A/C intermittently shuts off
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Joined: Sep 2010
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From: Raleigh, NC
2005 C230K, 2019 Honda CR-V, '74 Lotus Europa
A/C intermittently shuts off
I'm having a problem in my '05 C230 where the A/C will shut off at random. I have the dial type A/C controls rather than the digital one. I can get it going again by pressing the AUTO button - sometimes I have to press it for quite a while, other times, I only need to press the AUTO button for a few seconds. The A/C might cut off several times in a day or not at all. It can cut off after driving for 5 minutes from cold. When it works, it works well.
Anybody have any ideas? Does it sound like the control or could it be something else?
Anybody have any ideas? Does it sound like the control or could it be something else?
Thread Starter
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Sep 2010
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From: Raleigh, NC
2005 C230K, 2019 Honda CR-V, '74 Lotus Europa
That was my assumption, but I was wondering if somebody had a similar experience. I haven't checked the pressures - partly because since it did cool pretty well, I figured they were likely ok - but I'm taking it to the shop for something else and I'll have them check that then.
Thanks!
Thanks!
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Joined: Sep 2012
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From: Laguna Beach, CA
2024 E 350
When you say the AC works intermittently, do you mean it stops cooling or the fan stops working? Have you tried putting a piece of paper at the slots in the control panel? It should get sucked in if the climate control fan is running.
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From: Raleigh, NC
2005 C230K, 2019 Honda CR-V, '74 Lotus Europa
Sitting in the car, all I know is cold air stops. The fan stops, but what else stops, I don't know. I suspect that it's only the fan because it starts again after I press the AUTO button (though sometimes it takes a while).
I wondered if there were a defective switch or sensor (and hoped there wasn't), but since it can stop after driving the car for two minutes or 30 minutes or not at all, I figured that it wasn't that the A/C was freezing (isn't there a sensor that detects that the A/C is freezing?).
I wondered if there were a defective switch or sensor (and hoped there wasn't), but since it can stop after driving the car for two minutes or 30 minutes or not at all, I figured that it wasn't that the A/C was freezing (isn't there a sensor that detects that the A/C is freezing?).
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Joined: Sep 2012
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From: Laguna Beach, CA
2024 E 350
The compressor is a variable vane type and will automatically control the pressure by varying the vanes. From what you mentioned it seem to point more to the control module or panel. How many miles do you have on this car? I had the panel go bad the first 6 months I got the car and was replaced under warranty (back in 2006). Apparently the fan that sucks in the ambient air was faulty.
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From: Raleigh, NC
2005 C230K, 2019 Honda CR-V, '74 Lotus Europa
I have about 106,000 miles on it. I've put two A/C compressors in it the last time was probably about 20 - 25,000 miles ago, maybe a bit more. That one was taken out by the sprag bearing.
My wife has a 2006 C230 and I thought about swapping mine for hers to see if that solved it for me but Mrs. Ncmudbug shouldn't get hot and since it was so intermittent, I didn't know how long it would take to for the problem to come back.
My wife has a 2006 C230 and I thought about swapping mine for hers to see if that solved it for me but Mrs. Ncmudbug shouldn't get hot and since it was so intermittent, I didn't know how long it would take to for the problem to come back.
Last edited by ncmudbug; Aug 22, 2016 at 10:30 PM.
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Thread Starter
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From: Raleigh, NC
2005 C230K, 2019 Honda CR-V, '74 Lotus Europa
Yeah, that's what I was hoping but wanted to check with people (like you) who knew more about it than I do.
I've seen several different part numbers for A/C controls on ebay. Some come with the trim piece. Some say they are for '06 but not '05. They all look the same to me (all analog like mine and the buttons and the graphic on the buttons is the same). Would you chalk that up to ignorance or a mistake by the vendor in the case of the model year or the inclusion of the trim piece in the case of the part number?
I've seen several different part numbers for A/C controls on ebay. Some come with the trim piece. Some say they are for '06 but not '05. They all look the same to me (all analog like mine and the buttons and the graphic on the buttons is the same). Would you chalk that up to ignorance or a mistake by the vendor in the case of the model year or the inclusion of the trim piece in the case of the part number?
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Thread Starter
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 1,434
Likes: 4
From: Raleigh, NC
2005 C230K, 2019 Honda CR-V, '74 Lotus Europa
Junior Member
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 73
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From: Yorba Linda, Ca
2006 C230 Sport Sedan
I have had this same problem for the 9 years I have owned my 2006. Very random, but mostly when it is really hot, like 90+. It has been to the dealer a couple of times but this issue is not reproducible so they have not been able to find anything wrong. It may do it 5 times today and then not again for a week or more. Pressing the Auto button gets it going again. I will certainly be watching this thread for any possible solution.
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From: Austin, TX
2006 E55, 2012 GLK350 & 1992 190e sportline
