Very odd "whumping" sound from under the dash.
The sound reminds me of the sound one of my older cars used to make when it shut down a vent damper.
I've tried changing all the ventilation settings and it has no effect on it.
Any clues? Car goes in on Wednesday in any event.
The sound reminds me of the sound one of my older cars used to make when it shut down a vent damper.
I've tried changing all the ventilation settings and it has no effect on it.
Any clues? Car goes in on Wednesday in any event.
Stepper motor. Fixed under warranty.
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I don't think I can stand the sound too much longer.
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I'm screwed, and not the way I would want to be.
Last edited by ScottW911; Nov 29, 2006 at 11:39 AM.


I'm screwed, and not the way I would want to be.
I picked up my car this afternoon. The dealer did the work under warranty and cleaned and lubed the "turbo clutch" to eliminate a whining sound I was hearing while accelcerating. I am assuming they meant the S/C clutch.
Anyway, my dealer doesn't show pricing for warranty work so I am guessing from earlier conversations that it would hav been over $600 to repair the stepper motor. I was surprised how extensive a job it is to repair that motor.
I picked up my car this afternoon. The dealer did the work under warranty and cleaned and lubed the "turbo clutch" to eliminate a whining sound I was hearing while accelcerating. I am assuming they meant the S/C clutch.
Anyway, my dealer doesn't show pricing for warranty work so I am guessing from earlier conversations that it would hav been over $600 to repair the stepper motor. I was surprised how extensive a job it is to repair that motor.
Lubed the turbo clutch? Did they change the blinker fluid too?

Last edited by Fifth Ring; Dec 1, 2006 at 07:31 PM.
I'm driving my C32, this morning, for about 5 minutes when, Thump!.....Thump! from the right side of the dash. I immediately recognize the sound as the POS stepper motor linkage.
When I had this replaced at the end of '06, I thought I had been told that MB was replacing the crappy $.25 piece of plastic with an improved design. NOT!
So, now I am dealing with the ongoing pogo door lock, the creaking front bushings and, now, the thumping dashboard.
All in all, about $1800-$2000 in repairs by my estimate.
Today, I hate my car. Updates to follow.
I might be able to live with the sound, except when the airflow in directed to the wrong vents. I hate it when my A/C is blowing on my feet and not in my face.
That is the same reason I still have the pogo lock. The part is cheap. The labor is intensive.
I searched and could not find the DIY that was mentioned.
I have also noticed that when my A/C is on high or at least on 3/4 power or higher that you can hear the air surge, it blows cold constantly but you can hear the air blow hard for a second then go back to normal. It does this every 15-20 seconds. Not sure if this is an side effect of the stepper motor or not.
Also found out my car's A/C gets weak on a long road trip. Seems that after 2 hours it starts to die in terms of power. I can have the A/C on full and can barely feel it from the front vents(still ice cold) but from the rear vents it is blowing hard. Could this be a side effect of the stepper motor as well or am I looking in the wrong direction for this issue?
Andrew







