C-Class (W204) 2008 - 2014: C180K, C200K, C230, C280, C300, C350, C200CDI, C220CDI, C320CDI

A/C Compressor

Old Sep 12, 2023 | 11:09 PM
  #1  
z.roy's Avatar
Thread Starter
Junior Member
 
Joined: Sep 2023
Posts: 16
Likes: 0
Mercedes C300
A/C Compressor

So I’m insanely confused. I’m working on my little project C300. My belt snapped so I bought another and that one broke too. I noticed it’s rubbing on my A/C Compressor. I can move it with my hand but there’s resistance like my clutch is engaged. I can also turn on my A/C I’m still getting cold air even without the belt being on the compressor. My freon is also full and where it’s supposed to be. Anyone have any ideas? I’m so confused lol
Reply
Old Sep 13, 2023 | 12:53 AM
  #2  
Odd Piggy's Avatar
MBWorld Fanatic!
10 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 2,346
Likes: 692
2021 GLB250 FWD, 2023 GLA250 FWD, 2013 C250, 2015 GLK350, 2005 ML350SE, 2003 E320
What year? Sport or luxury? 4Matic?

2 serpentine belts broken but may have been rubbing on the compressor. If the belt is hitting on anything except the pulley, it’s routed wrong.

“… can move it by hand …” Assume that’s the pulley. “… like my clutch is engaged.” The clutch may be stuck, but if the belt is hitting somewhere else, that’s pro not the problem.

”… cold air even without the belt …” That’s curious, but let’s fix the belt breaking problem.
Reply
Old Sep 13, 2023 | 12:57 AM
  #3  
z.roy's Avatar
Thread Starter
Junior Member
 
Joined: Sep 2023
Posts: 16
Likes: 0
Mercedes C300
Originally Posted by Odd Piggy
What year? Sport or luxury? 4Matic?

2 serpentine belts broken but may have been rubbing on the compressor. If the belt is hitting on anything except the pulley, it’s routed wrong.

“… can move it by hand …” Assume that’s the pulley. “… like my clutch is engaged.” The clutch may be stuck, but if the belt is hitting somewhere else, that’s pro not the problem.

”… cold air even without the belt …” That’s curious, but let’s fix the belt breaking problem.
Its a 2008 sport
i was thinking it was rubbing in a bad spot but it did it both times with my newest belt i even re routed it again and still was smoking. Im thinking the clutch is stuck but i dont think i can undo it the cold air is what has me confused if i wasn’t getting any i would just replace the compressor but the belts are rubbing on the compressor because its not moving with the belts but it will move by hand maybe im not lining it up good enough
Reply
Old Sep 13, 2023 | 12:14 PM
  #4  
TimC300's Avatar
MBWorld Fanatic!
Community Builder
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Aug 2023
Posts: 3,687
Likes: 1,107
From: MA Coast
W204 2010 C300 4matic Sport M272
You mention youre working on and it being a project car, was it running and driving fine with the ac working when the belt snapped? I would try and free up the pulley, not sure how they work but maybe spray some penetrating oil in there. From my understanding it should spin freely with the ac not turned on. And i agree with the above, i wouldnt think about it blowing cold air until you stop breaking belts.
Reply
Old Sep 13, 2023 | 12:19 PM
  #5  
z.roy's Avatar
Thread Starter
Junior Member
 
Joined: Sep 2023
Posts: 16
Likes: 0
Mercedes C300
Yea its a project but it was running fine i had it as a daily for a bit until my GT63 came in. The i just need to figure out why its not spinning freely. Like it spins but it feels engaged it doesn’t spin if i just slightly push it. What’s weird though is without it hooked up my A/C is working like even with no belts on the car at all its pumping cold air out. So honestly i might not even hook it up again but it messes up my belt pattern
Reply
Old Sep 13, 2023 | 12:38 PM
  #6  
TimC300's Avatar
MBWorld Fanatic!
Community Builder
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Aug 2023
Posts: 3,687
Likes: 1,107
From: MA Coast
W204 2010 C300 4matic Sport M272
They seem to sell a belt to bypass the ac.


