Griffin44

Hi:

I recently bought a 2003 CLK500 with 126000 kms on it. I'm loving the car. It is very clean with only a couple of very minor parking lot dings on it.

I have had a couple of issues one of which I could use some help with.

I had troubles with the ballast on the HID on the passenger side. The ballast was replaced by the dealer in order to safety the car and it is 95% reliable but every now and then the light will shut off and throw up a malfunction. At this point not critical and I can live with it. I suspect I may need a new igniter.

Bigger concern at this point is a fairly lour ticking sound coming from behind the dash/firewall about the centre or slighty to passenger side. The ticking occurs on start up, particularly when cold. It lasts maybe 20 seconds then stops. Sounds like it's trying to start something going or maybe open something? I dunno (not the most mechanically knowledgeable guy).

I'm not sure if this is related or not but after the cabin heats up, it seems the vents pump some pretty cool air into the cabin making me think the car is trying to wake me up or something.

Anyways, any of you wiser-than-me folks have any advice?

Yidney

You can find your same problem if you search, either on the forum or on Google. It's a broken arm on a motor that open/closes part of your AC/heater system. Not a hard job for a person inclined to fix their own cars, but probably intimidating for somone who doesn't do anything like that.

Rudeney

You can verify that it's a duct problem by performing the A/C system reset/test: with the engine running, simultaneously press and hold the RECIRC and FRONT DEFOG buttons on the A/C control panel. Continue to hold them until their indicator lights begin to blink. The lights will blink for 20-30 seconds and stop when the reset and test are successful. If they do not stop blinking, then you have a problem with a servo or actuator in the duct. A mechanic with SDS (MBZ's Star Diagnosis) can pull codes and tell what part has failed.

Griffin44

Thanks for the info. I'll check the other threads.

Glyn M Ruck

Broken HVAC stepper motor arm. Covered at length in the W203 forum, pictures & all. Make sure they fit the redesigned arm when repairing.