As it has been a little warmer than usual here in Britain I thought
"hang the fuel consumption" and fired up the Air Con on my 1993 classic
900 SE.

It made a valiant attempt but only just managed to make the air less
stifling.

It does work but not well enough. I've checked the drive belt and
cooling element in the air intake, that appears clear as does the front
radiator part.

It's been suggested to me that the gas may need topping up. Does this
sound right? How much is this likely to be? Any other things to
consider?

--
Simon

Brighton
England

In article <Xns93CF67E341DE8wibbleflipdoodah (AT) 130 (DOT) 133.1.4>,
ng (AT) mztech (DOT) fsnet.co.uk says...
Most likely need topping up.
They will try to tell you it needs dye adding to tell you were it has
leaked from.
Will probably charge you a fortune to fill up, adding the dye as well as
the gas.

unlike our US/Canadian brothers, we can't just go an get a DIY refill
kit off the shelf in out local Walmart (yet).
--
The poster formerly known as Skodapilot.
http://www.bouncing-czechs.com

MeatballTurbo wrote:
I have a leak in the AC on my 1996 900SE -- in the evaporator, very
unfortunately (because I'm being told it will cost $1,500 to repair,
$900 of which is the cost of the new evaporator core). However, in the
course of conversation with the repair shop, I was told that they don't
just top up the freon in the system. I was told that, with the
environment-friendly freon now being used, all the freon needs to be
replaced (cost $150) if the system is being recharged.

I'm not sure when the switch to the new type of freon took place.
However, I suspect it was before 1993. So, if what I'm told is correct,
it may be impossible to do DIY top-ups of freon, even in the U.S. or
Canada.

I've had a slow leak in my AC since I bought my Saab three years ago,
but it's only recently been traced to the evaporator, via putting dye in
the system. When the AC is working, it works reasonably well. However,
the Saab AC isn't capable of turning the inside of the car into a meat
locker, as is the AC on my Mazda MX-5 Miata, the AC on American cars
that I've previously owned, and even the AC on the Ford Mondeo that I
rented during a recent visit to the U.K.

On 6 Aug 2003 09:12:44 GMT, SW <ng (AT) mztech (DOT) fsnet.co.uk> wrote:


It sounds like you don't use the AC very much or at all. How long
since you have used it? There are seals that will dry out or assume
semi-permanent deformation of not used on some sort of regular basis.
While I run mine all summer long, I don't need it in the spring or
fall and the winters are too cold. However, I try to run my A/C for a
lest a few minutes on any winter day that is warm enough to allow the
compressor to start just to keep the seals "exercised".

--
Vic Roberts

On 6 Aug 2003 09:12:44 GMT, SW <ng (AT) mztech (DOT) fsnet.co.uk> wrote:

Low refrigerant is a high level possibility. Worth a check. But adding
refrigerant and/or checking requires gauges and so on which may not be
too common in the UK

I have better luck with an auto/truck cooling/air conditining
specialist than with any repairer or certainly than any dealer. If you
can find one who does the refrigeration for large trucks and does
autos too you will be better off.

Malcolm

KeithG wrote:

According to what I'm told by the repair shop, the problem isn't a
condensor. It's an evaporator. The $1,500 estimate came from an
independent Saab repair place. The generic repair place that I've used
for all other cars says $1,200.

C900s are another story. On the highway with plenty of air pushing through the
condenser they're OK but not around town. Mine was converted to R134 so it's
not as cold as an R13.
Phil Brown