AC only cold on right side
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AC only cold on right side
Has anyone had the problem of the AC blowing cold on one side only?
It's Texas and getting hotter. The car cools off but the driver side vents just blow the air that is in the car while the passenger side cools it off.
It's Texas and getting hotter. The car cools off but the driver side vents just blow the air that is in the car while the passenger side cools it off.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Dec 2003
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From: Sacramento
'08 AM Vantage V8 - '03 E500
When you ask for assistance with a car problem, it's good to let people know what year and model of car you have.
I won't insult your intelligence by asking how high you have the temperature set on the driver's side (or on the driver's position, if you have four-zone climate control). You've presumably checked that and have the temperature on the driver's side set at least as low as on the passenger's side. The climate control, or at least the four-zone climate control, adjusts the output from the individual vents taking into account temperature and sun load at different points in the interior, and even whether a seat is occupied. Thus, it's theoretically possible to have very different air flows and temps on the two sides of the car. If the passenger side is blowing very cold and the driver side isn't cooling at all, though, regardless of where the sun is and how long the system has been operating, I would take it to the dealer.
I won't insult your intelligence by asking how high you have the temperature set on the driver's side (or on the driver's position, if you have four-zone climate control). You've presumably checked that and have the temperature on the driver's side set at least as low as on the passenger's side. The climate control, or at least the four-zone climate control, adjusts the output from the individual vents taking into account temperature and sun load at different points in the interior, and even whether a seat is occupied. Thus, it's theoretically possible to have very different air flows and temps on the two sides of the car. If the passenger side is blowing very cold and the driver side isn't cooling at all, though, regardless of where the sun is and how long the system has been operating, I would take it to the dealer.
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Joined: Mar 2004
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From: Ohio
ML-350, Maserati Quattroporte
Thundar, I have had my car since 11/03. This has been an unusually hot summer here in Cleveland ( thank god ) and on the many days when it gets above the high 80's I have noticed the same exact thing. I have been paying attention and both sides are equal in the am when it's cooler and then on the ride home I get cool air right (passenger) and recirculated air on the driver side when it is hot. I called my service guy and he said that this is normal. I usually don't believe those guys and hope to hear follow up from you or others if this is not the case. Icidentally, is your outside fan very loud on hot days? My car sounds awful outside the car, not in.
Last edited by jprescott; Jul 11, 2005 at 02:33 PM.
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Joined: Dec 2003
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From: Sacramento
'08 AM Vantage V8 - '03 E500
Originally Posted by jprescott
Icidentally, is your outside fan very loud on hot days? My car sounds awful outside the car, not in.
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That fan noise is VERY LOUD! I can hear it in my house when the car is in the driveway. It appears to me that it turns on whenever "max cool" shows on the a/c display (E-500). Doesn't go off as quickly as I would like.
On the 1/2 working a/c, I just had this on my departed E-430. I'll see if I can locate a copy of the repair ticket. It was about a $450 repair. My wife's Grand Cherokee has same problem, but the Jeep dealer attributes that to an electronic swith. $1000! Told her to live with it!
On the 1/2 working a/c, I just had this on my departed E-430. I'll see if I can locate a copy of the repair ticket. It was about a $450 repair. My wife's Grand Cherokee has same problem, but the Jeep dealer attributes that to an electronic swith. $1000! Told her to live with it!
Thread Starter
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Texas Car
Sorry, I thought my car specs were in my signature.
I have an '03 E500 (not sure of the build date). Yes, it has four zone climate control. I have check the back zones and the right is cool while the left is not.
I have even gone so far as turn the Drivers side temp all the way down to the 50's with the passenger side at 72 and it still makes no difference. There is clearly something wrong and it needs to go back to the dealer. I just came here to see how common it might be.
jprescott,
I will be leaving town for three weeks and can't get my car in the shop until mid August so I can't tell you what the dealer says until then. But, I can tell you that here in Texas, this is unacceptable and it is not normal. When it is 100+ outside and you turn on the AC, within 10 to 20 seconds, all of the vents should start blowing cold air.
