Bananaskin

Hi guys,

I have been reading this thread and it has been most helpful, especially the step by steps and the posted photos as well. I have a 2003 W203 (C220CDI Coupe) with the same issue as all the posters here, except, that my windscreen de-mister is almost useless, every other function works bar it. Does anyone know of the 6 actuators on the heater box, which controls the de-mister. My reckoning is M2/16, probably wrong of course, but worth a stab.

Finally, does anyone know of a supplier in UK/Ireland or Europe that supplies the actuators/linkages, local stealer is looking £92 +Vat per actuator.

Thanks

mleskovar

M2/16 it is..... http://www.buellwinkle.com/HVAC-W203.pdf I think I paid $12 US for two actuators, they're only pieces of plastic. The 92 pound price must be for the stepper motor.

eddieo45

I notice a couple of Massachusetts members in this thread; any feel proficient enough to do my car? I'm just south of Boston and i don't feel nearly patient or talented enough to attempt. I'm pi$$ed because I bought my coupe with under 50K miles, and I got a dealer to fix a couple of things before the warranty was up, but I didn't realize that this linkage was bad then (3+ years ago!). I don't so much get clicking, but a sound that seems like the HVAC is "trying" to direct the air to the floor, but can't. Like a previous poster, I put the fan on full, then tinker with the direction till I can usually get it to direct the heat to the floor. I'd love to get it fixed, but not at stealership prices!

Bananaskin

Well,

I finally plucked up the courage to tackle the clicking stepper motor, plus I had a new head unit I wanted to install, so best to kill two birds with one stone. Turns out the M2/15 (left and right foot well flaps motor) was duff. Not having a new motor to replace it with, I swapped out M2/21 (Fresh air flap) with the duff motor, the M2/21 motor being more accessible and not requiring half the dash to be removed to get access.

Followed all the previous posts photos and write ups, invaluable info. Thanks very much.

BTW, clicking has stopped

gallaghp2

I too finally got around to doing something about my a/c not working, although I did not get the stepper motor issue fixed with the left footwell. I searched the forum for these fault codes and nothing came up. Anyone have ideas:

B13A8
B15A8
B14A8
B1200

I think 3 of them are related to the left footwell and the other is the refrigerant is low, as my EC Rest button was on permanently. My vehicle is a C230 Coupe - 2002 W203. Does anyone know how to reset the a/c, so it turns on again? I would imagine I would need to hook up an OBD-II to reset the EC rest button.

Thanks in advance,

Patrick.

slammer111

Someone should sticky this. VERY useful stuff!

eShawPM

Well, I took the plunge this weekend replacing the busted stepper motor arm, the instructions and pictures are spot on. The only problem that I had was with removing the inner carrier for the radio. There are two clips in the back that were a Biotch to take off as well as put back. Aside from that, smooth sailing! Thanks again!!!

mtnman82

Kudos to racin fool & liveniceguy for the write up & pics, once again. Just did this and this thread was invaluable!!!!! I had a loud 'flap closing' sound ~6-8 times every time I started up the car, and my climate control unit wouldn't sync. It was the broken arm on the stepper motor right behind the frame rail. A few notes I might throw out there while it's still fresh in my mind:

- cupholder: I had to break mine to get it out. Someone had spilled Starbucks down in there and it dried up and pretty much glued it in. Broke off the little tab trying to pull up enough to twist it out, started pulling on the cup holder itself and ...

- inner ashtray removal: the clips move back towards you (I guess this is evident in the pic).

- the plastic tabs under the forward most 2 10mm bolts holding the center console in: be careful! When you get to the point of scooting the center console back those tabs need to come up above the metal guides the bolts go thru - the console will hang up on them.

- the vent assy above the switches: kind of roll it downwards until you clear the top clips then pull it out. Putting it back in, get the bottom all the way in first and then roll it upwards to catch the top clips.

