V50 General : Air Con A/C stopped working

[mybubba]

Hi all
starting of my first post with an not too uncommon problem.

Our V50 2.0D aircon stopped working altogether. On reflection I recall to notice a slight degrade in cool efficiency ove the last 2 years.
I searched the net and found that the problem my be either mechanical (i.e. potentially costly if say the compressor was to be renewed £300 upwards), electric (ie. fuses or relays blown) or down to a leak/lack of pressure on the circuit (read pipework).

I noted that the electronic clutch would not engage (which in turn menas the compressor would not function as it is powered through the auxillary belt.)
You fin dthat one school of thought is that the problem is fown to the gap between the plate and the compressor (see other good threads to that end) or that it is electric/pressure.

This brings me to the point that after quering a number of garages, Kwikfit etc. that knowledge with regards to the air conditioning system of modern cars is rather limited in my small sample.
I had read up on the issue and found that the V50 has a number of pressure switches which cut out the electronic clutch (possibly a measure to safeguard the compressor.) Not one outfit actually knew that such system was in place.

If indeed the lack of freon/pressure on the system is the case then a recharge is the cure as long as no significant leak has development and thus render the recharge useless. On the note of recharge I noted that the professional clearout of the system prior is imperative.

I would recommend to anyone with a similar problem to seek good advice, even better read up on the issue before. If you haven't come across the issue make sure you regularly use the air con to keep seals oiled.

If any1 has had the same problem i would be interested to hear about it.