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After 7 days of diagnostics, the dealer identified the A/C compressor as the cause of the messages. They ordered a new compressor but when they took out the old compressor, they saw it was totally corroded. EQS 450+, 18 months old. This took sometime to appear; maybe at time of delivery??? Compressor
Dealer claims that I must have gone into a flood or driven through water. I did not. Insurance adjuster coming on Thursday. The corrosion is so significant it makes me wonder when this occurred -- it was not recent. Could the A/C fluid been leaking over the past 18 months?
I think I see a wet area in center, which makes think the Compressor let loose all the refrigerant & oil quickly.
Like maybe front shaft seal or a body seal?
todays refrigerants are somewhat nasty...
Now if they say you drove thru high water have them show you other things under car that show signs of rust?
should be plenty.
If only compressor, well then WHY?
because it failed and caused corrosion.
Thanks! I think you are correct but convincing MB of this might be a challenge. Original problem was this message on the dash. They eventually (after 7 days) diagnosed the problem as a short in the compressor.
[QUOTE=Wolfaltman;8859661]Thanks! I think you are correct but convincing MB of this might be a challenge. Original problem was this message on the dash. They eventually (after 7 days) diagnosed the problem as a short in the compressor.
[QUOTE]
It would be interesting to know if there is an error message that specifically calls attention to the A/C compressor. If not, then the general HV System Check message may be one of the default messages that is displayed when an unanticipated (by S/W engineers) error occurs. I wonder how much of the 7-day diagnostic period was due to lack of a trained EQ technician. If everything was not so concealed from the bottom and top of the vehicle the issue could have probably been identified in 30 minutes with a visual inspection.
The compressor is surrounded by insulation (see below some more pixs) and only when they opened up the compressor to replace the damaged/shorted compressor did they see the damage.
That is utterly destroyed. If it were flood other things would be trashed too. Maybe wrong fluid? A galvanic issue like steel directly connected to aluminum?
That is utterly destroyed. If it were flood other things would be trashed too. Maybe wrong fluid? A galvanic issue like steel directly connected to aluminum?
Sure looks like galvanic to me. But I'm only used to seeing this type of thing on boats.
for galvanic that would have taken years, and this is an EQS so has to be relatively new.
Since EV does compressor have its own electric motor to spin it like our Home AC?
Not sure what MB did as I have not paid attn to any EV car since they do not work for me.
FOLLOWING GUESSES COMPRESSOR HAS ITS OWN ELECTRIC MOTOR SPINNING IT:
Maybe the compressor output pressure built up too high or something started to increase required torq t spin compressor.
This would cause electri motor to start to draw more and would get HOT and then maybe compressor was failing and finally LOCKED up and/or cracked case.
Hopefully the electric motor circuit breakers tripped to prevent a lock rotor situation which is like a DEAD short across your battery, which would have been crazy amount of current and caused fire or at least got red hot.
This added heat would transfer to compressor and caused it to leak and that stuff coming out with this high heat would end up looking like the mess in your pictures.
THIS HAS to be WARRANTY!
Unless you are 50k over mileage limit or soemthing.
Any funky smells like burning wire?
Did you notice AC performance starting to get worse?
Describe what happened and is compressor driven by its own motor on these Electric cars?
This could be design flaw, programming flaw or something MB needs to look at.
Wonder if anyone else has had this happen on any of the Electric cars/suv
Like normal engine cars with a belt driven ac compressor, the belt would have snap due to locked compressor and that is CAPTAIN OBVIOUS as to what happened.
The insurance company totaled the car due to the corrosion damage to the compressor as well as corrosion around the high voltage battery terminals. The integrity of the battery pack was questioned. (See pictures below.) They felt the car must have been flooded ... but it wasn't. They asked if I drove in the snow and possibly picked up some salt. I don't. The compressor sits about 2-3 feet from the ground. Loosing about $50K due to depreciation. It is either a design flaw or water infiltrated prior to delivery (18 months ago).
Last edited by Wolfaltman; Oct 15, 2023 at 02:02 PM.
Quite frankly, I hope it was water infiltration prior to delivery!!! I find it quite frightening to think that a design flaw could cause that much corrosion, in so many places, and compromise battery integrity in such a manner. My car is older than this, with no (knock on wood) such symptoms. Hoping that it is not a design flaw. Holy Crap!
