Air conditioning blowing cold and (more often) hot air

Did they fix the leak? Your air conditioning system will keep loosing pressure until you fix where the refrigerant is leaking. Check over the hoses for cracks, hardening or deterioration. I would just bring it to a dealer or air conditioning specialist for repair and recharging. But make sure they fix the problem and pressure test it before recharging. You should be able to get some kind of warranty for the work that is done.

Dan, thank you for such a quick response.

When we took it back to SEARS (who refilled it a few days ago) they said that it might be something electrical and we need to take it to an electrician shop (something like that). Does this sound ok? It seems to me from your response that you are pretty confidant that there is a leak.

Thanks,
Matea

It is quite common for older cars to loose their air conditioning. It is usually a cracked line or seal or a hole in the condenser. I can't see it being an electrical problem.

if the a/c does get cold, then the refrigerant level might be ok, could very easily be a pressure switch going bad or if the vehicle has one a sticky expansion block/valve

I looked at the receipt again (the one that we got from Sears, when they refilled the coolant), and it says that they preassure tested it, and it was ok.

Could the test have missed a leak?

Yes, it is possible.The only way to know for sure is to have gauges put on the system to test the pressure.If it is good, then there is an electrical or expansion block problem

Guys,

my problem just got bigger! : (

I'm not sure if it's the same cause or something new, but my car starting making some whirring noise when it's running. (it's like this when AC is off or on, it does not matter). Ofcourse AC does not work.

So, I went to SEARS and they said it's probably some clutch bearing in the compressor. They said it can break the belt if I drive it like this, so i'm really scared. I just came home and won't drive until Monday when I take it to some ABC Radiator place.

My car is '95 and I really don't want to pay a lot of money for a new compressor (they guy at SEARS told me it could be ~$700). Could they just replace the bearing? Do you have an idea how much that could cost?

And could they just take the bearing out, so it's not dangerous to drive - at this point I'll be happy even if the AC doesn't work?

Thank you so much for your advice

Matea

I have a 2002 mazda protege with 136,000 mile. I hit a pot hole a few months back it was so bad that my ac nobe came off. Every since then my ac only workes on the one setting. I will sometimes work on four but it takes awhile to kick in. The green ac light won't even turn on in the second and third position. I took it to the shop and they said it might be the blower switch. What do you think?

Could be