My Air Conditioning suddenly stopped working. It was allright on one day, then it was one day I wasn't using the car, and then on the following day - no cooling at all (which was a shame, as it was really hot day).

Instead of icy cold air from the vents, pressing my A/C switch only result with engine idling rpm's going slightly up as usual and strange, metallic sound can be heard.

Since my car is 2009 Sirion, still under 5 years warranty, I decided to make a claim. It is hard to find authorized Daihtasu Garage since they have moved out of Europe, and I learned that the one on the outskirts of my town that I serviced my car since the one in my town became Arnold Clark is no longer a Daihatsu Garage, I went to the website and found the nearest one only 45 minutes of motorway drive from me. Not bad, it could be Shetlands.

I called them and explained the situation and they told me that unless I have a receipt proving that I regased my Air Con system every two years, they will do nothing under warranty. It came to a surprise to me as my car is serviced regularly as per warranty book (well, with a slight delay one year, when I was abroad, but they told me (then) that it won't be a problem) and I would expect that if it is mandatory to regas the system, it would be included in regular servicing. I checked my manual again, and there is nothing about air condition refill. it is written ex plicite, that the condition of my warranty is that I follow the servicing schedule provided, and servicing schedule does not include air conditioning refilling at all.

I know it is advised to refill your gas in Air Con every two years, but from what I know it is not mandatory, or, in most cases, necesary. I even asked once when I was servicing my car and they told me that I should not worry as long as it works properly. And it did worked, the air was very cool and there was no stinking smell from it...

I know that when the system is not sealed, then the gas escapes and that can be a problem, but with new car it should not be... And if it was the case, I would notice a gradually worsening of my air con... I made a quick query amongst my friends and most of them services their air con much less often than every two years - and most of them have much older cars than me...

So now, since the Daihatsu dealer told me that he will do nothing unless I provide the receipt for regasing, I contacted Daihatsu via the website (first I called, the guy less or more agreed with me but told me that he cannot do anything, I have to speak with the dealer and then use the form on the website). Now I am awaiting their answer.

So how is it? Can they refuse to fix an obvious mechanical problem on the basis that I don't have a receipt for the thing that is not mandatory to do? And if I had a problem with fuel injection system would they expect me to provide receipt from the gas station?