Where is the compressor located? Is it relatively easy to access the areas where your photos show the corrosion on the connector covers? Is it simply a matter of lifting the rear seat bottoms?
Where is the compressor located? Is it relatively easy to access the areas where your photos show the corrosion on the connector covers? Is it simply a matter of lifting the rear seat bottoms?
I'll take a look at my Xentry system today and report back here where to find it.
After 7 days of diagnostics, the dealer identified the A/C compressor as the cause of the messages. They ordered a new compressor but when they took out the old compressor, they saw it was totally corroded. EQS 450+, 18 months old. This took sometime to appear; maybe at time of delivery??? Compressor
What is the whole story here?
@Wolfaltman what region/country do you live in? Can’t see the profile on the mobile version of this site.
Yes, I'd be very interested in knowing where the compressor is located. I had just assumed it was somewhere up front. Interestingly, when I bought my wife's 2021 GLE53 in 2020, they were bragging about there being no belts. The mild hybrid (F1 tech) I six with the 48v battery and electric motor eliminated belts and starter, with the self powered compressor and alternater and the electric motor ( which provides HP boost as needed) serving as the starter. I would assume that the tech for the compressor is similar, and we have had no problems with the GLE53 at 50K miles. So this corrosion is surprising and very confusing. I suspect an anomaly, or some strange event in transport and storage pre-purchase. This is a fascinating thread.
Where is the compressor located? Is it relatively easy to access the areas where your photos show the corrosion on the connector covers? Is it simply a matter of lifting the rear seat bottoms?
The compressor is located in the front about 2-3 feet off the ground. As to the high voltage connectors, they are under the rear seat but it is not as simple as lifting off them rear seat. The dealer had every thing disassembled when we got there.
2025 Maserati Grecale Folgore and 2024 Jaguar F-PACE SVR
Wouldn't the steel bolts be rusty orange-brown if it was salt or galvanic action? Looks like it got wet to me too but my guess is that foam stuff contains a large amount of sulphur and/or chlorine that leached out and it acted like a sponge keeping the corrosion going for a long time after the rest of the car was dry. Might have even dripped sulphur/chlorine-infused water onto parts below it.
That's my guess for the betting pool. Put me in for $10.
Yes, I'd be very interested in knowing where the compressor is located. I had just assumed it was somewhere up front. Interestingly, when I bought my wife's 2021 GLE53 in 2020, they were bragging about there being no belts. The mild hybrid (F1 tech) I six with the 48v battery and electric motor eliminated belts and starter, with the self powered compressor and alternater and the electric motor ( which provides HP boost as needed) serving as the starter. I would assume that the tech for the compressor is similar, and we have had no problems with the GLE53 at 50K miles. So this corrosion is surprising and very confusing. I suspect an anomaly, or some strange event in transport and storage pre-purchase. This is a fascinating thread.
Sorry guys, I looked at my Xentry system, but it is not yet updated to show me information on 2022+ cars. So, I can't provide the compressor location.
Saltwater or caustic cleaning solution which saturated and was retained by the insulation.
This was user induced. Whether or not it is “normal” is a matter of opinion. The OP got out of the situation with a $50k depreciation write down and can start over with a new car.
Saltwater or caustic cleaning solution which saturated and was retained by the insulation.
This was user induced. Whether or not it is “normal” is a matter of opinion. The OP got out of the situation with a $50k depreciation write down and can start over with a new car.
Saltwater? Are you not supposed to drive these cars during the winter in the north where salt may be used for several months?
Note the absence of corrosion on the connector area, which is the highest location of the compressor in vehicle position. This thing got wet, likely with bad stuff (salt or caustic) and stayed wet because the insulation got soaked.
I sent a two-page letter to MB USA in Atlanta with four pages of pictures in mid-November with copies to FTC and NHTSA. I got a form letter back from FTC and in mid-December I got a phone call from MB in Atlanta. I was able to track the vehicle and discovered that MB Atlantic City did some work on the car in late October after it was declared a total loss - I presume they replaced the compressor. It was then delivered to Copart in Glassboro NJ and then auctioned off to an exporter in Linden NJ. It is scheduled to be transported to Lithuania in the near future. So ends my saga of a MB EV. Never again. Consumers Report in its latest issue gave the EQS failing marks! While I had the car, I loved it. But once this incident happened, quite the opposite. If I get any more information, I will post, but for now adios!
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