Reply
Old Sep 13, 2023 | 12:40 PM
  #7  
z.roy's Avatar
Thread Starter
Junior Member
 
Joined: Sep 2023
Posts: 16
Likes: 0
Mercedes C300
Originally Posted by TimC300
They seem to sell a belt to bypass the ac.

wanna know whats hilarious i bought that the first time it was too short pissed me off for about 3 hours then it broke. I’ll order another though and we’ll see 👏🏽
Reply
Old Sep 13, 2023 | 02:01 PM
  #8  
z.roy's Avatar
Thread Starter
Junior Member
 
Joined: Sep 2023
Posts: 16
Likes: 0
Mercedes C300
Belt fitment

So i got my belt on the it will spin the compressor if I pull the belt myself but as soon as i turn the car on it doesn’t want to spin

Last edited by z.roy; Sep 13, 2023 at 02:12 PM.
Reply
MB World Stories

The Best of Mercedes & AMG

story-0

6 Mercedes Models That Did NOT Age Well (But Are Somehow Still Cool)

 Verdad Gallardo
story-1

Manual Mercedes? 6 Times Sindelfingen Let Drivers Have All The Fun

 Verdad Gallardo
story-2

Mercedes SLR McLaren 722 S Is Extremely Rare Example Modified by McLaren

 Verdad Gallardo
story-3

8 Classic Boxy Mercedes Designs That Have Aged Like Fine Wine

 Verdad Gallardo
story-4

Flawlessly Restored Mercedes 190E Evo II Heads to Auction

 Verdad Gallardo
story-5

Electric Mercedes C-Class Unveiled: 11 Things You Need to Know

 Verdad Gallardo
story-6

Mercedes EQS Gets A Major Update: Everything You Need to Know

 Verdad Gallardo
story-7

5 Underrated Mercedes-Benz Models That Don't Get the Love They Deserve

 Verdad Gallardo
story-8

Mercedes 300D Has Pushed Well Past 1 Million Miles and It Ain't Stopping

 Verdad Gallardo
story-9

10 Most Reliable Mercedes-Benz Models You Can Buy Used

 Verdad Gallardo
Old Sep 13, 2023 | 02:53 PM
  #9  
alynch's Avatar
Senior Member
5 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Jun 2016
Posts: 462
Likes: 152
From: Panama City, FL
2020 C300, 2013 C250, 2000 Boxster S
Originally Posted by z.roy
So i got my belt on the it will spin the compressor if I pull the belt myself but as soon as i turn the car on it doesn’t want to spin
Remove the belt and turn on the engine. Turn off the AC and make sure the clutch on the compressor spins freely. Turn on the AC and see if the compressor clutch engages. Make sure all of the other driven pulleys spin freely. From your descriptions, it sounds like one of the pulleys is frozen, which is causing the belt to break.
Reply
Old Sep 13, 2023 | 02:58 PM
  #10  
z.roy's Avatar
Thread Starter
Junior Member
 
Joined: Sep 2023
Posts: 16
Likes: 0
Mercedes C300
Originally Posted by alynch
Remove the belt and turn on the engine. Turn off the AC and make sure the clutch on the compressor spins freely. Turn on the AC and see if the compressor clutch engages. Make sure all of the other driven pulleys spin freely. From your descriptions, it sounds like one of the pulleys is frozen, which is causing the belt to break.
Might get a headache as big as mine is. A/C is off the clutch doesn’t spin freely its engaged even when the A/C is off. All of my pulleys including my A/C compressor spins by and and by belt, but as soon as I put it on my tensioner the A/C Compressor no longer spins. So the A/C Compressor gets stuck with tension but without tension from the belt it moves freely. I turn the engine on and that pulley won’t move. Every other one does though. I’m realizing we’re all just as confused now lol
Reply
Old Sep 13, 2023 | 03:32 PM
  #11  
z.roy's Avatar
Thread Starter
Junior Member
 
