I would think that aircon work is not a DIY proposition, as specialists are required to contain/ collect any loose refrigerant for ozone-layer reasons.

Back in Edinburgh for a few weeks. Wandering through a Halfords, noticed some of these. Single hose and gauge, latter in either digital or analogue, with a bit of an "expert system" diagnostic thing apparently going on with the more expensive of the digitals.

They apparently had two .types of refrigerant refill cylinders available, but there werent any on the shelf.

You can buy the more traditional (professional?) two hose/guage sets in Taiwan for just a bit more, but as far as I know there is no DIY access to the refrigerant. Recieved opinion seemed to be this wasn't a practical DIY proposition, so I've left it alone. OTOH, DIY topup has apparently been available in the US for a long time.

Probably academic interest only since I probably wont be motivated to smuggle refrigerant in my hand luggage, but I wondered if anyone had tried them.

Halfords were doing a £35 aircon check and diagnostics, not sure if still doing it, but quicker them do it than you waste time and gas on a faulty unit, had mine checked out several months ago but too expensive to repair

Sorry, slight 'topic divergence' here, but what are people's experiences with actually needing to top up their aircon?

I've only owned two cars since aircon became pretty standard in the UK, and have not needed to top up either of them. The first, a Citroen C5, would presumably have used the older chemicals (can't remember the designation) but I kept it 15 years with no problems. My current car is a Toyota with the newer stuff that's supposed to leak out more easily; it's 7 years old now and aircon works fine when required. I don't activate it unless required for cooling or, more commonly in our climate, to help with demisting.

Have I just been lucky?