Date: Tue, 03 Jun 2003 13:17:43 GMT From: "Fred W." <wigginnopsamlobal.net> wrote in message news:oprp2dbjmh6ev8ginopsam.attglobal.net... > On Sat, 31 May 2003 18:17:46 +0100, tom <tnopsamgt; wrote: > > > so this 900i 8v with retro fitted air con .. > > and the air con doesnt con. > > I guess its a trip to the dealer for ~90 quids worth of labour ?? > > or is there anything I (rank novice) can do at home ? > > No thought not. > > thanks > > tom > > > > > > > Tom: > > I'm assuming that you mean the AC system works generally but does not chill > the air. There is one thing you can do without special equipment. You can > pick up a kit for less than $20 at Target which has a pressure gauge, hose, > AC connections and a can of R134a. Follow the instructions to check the > pressure of your AC system and hook the can up if it is low to add > refrigerant. See if that makes a difference. The refrigerant has > lubricant and testing dye in it. If this doesn't help, take it to a > qualified Saab mechanic, who can use a UV light to see if you have a leak. > > My girlfriend's '97 900SE was not chilling the air. After $350 of > "diagnostics" a Saab dealer told her that the evaporator probably was > leaking and quoted $1850 to replace it, the expansion valve and drier. I > checked the pressure and then added less than a can of R134a. That was 4 > weeks ago and it has not lost any pressure. We have been having a cool > spell, so still waiting to see how it will work in hot weather. By the > way, I got another quote from an independent Saab mechanic for $1150. > > Good luck. He'll need a lot of luck if he tries to put R134a into an old 900i 8v... Go see an AC specialist.