Joined: Sep 2023
Posts: 16
Likes: 0
Mercedes C300
Originally Posted by alynch
Remove the belt and turn on the engine. Turn off the AC and make sure the clutch on the compressor spins freely. Turn on the AC and see if the compressor clutch engages. Make sure all of the other driven pulleys spin freely. From your descriptions, it sounds like one of the pulleys is frozen, which is causing the belt to break.
so the pulley turns for a bit then gets stuck
Reply
Old Sep 13, 2023 | 05:49 PM
  #12  
TimC300's Avatar
MBWorld Fanatic!
Community Builder
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Aug 2023
Posts: 3,687
Likes: 1,107
From: MA Coast
W204 2010 C300 4matic Sport M272
What size belt do you have on now? And when its installed is it showing within the marked lines on the tensioner? I have a 2404 belt. I remember someone recently had something like a 2390 and it was giving him issues.

Also did you run the car with that 2330 belt on it?

Last edited by TimC300; Sep 13, 2023 at 05:51 PM.
Reply
Old Sep 13, 2023 | 05:58 PM
  #13  
z.roy's Avatar
Thread Starter
Junior Member
 
Joined: Sep 2023
Posts: 16
Likes: 0
Mercedes C300
Originally Posted by TimC300
What size belt do you have on now? And when its installed is it showing within the marked lines on the tensioner? I have a 2404 belt. I remember someone recently had something like a 2390 and it was giving him issues.

Also did you run the car with that 2330 belt on it?
so i have a master pro K060945
Reply
Old Sep 13, 2023 | 06:00 PM
  #14  
z.roy's Avatar
Thread Starter
Junior Member
 
Joined: Sep 2023
Posts: 16
Likes: 0
Mercedes C300
Originally Posted by TimC300
What size belt do you have on now? And when its installed is it showing within the marked lines on the tensioner? I have a 2404 belt. I remember someone recently had something like a 2390 and it was giving him issues.

Also did you run the car with that 2330 belt on it?
so i have a master pro K060945 on i right now and it fits i also have a dayco belt i bought that also fits they both fit the same and the dayco is the OEM one. My issue im having is it’ll spin for 1-2 seconds then it gets stuck. I just found that out by recording it. Ill check my tensioner lines. Where are they at?
Reply
Old Sep 13, 2023 | 06:14 PM
  #15  
TimC300's Avatar
MBWorld Fanatic!
Community Builder
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Aug 2023
Posts: 3,687
Likes: 1,107
From: MA Coast
W204 2010 C300 4matic Sport M272
I looked up that belt and looks like its a 2401mm belt. Tensioner markings:


Reply
Old Sep 13, 2023 | 06:16 PM
  #16  
z.roy's Avatar
Thread Starter
Junior Member
 
Joined: Sep 2023
Posts: 16
Likes: 0
Mercedes C300
K so the belt is the right size width wise at least. Ill check it the markings when it stops raining. Such a headache
Reply
Old Sep 14, 2023 | 01:16 AM
  #17  
Odd Piggy's Avatar
MBWorld Fanatic!
10 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 2,346
Likes: 692
2021 GLB250 FWD, 2023 GLA250 FWD, 2013 C250, 2015 GLK350, 2005 ML350SE, 2003 E320
From what I gather reading today’s series of posts, even thought it’s a project car, you haven’t done anything to change the relationship of the pulleys on the engine.

But the compressor pulley will turn by hand until some force is put on it and then it seizes, breaking the drive belt.

