ok bit long winded but bear with me outside temp is 14 degrees, so i set the airconto lowest temp, select max cold on centre vent on the dash, and it feels like ambient air coming through with slight heat towards the inside edge of both vents.

here is where it gets really strange i set the heater controls to max temp with centre vent set to max heat (3 red dots) and i get full heat as i should, i then twist the centre vent wheel to max cold (3 blue dots) and i get icy cold aircon (it's actually colder than when temp is on lowest temp setting).

any ideas anyone?

Sounds like a blend flap issue

hi hippo you could be right on further checking, i've just noticed when i have temp set to max and i have the ice cold air coming out of the dash vents i'm getting hot air from the footwell vents, and opposite way round when on cold temp. i've just got back from getting the aircon checked & regassed, they cleaned the system and removed all the old gas and re-gassed it, they said there are no leaks but because in their experiance it should be getting colder than it is, they never charged me.

i think i found it! i had a eureka moment (i don't get them often where the rangie is concerened) i looked at my centre vent on the dash and it's been a little strange between 2 dots and 3 on the hot side it seemed to move but not do anything, it's started doing the same on the cold side but i never noticed so i've just popped it out of the dash disconnected the cable for temp control, (which had popped out of it's holder) and operated it manually pulled it out to max got warm air, pushed it in max and got cold air from the aircon, the rotary button seems to work ok with the cable off, but just does not quite go far enough with the cable on to get full effect of the aircon. so tomorrow i'm going to check where the cable mounts on the heater box to make sure it's not disconnected that end (again quite common reading on the web) and if thats ok i'll pop to jon daunters and pick up a new vent assembly.