Famous AC clicking noise, AC footwell damper linkage replacement DIY details steps
Member
Joined: Jun 2011
Posts: 163
Likes: 0
2003 C32, 2002 S55, 1999 SL500, 2004 S430
Thank you for all the pictures, it helps a lot. I started on this tsb the other day, what I was unsure about is how many motor lever arm's are under the dash. I show in your photos only 2.
All data tells me there are many flaps inside, I would like to change every arm while its apart. Can you confirm there is only 2 of these arms under the dash?
All data tells me there are many flaps inside, I would like to change every arm while its apart. Can you confirm there is only 2 of these arms under the dash?
Member
Joined: Jun 2011
Posts: 163
Likes: 0
2003 C32, 2002 S55, 1999 SL500, 2004 S430
Junior Member
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 21
Likes: 0
2002 C320
Member
Joined: Jun 2011
Posts: 163
Likes: 0
2003 C32, 2002 S55, 1999 SL500, 2004 S430
with his photos the job doesn't take very long. does your right and left center vents work correctly when playing with the switch? if they do than you have to take every thing apart per his photos to get to the levers.
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Senior Member
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 408
Likes: 40
From: Hawaii
2017 GLA 250, 2011 C63 P31 (p30 w/ lsd) (in repair), 2005 C230 Sport Eurocharged, 2003 C320~sold
Great BIG thanks to Racin_fool, liveniceguy and Wilsophia for the write up and
pictures!!!
I put together a PDF with the write up and all of the pics compiled with each other since I am going to be doing this myself.....enjoy!!! Unfortunately had to split it up into 3 files to post here.
W203 Air Conditioner Stepper Motor Repair P1 of 3.pdf
W203 Air Conditioner Stepper Motor Repair P2 of 3.pdf
W203 Air Conditioner Stepper Motor Repair P3 of 3.pdf
pictures!!!
I put together a PDF with the write up and all of the pics compiled with each other since I am going to be doing this myself.....enjoy!!! Unfortunately had to split it up into 3 files to post here.
W203 Air Conditioner Stepper Motor Repair P1 of 3.pdf
W203 Air Conditioner Stepper Motor Repair P2 of 3.pdf
W203 Air Conditioner Stepper Motor Repair P3 of 3.pdf
Newbie
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 3
Likes: 0
w203 - C Class 270 CDi Elegance 2001
Great BIG thanks to Racin_fool, liveniceguy and Wilsophia for the write up and
pictures!!!
I put together a PDF with the write up and all of the pics compiled with each other since I am going to be doing this myself.....enjoy!!! Unfortunately had to split it up into 3 files to post here.
W203 Air Conditioner Stepper Motor Repair P1 of 3.pdf
W203 Air Conditioner Stepper Motor Repair P2 of 3.pdf
W203 Air Conditioner Stepper Motor Repair P3 of 3.pdf
pictures!!!
I put together a PDF with the write up and all of the pics compiled with each other since I am going to be doing this myself.....enjoy!!! Unfortunately had to split it up into 3 files to post here.
W203 Air Conditioner Stepper Motor Repair P1 of 3.pdf
W203 Air Conditioner Stepper Motor Repair P2 of 3.pdf
W203 Air Conditioner Stepper Motor Repair P3 of 3.pdf
next week I need to do the same :/
Newbie
Joined: Jan 2014
Posts: 1
Likes: 0
C55
which stepper motor / linkage arm?
Hi All
Thanks for all the excellent work done on this thread.
I have the dreaded clicking noise but cannot figure out which stepper motor or arm is involved. My noise is 1 click per second (ish possibly a little quicker) for 30secs.
When I try to diagnose by turning on / off vents they all seem to be working, indicating that none of the arms are broken?
Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
Dave
Thanks for all the excellent work done on this thread.
I have the dreaded clicking noise but cannot figure out which stepper motor or arm is involved. My noise is 1 click per second (ish possibly a little quicker) for 30secs.
When I try to diagnose by turning on / off vents they all seem to be working, indicating that none of the arms are broken?
Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
Dave
Senior Member
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 408
Likes: 40
From: Hawaii
2017 GLA 250, 2011 C63 P31 (p30 w/ lsd) (in repair), 2005 C230 Sport Eurocharged, 2003 C320~sold
Hi All
Thanks for all the excellent work done on this thread.
I have the dreaded clicking noise but cannot figure out which stepper motor or arm is involved. My noise is 1 click per second (ish possibly a little quicker) for 30secs.
When I try to diagnose by turning on / off vents they all seem to be working, indicating that none of the arms are broken?
Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
Dave
Thanks for all the excellent work done on this thread.
I have the dreaded clicking noise but cannot figure out which stepper motor or arm is involved. My noise is 1 click per second (ish possibly a little quicker) for 30secs.
