Adam A

I have a small leak in my AC system (2002 e320 4matic wagon) which requires recharging every 18 months or so. I live in South Florida, so my ac is used all year long. Usually I know it needs refilling when the drivers side starts blowing warmer than the passenger side (not an uncommon sign from other posts). I would sit at stop lights at a high idle and the air would be cold again. I had it recharged from Amaco and immediately, they could only get warm air from the drivers side, even though when I dropped it off it was blowing cool at idle and cold at cruising speed. It is still cold on the passenger side. Amaco said it was a blend door problem and wanted 2 hours labor to diagnose it. I was pretty sure it wasn't, so I took the car home and did as much forum searching as I could, but couldn't find the answers I needed. I ran the diagnostic and the compressor is fully charged and the vents are all working appropriately. I also noticed the compressor started clicking about a week ago. Is the clicking problem and the hot air problem related? Do I need to have the compressor replaced? And if so, could that restore cold air to both sides?

Plutoe

Suprise us all and post the actual value and fault test result---then we can all speculate like you have!!

Without the test results my guess is that you have a bad cigar lighter!!

Adam A

Values are as follows:
1) 80 2) 82 3) 64 4) 53 5) 67 6) 125 7) 13 8) 116
I also had fault codes: 1234, 1416. I cleared them and they didn't come back. I also did a vent test and they all performed as they should.
I should add that the clicking compressor isn't a normal/good clicking. It is loud and rapid, like somebody is shaking a can of spray paint. From your recommendation, I checked the cigar lighter. I don't think it is that

raymond g-

i'm far from an expert but it doesn't sound like a compressor issue if you're trying to determine
the cause of the imbalanced heat. it would be a damper/flap issue, or a duo-valve problem.

head over to Benzworld's 210 STICKY sections at the top of the forum and check for FAQ or
hot threads. there is even one for damper testing, I recall.

separately there may be a compressor problem with the clicking and all but I don't believe
they (in and of itself) will cause the dissimilar heat issue.

Plutoe

The interesting thing is that you have some odd values!!

There is a 9 degree difference between the duovalva data!

The evap temp is way high, should be 41 not 67

And with 13 bar pressure, on earth the refrig temp should be 130 not 116


I personally believe the warmth is coming from a warm evaporator, the air is just not getting cold enough quickly enough to overcome the other deficiencies.

I would also be concerned as to why the compressor can't make 15 to 17 bar at idle

My suggestion is that knowing what you do know take the car to an AC shop and let them put some gages on to confirm or what ever the issues with the compressor and evaporator

Adam A

Thanks for letting me know the values. I put another can of refrigerant in and I think it is cooling better now, but I won't know until later, because it's a cool morning here (75 degrees). I should have mentioned that I checked the duovalve earlier and it was fully operational. I think the compressor may have stopped clicking as well, but I won't know for sure until later. Sorry, I'm new to posting in these forums. It will be warmer today, so I will check and let everybody know this afternoon. It is still low 70's; with the AC temp on low and fan on high, the values are as follows:
1) 67 2) 71 3) 42 4)42 5)39 6)191 7) 15 8)125

Plutoe

Well after re reading your first it's full and I am drowning post and comparing that to your last Epiphany post----all I can say is amazing!!!

Adam A

Well, I think it's fixed. It didn't get above 80 yesterday, but when I drove around town, I checked the numbers quite a few times both yesterday and today. The air was cool from both sides, both duovalve numbers were low to mid 40's, the evaporator core temp was similar numbers and the pressure was good. The compressor is still clicking a little bit still. Maybe the fault lies with Amaco after all. Thank you everybody for helping me everybody, I certainly do appreciate it! You saved me almost $200 which would have solved literally nothing! Hopefully it stays cool again with the temps being in upper 80's this week.