- yeah, those clips on the top of the inner radio carrier assy are a *****. Period. (as are the 2 screws on the motor behind the frame rail)

MJ50

i gotta fix this on mine...

krisv420

I started my car yesterday... i heard this clicking noise behind the dash ive never heard before in my life..
Sounded like a loud time bomb click, Every 3 second right when i turned the heater on auto..
I turned the car off then back on clicking stopped n the ac works fine.
If it continues to do this i would hate to replace those parts.

noreaga0221

OK the m2/15 stepped had a broken linkage, the m2/21 skipped gears I think, I just reset the gears and now it works but m2/16 sounds like it has a busted arm too but I have no idea how to get there with using the sawzall. Anybody replace that one?

Bananaskin

noreaga0221, from my little experience of replacing m2/21 and m2/15 I would guess that the glovebox assembly for RHD or somewhere up around the back of the steering column for LHD.

Can anyone else shed some light on this, maybe someone who has replaced m2/16?

noreaga0221

Yes, I dropped the steering column but it seems to behind the dash frame. Looks like I gotta remove that.

noreaga0221

I am worried, I ended up with 3 steppers having problems. 1 had broken linkage and the other two were jammed. I only had to unbolt them and reseat them. Not exactly the fix I wanted to see but I couldn't find anything broken.

I resynced and that function stopped on its own meaning all was well.

Previously the dash vents and windshield defroster did not work. The airflow was stuck on feet 100% on the time. Not safe for winter travel. Now they all work as expected. The center console doesn't like up perfectly with dash anymore but its a small price to pay vs. having the dealer do it.

No special tools were needed except I used an air ratchet which sped things up a lot.

So continuing from the initial instructions, you start removing the bolts holding the steering wheel to the frame. Take out the instrument cluster with a belt coat hanger, remove shell inside there. Continue removing bolts holding frame to the body.

Once steering wheel is dropped, you can remove the glove box. Remove side vents. Unbolt the pass. side airbag but dont unplug it. The top dash cover is held on by screws all the way around the bottom and then just two on top. Don't worry about the center vent. The last two on top and under plastic pieces near the edges of the vent.

Lift that out, then by now the frame should be loose. The last bolt holds it to the firewall.

Get out, pop the hood and raise the hood to the higher position. Use that air ratchet to remove the wipers. Then 4 torx screws holding the plastic liner in. Take that out and then continue unbolting the wiper system. You might want to take a picture of it at this point so you install it in the same position.

With that out, there is a 10mm screw with a very larger washer below it. Remove that and the frame should be loose now. You now have access to the steppers. Also I was looking in the wrong spot. The larger center box that the easily accessible steppers are on in the AC. The other two steppers are attached here also but up and to the left.

amanonfire

How hard is it to get at M2/6? Looks like the instructions are for M2/15 behind the radio console, while M2/6 would be buried much further behind the dash.

cban84

....................

mleskovar

Not beyond the climate control problems it already causes that I know of. Many people just put up with the noise because of the expense of fixing it. Sometimes the noise goes away if the arm breaks completely across and falls off.

krisv420

Ive been dealing with one for months... i hate bringing new ppl in the car =/

cban84

..................

holycaoAMG

That just recently happend to me.

I had the broken steppers and links (it was ticking ALL the time), for some reason i didnt heard it anymore.

hysani

Does anyone know how much the stepper motor linkage problem is to repair?

mleskovar

I've read where people have paid from $600 to $900 to get it repaired. One mechanic said he's had enough experience doing it to do it in an hour, and I don't doubt it. The parts are <$20 so guess how much the dealers are screwing you for.

wwwiiilll

I repair my stepper arm with tie-wrap and loctite glue last year,I think is better than the original.I follow the post for repair stepper arm in this forum and I take me 4 hrs...many thanks to the guy's who make the post for repair stepper arm.

Rian.Oetomo

noreaga0221 wrote:
"Get out, pop the hood and raise the hood to the higher position. Use that air ratchet to remove the wipers. Then 4 torx screws holding the plastic liner in. Take that out and then continue unbolting the wiper system. You might want to take a picture of it at this point so you install it in the same position."


Hi there, I'm 1/2 way removing the dash but couldn't remove the plastic cover, seem is got something lock the plastic cover to the bottom of winscreen. Anyone can help me? Tx

danev6972

Lucky you!...already had multiple problems with mine. '03 c240 less than 70,000 miles.