i have just bought a 93 e320 and am still smiling!! but i think the air con might be faulty.

the benz book says that if the light on the air con switch is lit then you have turned the aircon off (ie overidden it) - ok well if i follow that books instructions it just doesn't seem cold to me!

the aircon manual says something different, in fact just the opposite, when the light is lit the air con is working ?? see wot i mean very puzzled!! if i follow that manual it still doesn't feel cold. the weather here in the uk is only 10 degrees at the moment but yesterday it was about 19. does that make a significant difference?
should the temp setting be on blue or white - i have tried both by the way.

any clues and advice will be much appreciated.
thanks

 

I don't know if you car has the automatic setup that ours do here in the states, but if it does then the be sure to get the A/C on the highest setting move the temp. indicator all the way to the blue so it hits the notch. Then push the middle button in the horizontal row of five buttons. On the vertical row of fan buttons to the right hit the uppermost one, with the solid white fan. That should set the fan on max and force the A/C to be constantly on.

 

i think yours is different cos you must have climate control .
i know wot you mean by horizontal buttons - i saw the diagram in the handbook but like you say uk models are different.
i have got just three vertical buttons and the manual's contradict themselves.
do you have the manual for the air conditioning unit itself or just the benz handbook?


cheers for your reply

 

The air con works all the time. To turn it off press the EC button.
If you have the fan on and the thumbwheels set to 18 (or blue) and it's still not icey cold you mave have to have it re-gassed (£50). It's possible that you may have a leak or something else is horribly wrong but re-gassing it is where I'd start.

 

thanks cap n jasper for that,
i did think maybe its the refrigerant low or something cos it aint icy cold whatever i do. my car has a differant switch than the one you show which is also in my benz handbook. - rather than ec its the snowflake symbol and in the aircon manual ( seperate from the benz one ) it says that the switch should be on for the aircon to be working - so you can see why i am so confused.
in any case it does look like you might be right about the gas.
where is the best place to have it checked out ??

thanks from mario 500

 

If you still have the A/C with the snowflake symbol, it needs to be pushed (LED on) to start the A/C compressor. If the engine running , the snowflake pushed, the thumbwheels turned to low you should notice the A/C kicking in. If you low on refrigerant it must have gone somewhere. So there may be a leak in the system, a pretty expensive exercise:-(
There is a pressure switch which causes the A/C to switch off when refrigerant (pressure) is low. It is on top of the dryer bottle. Passenger side (UK!) front corner next to the ABS pump. If you bridge the switch (ignition ON) the clutch of the A/C compressor should be activated (klicking noise). If not there might be only a relay or wiring problem. This is a test you can do before seeing the specialists.

 

I'm no expert but here's some ramblings...
I think you must have one with last of the older type systems, in which case you may have a fluid level inspection window next to the fluid reservoir. If you have, you can check the level by removing the wiring plug from the pressure switch with the engine off. Switch on the engine with the air-con switched on then re-connect the plug. The level in the window should rise past the window and soon become bubble free. If just rises a little bit then it needs re-gassing. If nothing happens then, like Bamberger says, shorting the plug will test if the compressor is working. However, the compressor will be damaged if you run it with no gas.
Personally I'd look in the yellow pages for an automotive air-con specialist and get it re-gassed. If there's a leak they'll find it with UV dye or a sniffer.

 

thanks bamberger and cap'n jasper for your great input.
i havent had time to check out what you both have said just yet cos its too dark outside but will report back when i have had a good look.
this site has impressed me with the level of knowledge people have and the enthusiasm of the members.

thanks guys seeya later.