E-Class (W211) 2003-2009

Proper functioning of hvac vents?

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Old Jun 21, 2014 | 11:37 AM
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2003 e320 w211
Proper functioning of hvac vents?

Hi the climate control in my e320 2003 w211 has me flummoxed. It has the 2-zone system. The a/c is cold and cools the car off well. However almost all the air flow comes out of the front center vents. I don't get much airflow through the front side vents or the rear center vent. Flow increases a bit if I close off the center vent louvers. Using auto or manual does not seem to affect it or at least not very much nor does the cold air blend dial in the center (which has me befuddled as well in terms of how it works and what it is supposed to do). The air flow will shift to floor vents, defrost, etc if I change the setting manually. Though seems like there is always a bit of air coming from the side vents. Anyway is this normal -- 80% cold air out of front center 20% sides and rear center? And if not any recommendations on what the issue might be ? Ie reset the system somehow or replacing a vent actuator or a stepper motor etc? Thanks.
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Old Jun 21, 2014 | 06:19 PM
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2003 e320 w211
believe it or not I did read the manual and it did not answer my question regarding the relative volume of airflow one should expect from the different vents, and if the side vents should always be much weaker than the central adjustable ones especially. I understand I think how it should work. though honestly it's pretty poorly written. the description of the function of that central dial that adjusts the mix is particularly opaque.

The message one gets from the manual is more or less "set it on automatic" and forget it. I am happy to do so. I simply want to know if my automatic mode is operating like it should.

I guess if owned the car from new I would know. And I know. I could take it in and get all the codes, but there are not any last I had this done and nothing has changed in the interim.
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Old Jun 21, 2014 | 06:40 PM
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In all of my Mercedes cars during the summer, it would direct most of the cold air out of the center vents directly at the passengers. And during the winter, it would direct the hot air out of other vents but try to avoid blasting it directly.
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Old Jun 23, 2014 | 01:32 PM
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Thanks. I seem to recall in the w124 that the side vents o my gosh worked at all for some things. But then again, my vacuum pods were blown for years and I never mustered the energy to remove the dash to fix them.
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Old Jun 23, 2014 | 03:30 PM
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That's what I thought.
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Old Jun 26, 2014 | 06:09 PM
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great thanks for the info
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