Noisy Air Conditioner ?? Stepper Motor Replacement / Clicking & Hissing
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 5,851
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From: Huntington Beach, Ca.
'17 Jaguar XF
I don't believe they are available on the internet. AFAIK they're only available from dealers in a bag with all the links and not sold separately.
Newbie
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 7
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Brabus CV8
Annoying ticking noise from my C V8 dash.
The ticking noise is pretty common in the W203 cars.. its from a broken stepper motor linkage between the stepper motor and the left footwell flap. There is a short white linkage in there that breaks since it was poorly designed to begin with. I can easily tell you how to do it if you need help. Takes me about 45 minutes to get them done and thats taking my time. Should take the average guy about 2 hours if you don't know what you are doing, maybe less..
Also, the loud hissing noise is from the A/c expansion valve. Basically it means your a/c system is low on refrigerant since you have a leak somewhere. My guess is that it's leaking somewhere around the Drier or around the A/c compressor itself.
Also, the loud hissing noise is from the A/c expansion valve. Basically it means your a/c system is low on refrigerant since you have a leak somewhere. My guess is that it's leaking somewhere around the Drier or around the A/c compressor itself.
Thanks!
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 5,851
Likes: 196
From: Huntington Beach, Ca.
'17 Jaguar XF
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From: NY & FL
MB’s of all kinds.
I just noticed I have this same issue today. My 2005 does this. Its sqeeky sound like it needs to be oiled or something? No matter what speed its on it does it. And also when on full blast the fan blows less and then speeds up again and it does this every like 5 seconds or so.
Member
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 200
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C230K
stuck on step 6
This thread is great. Thanks to call for contributing.
However, I'm stuck on step 6. I have a 2003 coupe. I've got the pop-up cupholder piece out. However, I can't release the two tabs to fold over the piece with the cigarette lighter. It seems to still be attached somewhere on the center. What am I missing? I am able to release the tabs and the center between the tabs won't move.
Thanks for your help.
However, I'm stuck on step 6. I have a 2003 coupe. I've got the pop-up cupholder piece out. However, I can't release the two tabs to fold over the piece with the cigarette lighter. It seems to still be attached somewhere on the center. What am I missing? I am able to release the tabs and the center between the tabs won't move.
Thanks for your help.
Junior Member
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 71
Likes: 7
2003 w203
Got the noise stopped, but now chasing a side-effect
THIS IS A GREAT THREAD!! It didn't take much interpreting at all.
All went well until the re-assemble. On the row of buttons above the radio, I have ABS, Lock/Unlock, up/down for rear window shade, the rear headrest button, and the anti-tow thing for the alarm.
The ABS and lock/unlock work reliably.
The rear headrest button worked only once during test.
The shade works up reliably, down is wied. It moves just a few inches, then stops. Subsequent button pushes provide a clicking noise near the shade, but no movement. Again it can always return to up position using the up button.
The anti-tow button worked once, but not again.
Strange. Not sure how to look at this. I re-seated the connector a couple of times, no change. Thinking.............
Any thoughts form the group?? Any type of software reset?? (I did do the recalibrate procedure in the write-up and the newly fixed motor operated properly.
Oh, and my problem was the 2/11 stepper that controls the RIGHT heat to the feet and the motor had a stripped gear, not a broken linkage.
All went well until the re-assemble. On the row of buttons above the radio, I have ABS, Lock/Unlock, up/down for rear window shade, the rear headrest button, and the anti-tow thing for the alarm.
The ABS and lock/unlock work reliably.
The rear headrest button worked only once during test.
The shade works up reliably, down is wied. It moves just a few inches, then stops. Subsequent button pushes provide a clicking noise near the shade, but no movement. Again it can always return to up position using the up button.
The anti-tow button worked once, but not again.
Strange. Not sure how to look at this. I re-seated the connector a couple of times, no change. Thinking.............
Any thoughts form the group?? Any type of software reset?? (I did do the recalibrate procedure in the write-up and the newly fixed motor operated properly.
Oh, and my problem was the 2/11 stepper that controls the RIGHT heat to the feet and the motor had a stripped gear, not a broken linkage.
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MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 5,851
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From: Huntington Beach, Ca.
'17 Jaguar XF
Sorry, have to ask....did you manually raise the headrests before retesting?
The problem is with the shade mechanism....common. I've read where dismantling and cleaning/re greasing fixes the problem.
Maybe you returned two leads to the wrong plug ins....headrest and tow?
Maybe you returned two leads to the wrong plug ins....headrest and tow?
Junior Member
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 71
Likes: 7
2003 w203
Sorry, have to ask....did you manually raise the headrests before retesting?
The problem is with the shade mechanism....common. I've read where dismantling and cleaning/re greasing fixes the problem.
Maybe you returned two leads to the wrong plug ins....headrest and tow?
The problem is with the shade mechanism....common. I've read where dismantling and cleaning/re greasing fixes the problem.
Maybe you returned two leads to the wrong plug ins....headrest and tow?
I'll give you the shade mechanism. I have NEVER used it.
Doubtful the leads are mismatched. They are all on one connector and it is keyed. Hard to screw that up.
I let it sit for four hours and just went back to test again.
Headrest works maybe 1 out of 10 times. Shade=same problem. The tow button is interesting. For a one second button depress, I get nothing. If I hold the button 5+ seconds, when I let go I get the LED in the switch ON for a few seconds, then off again. The correct behavior is a toggle each time the button is depressed.
Thanks for putting some thought into this with me. The hard part went easy, the easy part is being a pain.
