ac not cold on driver's side only- help!
03-20-2008, 11:30 AM
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2003 C230K Sedan
ac not cold on driver's side only- help!
So a couple of weeks ago the ac stopped blowing cold air on the driver's side. Both sides are set to about 71, but the driver's side never gets cold. I've done a bit of searching/reading on the forum and I've done the reset by pressing the defrost and recirculate buttons a few times, with no changes. I don't have any noises which seems to go with the common stepper motor issue. Any help would be appreciated. If I turn up the driver's climate setting to hot, it switches to heat. Thanks.
03-20-2008, 09:13 PM
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2003 C230 Kompressor Coupe
This is a common symptom of low refrigerant. That means you probably have a leak somewhere. Pray it's not a bad evaporator, but that is a likely culprit.
I had the same thing happen to me last year. I had it recharged with a dye additive and checked for leaks, but they couldn't find anything. It worked for several months, but then wouldn't blow cold air at all after awhile. I had it checked again by an indy who actually knew what he was doing and he found it leaking from the evaporator. You have to put the car on a lift to check the evaporator. The drain is located basically directly below the center console behind some insulation. If it is the evaporator, they have to take the whole dash apart to replace it, which gets pricy.
Hope it's just a hose or clamp...good luck.
I had the same thing happen to me last year. I had it recharged with a dye additive and checked for leaks, but they couldn't find anything. It worked for several months, but then wouldn't blow cold air at all after awhile. I had it checked again by an indy who actually knew what he was doing and he found it leaking from the evaporator. You have to put the car on a lift to check the evaporator. The drain is located basically directly below the center console behind some insulation. If it is the evaporator, they have to take the whole dash apart to replace it, which gets pricy.
Hope it's just a hose or clamp...good luck.
03-21-2008, 09:48 AM
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2003 C230 Kompressor Coupe
I'm really not sure why it is, but cold on the right and warm on the left is a sign of low refrigerant. I'd start by going to an auto AC shop for a re-charge with the dye additive and hope it reveals itself easily. If not and it is the evaporator, your AC will probably still work for a few months until the pressure gets too low again.
04-05-2008, 05:04 PM
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2003 C230K Sedan
Freon type?
Looking in the manual, it says the R-134a Freon "and special PAG lubricant oil." Anyone know what this "special PAG" means? Can I just get the Freon at a chain parts place, or is this some kind of dealer-only crap?