That sounds like the compressor (or clutch) bushings are shot and when the belt tension is applied, something internal to the compressor (or clutch) gets out of line and jams. The usual repair is to just replace the compressor. If the problem can be isolated to the clutch, I believe that the clutch can be replaced by itself, since you DIY. That would be less expensive than replacing the compressor and would not require bleeding and recharging the AC system.

Your idea of bypassing the compressor with the short belt would be a quick fix to make the car drivable again.
Reply
Old Sep 14, 2023 | 01:25 AM
  #18  
z.roy's Avatar
Thread Starter
Junior Member
 
Joined: Sep 2023
Posts: 16
Likes: 0
Mercedes C300
Originally Posted by Odd Piggy
From what I gather reading today’s series of posts, even thought it’s a project car, you haven’t done anything to change the relationship of the pulleys on the engine.

But the compressor pulley will turn by hand until some force is put on it and then it seizes, breaking the drive belt.

That sounds like the compressor (or clutch) bushings are shot and when the belt tension is applied, something internal to the compressor (or clutch) gets out of line and jams. The usual repair is to just replace the compressor. If the problem can be isolated to the clutch, I believe that the clutch can be replaced by itself, since you DIY. That would be less expensive than replacing the compressor and would not require bleeding and recharging the AC system.

Your idea of bypassing the compressor with the short belt would be a quick fix to make the car drivable again.
ill try to replace the bearings then. When i spin it i can feel resistance in one specific spot of the rotation. Downside is though my compressor doesn’t look like it has a clutch. There’s no difference its just a flat plate with a huge flat faced bolt. I havent found a A/C Compressor that looks like it. I’ll send a picture of it tomorrow.
Reply
Old Sep 14, 2023 | 02:37 AM
  #19  
Odd Piggy's Avatar
MBWorld Fanatic!
10 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 2,346
Likes: 692
2021 GLB250 FWD, 2023 GLA250 FWD, 2013 C250, 2015 GLK350, 2005 ML350SE, 2003 E320
Okay. I thought the variable displacement compressor went out with the W203. My 2013 W204 definitely had a clutch. We might have to check you VIN.
Reply
Old Sep 14, 2023 | 09:41 AM
  #20  
TimC300's Avatar
MBWorld Fanatic!
Community Builder
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Aug 2023
Posts: 3,687
Likes: 1,107
From: MA Coast
W204 2010 C300 4matic Sport M272
Thats why I was wondering if you had installed that shorter belt and ran the car with it. Would have been alot of tension on everything.
Reply
Old Sep 14, 2023 | 11:03 AM
  #21  
z.roy's Avatar
Thread Starter
Junior Member
 
Joined: Sep 2023
Posts: 16
Likes: 0
Mercedes C300
Originally Posted by TimC300
Thats why I was wondering if you had installed that shorter belt and ran the car with it. Would have been alot of tension on everything.
yea my lines aren’t where they’re supposed to be so i think thats my problemmmm
Reply
Old Sep 14, 2023 | 11:37 AM
  #22  
TimC300's Avatar
MBWorld Fanatic!
Community Builder
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Aug 2023
Posts: 3,687
Likes: 1,107
From: MA Coast
W204 2010 C300 4matic Sport M272
Where is it lining up? Past the thicker line on the left = belt is short, towards thinner line on the right = belt is long/stretched.

I looked up 2008 Sport and came up with the same belt I got for mine. 2404mm. It is odd since the belt you say you have the master pro K060945 says it is 2401mm, which according to my operators manual is the size it recommends.



I looked up for the 4matic Sport, Sport gas and Sport Flex just to be sure.