PS- The engine cooling fan is VERY loud. The Germans went way overboard on that. The great thing is that you don't hear it when you shut the doors.
I have an '03 E500 (not sure of the build date). Yes, it has four zone climate control. I have check the back zones and the right is cool while the left is not.
I have even gone so far as turn the Drivers side temp all the way down to the 50's with the passenger side at 72 and it still makes no difference. There is clearly something wrong and it needs to go back to the dealer. I just came here to see how common it might be.
jprescott,
I will be leaving town for three weeks and can't get my car in the shop until mid August so I can't tell you what the dealer says until then. But, I can tell you that here in Texas, this is unacceptable and it is not normal. When it is 100+ outside and you turn on the AC, within 10 to 20 seconds, all of the vents should start blowing cold air.
PS- The engine cooling fan is VERY loud. The Germans went way overboard on that. The great thing is that you don't hear it when you shut the doors.
Last edited by THundar; Jul 11, 2005 at 05:43 PM.
MBWorld Fanatic!
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From: FL410
'05 E320 CDI, '08 BMW X5 4.8i, '11 Duramax 2500HD
Sounds like a 4-zone specific failure, maybe a bad sensor that's fooling the car into thinking the temp is a lot cooler that it really is.
As for that outside cooling fan... glad for it, and it's power.. we hit 114 tomorrow!
"...but it's a dry heat" 
As for that outside cooling fan... glad for it, and it's power.. we hit 114 tomorrow!
"...but it's a dry heat"
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Senior Member
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From: FORT LAUDERDALE FL
2019 S63 COUPE
my wife has commented a few times about how loud the fan is on the outside and i cant hear it inside. it does slow down as the car cools down which is nrmal. on my previous e320 (w210) i had a similar problem with 1 side colder than the other and the eventual cure was that it needed freon...that solved it in my case..
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From: SF Bay Area, CA
11 W212 E350 Sport, sold 06 W211 E350
Originally Posted by Sam Samaha
Sounds like a 4-zone specific failure, maybe a bad sensor that's fooling the car into thinking the temp is a lot cooler that it really is.
As for that outside cooling fan... glad for it, and it's power.. we hit 114 tomorrow! "...but it's a dry heat"
As for that outside cooling fan... glad for it, and it's power.. we hit 114 tomorrow!
"...but it's a dry heat" Question, on my BMW I had a max setting which blew the air very fast, even higher than the normal quickest fan setting, does the 2005/06 E have that feature?
Member
Joined: May 2005
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From: Sacramento, CA
2005 SL500, Black on Stone
Hey Sac Guy,
I'm also in Sacramento County. I have a question for you or others about the Auto Climate Control functionality. In my 05 E320, when I use it, the fan blows at or near full blast for a long time before it will slightly slow down. This auto climate control is far less effective than the one in my 98 528i, which would cool the car and slow down the fan more effectively.
I find that even in the 80s or 90s, I have to go into manual mode and slow the fan down due to excessive blowing speed and noise. It's not that the ac does not work well....I've had it checked at the dealer. The dealer has told me he's heard this problem on the E series frequently. But I've driven a C class and ML class as loaners and have found their auto climate AC to work better and blow softer in auto mode.
I'm thinking of taking it in for a check....interested in thoughts of those who live in hotter climates.
Thanks,
Dan K.
I'm also in Sacramento County. I have a question for you or others about the Auto Climate Control functionality. In my 05 E320, when I use it, the fan blows at or near full blast for a long time before it will slightly slow down. This auto climate control is far less effective than the one in my 98 528i, which would cool the car and slow down the fan more effectively.
I find that even in the 80s or 90s, I have to go into manual mode and slow the fan down due to excessive blowing speed and noise. It's not that the ac does not work well....I've had it checked at the dealer. The dealer has told me he's heard this problem on the E series frequently. But I've driven a C class and ML class as loaners and have found their auto climate AC to work better and blow softer in auto mode.
