Is there an A/C sight glass ?
Thread Starter
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 1,779
Likes: 11
From: Long Island, NY
2004 E320
Is there an A/C sight glass ?
I searched under the hood and don't see an a/c freon sight glass anywhere.
Is there one on these vehicles ?
I ask because I've had an itermittent situation where I turn on the A/C full
and get nothing, no fan, no anything. Although the indicator shows the fan(s) at full speed.
Stop the car, restart and then it works.
According to the manual, the cause of this symptom is low refrigerant. Of
course I'm sure that's not the only cause, but if there's a sight glass it would be easy to check.
Did a forum search and no posts re this.
Is there one on these vehicles ?
I ask because I've had an itermittent situation where I turn on the A/C full
and get nothing, no fan, no anything. Although the indicator shows the fan(s) at full speed.
Stop the car, restart and then it works.
According to the manual, the cause of this symptom is low refrigerant. Of
course I'm sure that's not the only cause, but if there's a sight glass it would be easy to check.
Did a forum search and no posts re this.
Senior Member
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 429
Likes: 1
From: New York Area
'14 E350 wagon; BMW G12 (2020) G01 (2019)
I searched under the hood and don't see an a/c freon sight glass anywhere.
Is there one on these vehicles ?
I ask because I've had an itermittent situation where I turn on the A/C full
and get nothing, no fan, no anything. Although the indicator shows the fan(s) at full speed.
Stop the car, restart and then it works.
According to the manual, the cause of this symptom is low refrigerant. Of
course I'm sure that's not the only cause, but if there's a sight glass it would be easy to check.
Did a forum search and no posts re this.
Is there one on these vehicles ?
I ask because I've had an itermittent situation where I turn on the A/C full
and get nothing, no fan, no anything. Although the indicator shows the fan(s) at full speed.
Stop the car, restart and then it works.
According to the manual, the cause of this symptom is low refrigerant. Of
course I'm sure that's not the only cause, but if there's a sight glass it would be easy to check.
Did a forum search and no posts re this.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 5,017
Likes: 16
From: Ft. Lauderdale Area, USA
2015 ML 350
Known Issue with a known Fix. Bad blower control module (under dash I believe passenger side) makes the blower quit when the fan speed gets kicked up to Max Cool by demand on the system or by selecting defrost. "I had it on my '04." (Yeah... I had everything.) Call me if you need more info. My guys had to replace 3 of them 'till they got a good one. Hope by now, all the bad ones are out of the pipeline.
(My car's going in Friday @ 2700 miles. A/C not cold enough & sometimes the Satelite Radio doesn't get loaded by the computer system upon startup, so it displays "Searching For Signal", & I get a high pitched squeal from the speakers. I have to shut down & wait 3-4 minutes before restarting. Then all is well.) Maybe I'll get a nice loaner...
(My car's going in Friday @ 2700 miles. A/C not cold enough & sometimes the Satelite Radio doesn't get loaded by the computer system upon startup, so it displays "Searching For Signal", & I get a high pitched squeal from the speakers. I have to shut down & wait 3-4 minutes before restarting. Then all is well.) Maybe I'll get a nice loaner...
Out Of Control!!
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 15,901
Likes: 4,630
From: North Scottsdale, AZ
'71 Pinto
Thread Starter
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 1,779
Likes: 11
From: Long Island, NY
2004 E320
Thanks guys !
Thanks Barry and weinschela.
As always KT, great info. Thanks, and, like post 5 in your link, I must not have used the right keywords in my search.
It's always great to have the info at hand from this forum when going to the dealer. Especially when the problem is an "intermittent" one.
We used to have a saying in the sudio industry that Tandberg was Norwegian for intermittent
because of those kind of glitches that never showed up when the units were in for service, only at the customer's house.
As always KT, great info. Thanks, and, like post 5 in your link, I must not have used the right keywords in my search.
It's always great to have the info at hand from this forum when going to the dealer. Especially when the problem is an "intermittent" one.
We used to have a saying in the sudio industry that Tandberg was Norwegian for intermittent
because of those kind of glitches that never showed up when the units were in for service, only at the customer's house.
Super Member
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 723
Likes: 32
From: Central Jersey
2003 E500, 2004 G35X
Many thanks for the tip fellows! This just happened to me a few days ago when my wife and I were driving on I-87 after a short stop. The A/C indicated it was on, but the blower was not working. I switched it on and off a few times and got it to work. If it happens again, I know what to tell the dealer to look for. Hey, I have a 03 model so I am not surprised at all. It just adds another chapter to my repair log.
The next owner should be worry-free. Just about all the electronic parts are replaced and then some.
The next owner should be worry-free. Just about all the electronic parts are replaced and then some.
Thread Starter
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 1,779
Likes: 11
From: Long Island, NY
2004 E320
Sight glass answer
Was at the dealer today and was advised that no MBs' have used a sight glass since the changeover to the new type of freon.
If they did, the no bubbles point would result in the system being over filled. So, it's all by pressure guages now.
Just in case any of you were wondering.
If they did, the no bubbles point would result in the system being over filled. So, it's all by pressure guages now.
Just in case any of you were wondering.