Is there a printed label on your belt to make sure its what you ordered?
Reply
Old Sep 14, 2023 | 11:40 AM
  #23  
z.roy's Avatar
Thread Starter
Junior Member
 
Joined: Sep 2023
Posts: 16
Likes: 0
Mercedes C300
Its on the left belts too short. Both belts I’ve bought have been too short and i dont see any longer ones Anywhere.
even my dayco is too short and that ones longer than my master pro which is why im so confused
plus its not even past the thicker line its in the middle of the thicker line : | such a headache.

update i found one on mercedes website but if it doesn’t fit this is the 4th belt ive bought in like 3 days. I need this car running by tomorrow for a show so im fighting for my life rn lol

Last edited by z.roy; Sep 14, 2023 at 11:52 AM.
Reply
Old Sep 14, 2023 | 12:16 PM
  #24  
TimC300's Avatar
MBWorld Fanatic!
Community Builder
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Aug 2023
Posts: 3,687
Likes: 1,107
From: MA Coast
W204 2010 C300 4matic Sport M272
Just wondering is the belt installed the right way? Ignore the arrow.

Reply
Old Sep 14, 2023 | 12:18 PM
  #25  
z.roy's Avatar
Thread Starter
Junior Member
 
Joined: Sep 2023
Posts: 16
Likes: 0
Mercedes C300
Originally Posted by TimC300
Just wondering is the belt installed the right way? Ignore the arrow.

Yes its on the right away if its on wrong it wont fit over the tension pulley or its too loose and goes way past the right line and still has slack. So its on properly its just the belts but ive bought every variant of the belt from the stores near me.
Reply

Thread Tools
Search this Thread
Rate This Thread
Rate This Thread:
You have already rated this thread Rating: Thread Rating: 0 votes,  average.


All times are GMT -4. The time now is 07:08 AM.

story-0
6 Mercedes Models That Did NOT Age Well (But Are Somehow Still Cool)

Slideshow: Not every Mercedes design becomes timeless, some feel stuck in the era they came from.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-12 18:09:07


VIEW MORE
story-1
Manual Mercedes? 6 Times Sindelfingen Let Drivers Have All The Fun

Slideshow: Yes, Mercedes built manual cars, and some of them are far more interesting than you'd expect.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-02 12:36:58


VIEW MORE
story-2
Mercedes SLR McLaren 722 S Is Extremely Rare Example Modified by McLaren

Slideshow: A one-of-one U.S.-spec Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren Roadster became even rarer after a factory-backed transformation at McLaren's headquarters.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-04-29 11:19:28


VIEW MORE
story-3
8 Classic Boxy Mercedes Designs That Have Aged Like Fine Wine

Slideshow: Before curves took over, Mercedes mastered the art of the straight line, and some of those shapes still look right today.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-04-25 12:05:49


VIEW MORE
story-4
Flawlessly Restored Mercedes 190E Evo II Heads to Auction

Slideshow: The 190E Evolution II shows how a homologation necessity became a six-figure collector icon.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-04-22 17:53:47


VIEW MORE
story-5
Electric Mercedes C-Class Unveiled: 11 Things You Need to Know

Slideshow: Mercedes is turning one of its core nameplates electric, and the details show just how serious this shift is.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-04-21 13:58:06


VIEW MORE
story-6
Mercedes EQS Gets A Major Update: Everything You Need to Know

Slideshow: Faster charging, longer range, and a controversial steer-by-wire system define the latest evolution of Mercedes-Benz EQS.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-04-15 10:35:34


VIEW MORE
story-7
5 Underrated Mercedes-Benz Models That Don't Get the Love They Deserve

Slideshow: These overlooked Mercedes-Benz models never got the spotlight, but they quietly delivered more than most remember.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-04-13 19:35:45


VIEW MORE
story-8
Mercedes 300D Has Pushed Well Past 1 Million Miles and It Ain't Stopping

Slideshow: A well-used 1991 Mercedes-Benz 300D with more than one million miles is now looking for a new owner, and it still appears ready for more.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-04-10 10:05:15


VIEW MORE
story-9
10 Most Reliable Mercedes-Benz Models You Can Buy Used

Slideshow: From bulletproof sedans to surprisingly tough SUVs, these Mercedes models proved that the three-pointed star can go the distance.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-04-08 09:55:49


VIEW MORE