One other thing, when it was all in pieces, I did turn on the ignition to test my stepper replacement. I did get supplemental restraint system service required message on the dash too... but this went away once I had it all back together again. I am guessing some of what I disconnected uses a comm bus to communicate. this error has not been seen since I reassmbled everything.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 5,851
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From: Huntington Beach, Ca.
'17 Jaguar XF
...Headrest works maybe 1 out of 10 times. Shade=same problem. The tow button is interesting. For a one second button depress, I get nothing. If I hold the button 5+ seconds, when I let go I get the LED in the switch ON for a few seconds, then off again. The correct behavior is a toggle each time the button is depressed. .... I am guessing some of what I disconnected uses a comm bus to communicate. this error has not been seen since I reassmbled everything.
Junior Member
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 71
Likes: 7
2003 w203
If I remember, the buttons are all controlled by a single 9 wire harness. When I started I pulled the harness then went to mark it. I had an oh ***** moment when I saw two female receptacles right next to each other that looked the same. Upon extended observation, I realized that they are keyed differently, though visually they looked highly similar. Go figure.
I guess I can go test continuity of each lead in the morning, but I wonder if that is a waste of time.
I will have to read up on what a SAM is. Is this CAN (controller area network) bus by chance. I understand the concept since I have used this professionally (electronics manufacturing). I haven't a clue how to troubleshoot it though.
Lucky for me I have a spare set of wheels!!
I guess I can go test continuity of each lead in the morning, but I wonder if that is a waste of time.
I will have to read up on what a SAM is. Is this CAN (controller area network) bus by chance. I understand the concept since I have used this professionally (electronics manufacturing). I haven't a clue how to troubleshoot it though.
Lucky for me I have a spare set of wheels!!
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 5,851
Likes: 196
From: Huntington Beach, Ca.
'17 Jaguar XF
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 5,851
Likes: 196
From: Huntington Beach, Ca.
'17 Jaguar XF
I'm sure the MB diagnostic system would find it but I haven't seen any troubleshooting methods on this site other than symptom based educated guesses. Spend some time searching this forum and you may find something similar.
Junior Member
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 71
Likes: 7
2003 w203
UPDATE:
Sunshade: Sticks. When helped, the motor can close it.
ABS=Works reliably
Lock/unlock=Works reliably
Headrest=Works sometimes, 50/50 chance it will operate as expected. I am guessing this is NOT dash teardown related. (like the sunshade)
Tow switch=Not sure, will have to read up on this.
$145 for the stepper motor replacement. I got 10% after telling the parts guy I was going to go home and look for a coupon I thought I had (knowing I probably did not). I do this on service as well and typically get 15% off. Try it sometime, it works.
Thanks for all your suggestions mleskovar. Its nice to have an extra set of brains looking at things. I am happy to return the favor to the forum.
James
Sunshade: Sticks. When helped, the motor can close it.
ABS=Works reliably
Lock/unlock=Works reliably
Headrest=Works sometimes, 50/50 chance it will operate as expected. I am guessing this is NOT dash teardown related. (like the sunshade)
Tow switch=Not sure, will have to read up on this.
$145 for the stepper motor replacement. I got 10% after telling the parts guy I was going to go home and look for a coupon I thought I had (knowing I probably did not). I do this on service as well and typically get 15% off. Try it sometime, it works.
Thanks for all your suggestions mleskovar. Its nice to have an extra set of brains looking at things. I am happy to return the favor to the forum.
James
Senior Member
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 421
Likes: 14
From: Bay Area
2004 E500 CLK320
Excellent thread and step-by-step DIY. My CLK320 has just started making this annoying popping loud noise randomly upon starting the car. The noise seems to come from different locations, my guess is that there could be more than one stepper motor has gone bad. BTW, you can get these little stepper/vent flap motors online from www.autohausaz.com for $64 ea with free ground shipping.
Newbie
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 3
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C180 kompressor
SORTED!!!
Man I was putting it off for Months and just decided to get stuck in today. This Thread helped an awful lot, was my motor that was broke the linkage was fine. I bought 2 motors and only needed 1 so have one if anyone wants it, was €120 but I'd be happy if I got half that for it. I'm in Ireland so if anyone comes across this thread and wants me to do their repair PM me.
Man I was putting it off for Months and just decided to get stuck in today. This Thread helped an awful lot, was my motor that was broke the linkage was fine. I bought 2 motors and only needed 1 so have one if anyone wants it, was €120 but I'd be happy if I got half that for it. I'm in Ireland so if anyone comes across this thread and wants me to do their repair PM me.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 5,851
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From: Huntington Beach, Ca.
'17 Jaguar XF
That symptom can be caused by one of the cable/plug connections to the switch block above the radio.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 5,851
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From: Huntington Beach, Ca.
'17 Jaguar XF
Junior Member
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 16
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C230 Coupe
Yes, I did remove all the cables from the panel above radio, but then to test the motors before I assembled the console, I plugged the AC control cables -- those are below the radio--, and not the one above the radio: there is only one in my car, although there are sockets for three.
And yes, I connected the cable back to the panel in the end, but the message does not go away.
Is there a way to reset the system?
And yes, I connected the cable back to the panel in the end, but the message does not go away.
Is there a way to reset the system?
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 5,851
Likes: 196
From: Huntington Beach, Ca.
'17 Jaguar XF
Yes, I did remove all the cables from the panel above radio, but then to test the motors before I assembled the console, I plugged the AC control cables -- those are below the radio--, and not the one above the radio: there is only one in my car, although there are sockets for three.
And yes, I connected the cable back to the panel in the end, but the message does not go away.
Is there a way to reset the system?
And yes, I connected the cable back to the panel in the end, but the message does not go away.
Is there a way to reset the system?