When I try to diagnose by turning on / off vents they all seem to be working, indicating that none of the arms are broken?
Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
Dave
I had both cracked arms and a bad stepper motor.
Member
Joined: Oct 2013
Posts: 89
Likes: 0
From: Sydney, Australia - Post to Minden, NV
C32 AMG, 997, Mustang '66
At least you didn't spend 4 hours removing half the dash and then realising it wasn't the footwell having issues, and is one of the motors behind the dash which requires entire removal of the dash assembly to get to the A/C tunnels. And also spending $50 on linkages you don't need.
Newbie
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 2
Likes: 0
C55 AMG
haha - I have spent the money on linkages! Am trying to figure out whether I should buy one of the motors before I take the dash apart...
Had read somewhere that you can diagnose by testing which vent is either stuck on or stuck off. All of mine work - just have the clicking sound.
Will post it to youtube and then put up a link and then come back for advice.
Had read somewhere that you can diagnose by testing which vent is either stuck on or stuck off. All of mine work - just have the clicking sound.
Will post it to youtube and then put up a link and then come back for advice.
Member
Joined: Oct 2013
Posts: 89
Likes: 0
From: Sydney, Australia - Post to Minden, NV
C32 AMG, 997, Mustang '66
Yea, I'm starting to learn that, don't buy the part unless you are SURE it's broken, unless of course you're doing preventative or upgrades.
My car is almost a weekend car now, most of the time it's in downtime because I have to strip the car to get it out before actually ordering, then it takes 2 weeks to get here at least.
I basically lived with the clicking noise, all my A/C works fine. Can't be bothered anymore
My car is almost a weekend car now, most of the time it's in downtime because I have to strip the car to get it out before actually ordering, then it takes 2 weeks to get here at least.
I basically lived with the clicking noise, all my A/C works fine. Can't be bothered anymore
Newbie
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 2
Likes: 0
C55 AMG
Youtube video posted
Thanks again for the advice.
If anyone can have a quick peek at the following and give an opinion that would be great
www.youtube.com/watch?v=jZknjIl6fBU
As mentioned the vents for the A/C all appear to be working - both on/off which suggests no stepper motor / linkage issue?
Thanks
Dave
If anyone can have a quick peek at the following and give an opinion that would be great
www.youtube.com/watch?v=jZknjIl6fBU
As mentioned the vents for the A/C all appear to be working - both on/off which suggests no stepper motor / linkage issue?
Thanks
Dave
Newbie
Joined: Jan 2014
Posts: 11
Likes: 1
From: Turkey
2003 C320
Caused by Broken Stepper Motor's gears
I worked for this issue whole weekend and i figured out what the problem is. The problem in my car is different than yours. The damper linkages in the picture below were replaced with new ones, but the idiot whoever did this fixated the Right(R) linkage to both sides instead of fixating Left(L) linkage to the left side. if you look through closely you can see the angle differences between R and L linkages.
Access to stepper motors:
Angles differences:
This angle difference have caused cogwheels to break in the step motor in time. I purchased a new step motor and a pair of new damper linkage and solved the problem by setting it up to the right side.
Broken stepper motor gears
new stepper motor:
End of Day:
Access to stepper motors:
Angles differences:
This angle difference have caused cogwheels to break in the step motor in time. I purchased a new step motor and a pair of new damper linkage and solved the problem by setting it up to the right side.
Broken stepper motor gears
new stepper motor:
End of Day:
Junior Member
Joined: Apr 2019
Posts: 28
Likes: 7
From: Minneapolis MN USA
'03 C32 AMG
Just completed this job over the weekend. It was not fun, but pretty straight forward. The worst part was getting the large black plastic cage out. The only way to get it out without removing the top of the dash is to break it out. But on my 2003, who cares... Pretty sure I mixed up which arm is which, but I don't see how it matters, isn't that what the calibration procedure is supposed to fix?
Last edited by jakel01; Apr 28, 2020 at 07:28 AM.
Junior Member
Joined: Apr 2018
Posts: 28
Likes: 3
W212 E63, W203 C55, L405 4.4
Just completed this job over the weekend. It was not fun, but pretty straight forward. The worst part was getting the large black plastic cage out. The only way to get it out without removing the top of the dash is to break it out. But on my 2003, who cares... Pretty sure I mixed up which arm is which, but I don't see how it matters, isn't that what the calibration procedure is supposed to fix?
Junior Member
Joined: Apr 2019
Posts: 28
Likes: 7
From: Minneapolis MN USA
'03 C32 AMG
Further follow up, the two arms I removed from the car both had the same hex orientation, which further leads me to believe it doesn't matter which goes where, just do the calibration after. I've driven the car 3-4 times a week since I did the repair two months ago, and no problems or clicking.
