No its the compressor making the sound. I jacked up the car and put a scope on it. The trouble was I put the scope on the power steering pump first and the noise from the compressor was riding into it. Plus it sounds just like a power steering pump going bad, its a constant whirring though, not changing at all when the wheels are turned.

 

the compressor,with the ec button and see if the idler pulley is the culprit.Pretty common for it to go bad and whine like the dickens,can be pretty deceptive in transmitting that sound to various other rotational units.Keep you fingers crossed and don't feel like a sch....,

 

I will check it tomorrow morning, no light and fast fans. thanks

 

have had the same problem with mine. i have narrowed it down to the compressor, but turning the a/c on and off doesn't affect the whining noise...could it be the pulley bearing that always spins whether the compressor clutch is engaged or not? it is a really annoying problem. anyone have any ideas or solutions. btw i narrowed the noise down by using a solid steth.

 

It seems we might have the same problem. The compressor is definitely the culprit in my car. Only thing is the noise changes for me, its a subtle change though, just a slightly different tone. Mabe I'm hearing the sound of the engaged compressor along with it though, I can hear the sound in the car, windows rolled up, and the ac fan on high so its very loud, and gets louder with higher RPM, sounds kinda like a jap bike (eeeeeeeeeee). I stethed the body of the compressor and the bolt on the front of it, sound comes from the bolt not the body.

Now that I know it's the compressor.

Is this thing eating itself?
Do you think there's metal throughout the system?
Is the clutch replaceable ( I can't find 1 on the net)?
Is there a replaceable bearing on the clutch?

Ohlord I tried all your suggestions and it's the compressor.

Thanks

 

exact same problem. mine has been doing this for about 4K miles. hopefully someone else has had the same problem and remedied it without replacing the whole compressor.

 

I hope so to. It sounds like the bearing in the clutch is bad. I hope the compressor isn't shedding metal in the system. That would suck. I called benz to see if they sold some kind of test belt that bypasses the compressor and its a NO. A clutch kit is around 700 WOW. I'll probably just measure with string for a bypass belt. Never done it but it sounds good to me.

 

http://www.autohausaz.com/search/pro...C%20Compressor

and if just the clutch ,I posted a denso diy clutch diy someplace around around here if you search,I forget where I placed it
part is sold as a kit.

 

I can't find your writeup on it. I guess I'm no good with the search. Thanks

 

on benzworld.org

 

Thanks

 

Hi,

I have posted this problem before. My E430 doesn't blow any hot air from the center console. I took it to a dealer and they said it was fine since when they lowered temp and A.C. kicked in, it did blow some (but not 'enough') air.

However, it got cold around here (38 acc to my car) and i had temp set at 69. No air from center one. the other ones (driver side and passanger side) but neither of the center ones blew any air. Nada.

I am not sure what is going on. I can feel different temp at both my hands and I dont like the feeling. I am planning to take it back to dealer. any pointers please?

thanks

 

I'll go ahead and guess on this:
-Some of the internal vent flaps that control where the air gets distributed may be faulty. These flaps may be electric or vacuum controlled.
-Your electronic fan control unit has a slight malfunction that isn't sending the proper signal for corresponding vent flow.

 

I have the same problem and the dealer said the same thing. It blows out air when it feels like it wants to. its weird.

 

thanks for the suggestions. any DIY ways to repair it?

 

Just a thought.

Do you have the air vent in the bottom of the center console arm rest storage compartment open? You might see if that has any affect.

BTW, there is a DIY sticky (by Kobus) over on benzworldDOTorg on how to replace the illumination bulb behind the adj. wheel of the center vent. Following that will help you remove the grill to get a better look.

 

Unfortunately not. tried that..BTW anybody know what that is for? that is a curious place to have a vent.

Update on my vent issue: went to dealer and left the car for 4 hrs..talked to service guy for half n hr or so, NO LUCK. they say this is how it was designed. central vents are for AC and they would kick in if AC kicks in. side vents are for heat..i dont like it, but will suck it up.

also got all 4 wheels aligned..not sure how i feel..got new tyres continental contiextreme and drove them for a 1000 miles or so..loved them..now after alignment, it feels a lot smoother..more dampened and 'lexusy' feel..i guess its transition time for me .. i ll take that feeling for longer lived tyres!!

 

My understanding and experience is that no heat comes out of the 2 center dash vents. Only the side ones. Thought it was a strange design but such is life.

 

It's in your owner's manual. Small items which need to remain cool in hot weather can be placed there.

 

console vent
warm in cold weather.Thus the warning to keep heat sensitive objects out of there if the vent is heat is on.or close the vent,it will maintain the same temp as the dash vents.


it's a beautiful crisp fall morning in the northwest,46F and my center vents are blowing the same 76F warm air as the side vents.The dealer is on ludes if he thinks the C vents only work with a/c.They are just nincompoops
Stop going to the dealer,find a good indie.
Do you have cool air out of the center vent if you drop the a/c to 60F?


note valve 42 and 43 right center vent control and left center vents control,so not only do they both blow warm or cool air they operate as part of the dual climate control system.
the dealer is as usual full of shat

 

Yes, they do very well..and that's what baffles me. i can't think it is a mechanical problem, may be some software issue? they say it is specific to W210

any straight forward DIY here? I am not big on it, but getting hang of it as i think that's the only way to enjoy the car.

can anybody recommend a good indie in Harrisburg-Lancaster, PA area for starter?

thanks,

 

Also, ran AC diagnostic codes that you posted somewhere else.
http://www.eclassbenz.com/acdiag

comes back with "refrigerant pressure is reading a bit low (03 bar)." and nothing else (error code FF, which means you are done I guess)

would really appreciate some advice here. thanks,

 

now this is where it gets weird.

just got off phone with an MB technician (at 1-800 service) he says in W210s center vents are designed for AC and side vents are for heater.

told him that i know of other people with w210 who do get hot air from center vents, he says i am not sure why they do that...they shouldn't!! I can't believe this!

i am looking for a reliable indie in the area more than ever.

 

from the climate control comes out from all vents.Hit the little button with the arrow points for the one that points at you ,heat on air blows out the center vents.The dealer and now MBUSA don't know their own products.No wonder they have chased away all the old loyal buyers.

it's even in their own documentation.Warm or cool air is automatically selected for center vents.
Do they need me to send a picture of a temp probe in the center vent.Showing 80F blower air on a 46F day?

this button

 

Oh Lord,

tried that too..showed that to mb guy y'day..i selected front and lower vent optino (arrow pointing at me and at feet) and even that wouldn't blow ANY air out of central vents..just drove the car for half n hr..its not pleasant feeling.

again, any DIYs i can try?