I'm thinking of taking it in for a check....interested in thoughts of those who live in hotter climates.
Thanks,
Dan K.
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From: SF Bay Area, CA
11 W212 E350 Sport, sold 06 W211 E350
The sales guy told me he prefers to set the temperature and then set the fan speed in his E Vs. using auto, I have not tried the auto feature yet. My problem has been the opposite of yours, I want it to blow faster initially or when I want a really cold blast of air, like my BMW when I pressed MAX. The BMW fan was loud too. I will have to try the auto setting and see how that works. I have only had the car a week, so still trying to figure everything out.
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From: Northern NJ
2014 BMW 550i
At least on the 4-zone, it does tell you that it is in Max Cool when it senses that it needs to give you max cooling, but it does not let you set it manually, as far as I know. I too have been a little dissapointed with the system. Compared to my Lexus, the MB system is more accurate (I can more easily set this and forget it at my desired temperature, without having to fiddle much), but the Lexus had a much cooler airflow, so I could cool the car down much quicker.
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Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 693
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From: Mansfield, TX
11 ML350W2 / 17 GLC300
It is interesting to hear of the issues with the 4-zone system. The standard 2-zone system works quite well in the 100 degree Texas sun. The system will freeze you out in a few minutes if the fan speed is left on auto. We now set the thermostats at 76 and only have to drop to 74 on the sunny side of the car.
I am a technology junky and had wished I had ordered the car instead of buying it off of the lot. There were several items I would have ordered and the 4-zone climate control was one of them. Now I am glad I don't have those headaches with the Texas summers.
I am a technology junky and had wished I had ordered the car instead of buying it off of the lot. There were several items I would have ordered and the 4-zone climate control was one of them. Now I am glad I don't have those headaches with the Texas summers.
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From: Canada
2004 E500 / 2001 C240
As for the loud fan when you start the car, it is trying to get you (the owner) as comfortable as possible as fast as possible.. I love it. But, if you have people outside that you do not want to scare, turn the fan down to 3 and it will relax a bit, then as soon as you drive away, hit auto again and it will sound like the jet that it is..
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From: FL410
'05 E320 CDI, '08 BMW X5 4.8i, '11 Duramax 2500HD
I think the problem with the loudness of the inside fans is the lack of vents (volume wise) vs the amount of airflow. I would have added two more vents in the B pillars (like on my Volvo) which would have served two purposes.. more volume and less sound. That said, here in AZ (today's high 114) this thing cools well (2 zone). It is however prudent to do two things.. use a reflector screen when parked in the sun, and open all windows and sunroof for about 30 sec and drive, letting hot trapped air out of car, then seal it up and let the system cool. After driving for 10 minutes, you could hang meet in the car... we're it more humid in AZ (like in Texas, or Sac) it would work even better, as AC prefers a bit of humidity in the air.
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Joined: Dec 2003
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From: Sacramento
'08 AM Vantage V8 - '03 E500
Originally Posted by jazzphile
I find that even in the 80s or 90s, I have to go into manual mode and slow the fan down due to excessive blowing speed and noise. It's not that the ac does not work well....
Out Of Control!!
Joined: Jul 2003
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From: North Scottsdale, AZ
'71 Pinto
Funny story, my first summer here in AZ (relocated from NYC) my neighbor (who relocated from SF) tells me he walked out of his Birkenstocks because they literally melted into the asphalt surface of a strip mall parking lot. Not for nothing, that fan can run as loud as it wants to, for as long as it wants to! Also, I have never had a problem with interior fan noise as it lowers itself quickly and both front and rear cools evenly (standard two zone system). Best AC I’ve experienced to date.
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A/C fixed
I took the car in and it turns out that the A/C has two separate refrigerant/coolant paths.
An "O" ring for the driver side failed which cause the driver side to only recirculated while the passenger side did all the work.
They fixed it in a few hours and everything is COOL!
An "O" ring for the driver side failed which cause the driver side to only recirculated while the passenger side did all the work.
They fixed it in a few hours and everything is COOL!
