Nothing but hot air

On a particularly hot day in July 2010, I noticed that the air conditioning in my Mazda6 MPS had stopped cooling.

I rang my local Mazda main dealer who told me that I needed the system re-gassing. This was done and I was charged £60, but it did not solve the problem.

I was then told that the air condenser was riddled with stone chips and that I needed a new one for a further £450. When I picked the car up it seemed to work fine, but over the following winter months the A/C only had the need to blow hot air.

Nine months and 3000 miles on, and the system does not work again. I took the car to the same dealer and asked them to simply diagnose the problem. When I collected the car I was told that they had again re-gassed the system with a dye. Charge - another £60. I refused to pay this as I feel that I am being taken for a ride. What bothers me the most is whether I even needed the new air condenser 9 months ago?

They've told me to go back in two weeks so they can establish what the problem is by looking at the dye. What do you suggest I do? I am worried that they'll tell me that something ELSE is wrong and that I'll need to pay out even more.

Asked on 5 April 2011 by Jamie P

Answered by Honest John
They are quite right. By not using the a/c for at least 10 minutes a week every week you have not lubricated the system with the result that the seals have not stayed gas tight.
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