fiat Condenser #135 inc VAT
Pressure Test & Redfridgerant Gas #45 inc VAT
Labour #90.00

All in #270.00 inc VAT.

Good or Bad ? .............

Click to expand...

I would say bad as a new condenser can be had on eBAY at this time for £105 + change delivered and if you are lucky as I was and keep checking you may get one for considerably less (I paid £20 delivered for a brand new one)

The fitting is only two bolts underneath the condenser, it then drops down, and the hose connections. Seals will be OK I should think.

Recharge if you look around can be got for £30.