A/C No More!!
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 19
Likes: 0
From: Sacramento, CA
ML350
A/C No More!!
The Air conditioner in my 03 C230, when auto is pushed, cuts off!! If you wait a few seconds and push it again it works. I’ve taken it the MB dealer for this problem more that twice! They replaced some fan and a switch. Well it’s doing it again. Does anyone else have this problem? If so, what was done to resolve it. My car only has 45k on it. What gives?
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 6,211
Likes: 2
From: Laguna Niguel, CA
If it's still under warranty, that's your best recourse. Generally there's a low pressure switch that turns the compressor off if it detects low pressure. So either the switch is bad or you have low pressure. Since they probably replaced the switch that's may not be it. Also, your A/C has many complicated switches in the dash, is the problem that you are not getting air blowing or just blowing but warm? Low pressure can be one of 2 things, either you are low on refridgerant or your compressor going bad. If your compressor is going bad, start saving if it's not under warranty, that's going to set you back in the neighborhood of $2k. If it's the switches that control the airflow in the dash then that's cheaper, probably only $1K.
Newbie
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 3
Likes: 0
From: Jackson,TN
02C240
need help!! Air is not cooling
Hello,
I need some help.. My air conditioner is not cooling. Whenever I turn it on, it blows hot air and makes a strange sound. What could it be and how much are the repairs?
I need some help.. My air conditioner is not cooling. Whenever I turn it on, it blows hot air and makes a strange sound. What could it be and how much are the repairs?
Super Moderator Alumni
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 7,684
Likes: 12
From: West Los Angeles
Midnight Blue 2004.5 C230 Kompressor Sport Sedan. 2002 w210 E320, 2009 w211 E350 Sport
I posted in another thread that I've been having the same/similar problem. AC will be on and then all of a sudden it just completely cuts off (no air at all).
I've had them check it 5 times (6th time recently during service A) and every time I get the car back, they give the same/similar explanation (i.e. problem could not be duplicated). What they did this time was replace the AC button with another button that instead of just being labeled AC, it says AC off (next to the red led indicator) and underneath that it says something else.
I only tried the AC yesterday and it seemed to work well, but I'll have to guage it for the next month or so before I can determine if it did the trick. I can try taking a pic of what they replaced and the wording of what they replaced on my invoice, when I get the chance.
I've had them check it 5 times (6th time recently during service A) and every time I get the car back, they give the same/similar explanation (i.e. problem could not be duplicated). What they did this time was replace the AC button with another button that instead of just being labeled AC, it says AC off (next to the red led indicator) and underneath that it says something else.
I only tried the AC yesterday and it seemed to work well, but I'll have to guage it for the next month or so before I can determine if it did the trick. I can try taking a pic of what they replaced and the wording of what they replaced on my invoice, when I get the chance.
Super Member
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 917
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From: michigan/ohio/indiana
2013 c300 4matic, 2002 c240
I have the same problem with the auto button. Service could not solve it. I have been turning the a/c on manually for a while now and I am pretty sure I will have trouble with that too. I'm at 65k miles.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 6,211
Likes: 2
From: Laguna Niguel, CA
To give you an idea how hard it can be to diagnose A/C problems; I bought a brand new Infiniti I30, A/C would not blow cold sometimes but everytime I took it in it worked for the dealer. They sent a factory rep and nothing. Took them to court under the lemon law and won in trial. I figured out the problem, the clutch on the compressor is set not to engage at high load, so while you have it floored it's normal that the compressor cuts off but on this car it would do it at normal load so half my commute was a slight grade and that was enough to make it not work, at rest in their garage it always worked. But since they couldn't make it right, it went to a lemon law trial with an arbitrator.
If you really think it's the climate controls they are relatively cheap to replace, the part is only about $200 and some people on the forum probably have a spare, the ones that put in the digital one from the C320, but there's so many pieces to the puzzle it's a tough call.
I have some information from an MB HVAC course at www.Buellwinkle.com/HVAC-W203.pdf that may help at least understand all the components.
If you really think it's the climate controls they are relatively cheap to replace, the part is only about $200 and some people on the forum probably have a spare, the ones that put in the digital one from the C320, but there's so many pieces to the puzzle it's a tough call.
I have some information from an MB HVAC course at www.Buellwinkle.com/HVAC-W203.pdf that may help at least understand all the components.
Super Member
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 731
Likes: 0
From: Markham, Canada
C320 Coupe
i got the same problem as well. And dealer of course says they can't find the problem... (yes bunch of apprentice, so you can't expect them to be useful anyways)
what i found out tho, is that it happens when i release my clutch too soon and my car ALMOST get to the point it stalls but not yet, then the AC will turn off by itself, anyone can verify this?
what i found out tho, is that it happens when i release my clutch too soon and my car ALMOST get to the point it stalls but not yet, then the AC will turn off by itself, anyone can verify this?
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Junior Member
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 32
Likes: 1
From: Wichita, Ks
'08 ML320 CDI, '05 ML350(totaled by a soccer mom in a Tahoe), '98 C230 W202, '67 BMW 1800Ti
To give you an idea how hard it can be to diagnose A/C problems; I bought a brand new Infiniti I30, A/C would not blow cold sometimes but everytime I took it in it worked for the dealer. They sent a factory rep and nothing. Took them to court under the lemon law and won in trial. I figured out the problem, the clutch on the compressor is set not to engage at high load, so while you have it floored it's normal that the compressor cuts off but on this car it would do it at normal load so half my commute was a slight grade and that was enough to make it not work, at rest in their garage it always worked. But since they couldn't make it right, it went to a lemon law trial with an arbitrator.
If you really think it's the climate controls they are relatively cheap to replace, the part is only about $200 and some people on the forum probably have a spare, the ones that put in the digital one from the C320, but there's so many pieces to the puzzle it's a tough call.
I have some information from an MB HVAC course at www.Buellwinkle.com/HVAC-W203.pdf that may help at least understand all the components.
If you really think it's the climate controls they are relatively cheap to replace, the part is only about $200 and some people on the forum probably have a spare, the ones that put in the digital one from the C320, but there's so many pieces to the puzzle it's a tough call.
I have some information from an MB HVAC course at www.Buellwinkle.com/HVAC-W203.pdf that may help at least understand all the components.
chasis?
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