Cleaning AC Evaporator
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 62
Likes: 8
2008 ML 350
Cleaning AC Evaporator
As many GL owners know, our AC can smell. I have cleaned it couple times already with those foaming AC cleaners that comes in a can. That usually helps with the smell for few months to a year. As I lay on the passenger footwell, injecting the foaming cleaner into the plastic tube, a thought came to mind.
Since the foaming cleaner is a "wet" solution, can we just pour in more warm water after the cleaner does it job just to flush out more dirt/mold? or even use other diluted cleaners like simple clean, bathroom cleaners that kills 99.99% germs, or even just use alcohol to kill the mold in the evaporator? Is there anything in there that we need to worry about hurting?
thx.
Since the foaming cleaner is a "wet" solution, can we just pour in more warm water after the cleaner does it job just to flush out more dirt/mold? or even use other diluted cleaners like simple clean, bathroom cleaners that kills 99.99% germs, or even just use alcohol to kill the mold in the evaporator? Is there anything in there that we need to worry about hurting?
thx.
Senior Member
Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 356
Likes: 66
2012 ML350 Bluetec, 2015 GL350 Bluetec
I agree that there are many more options than the commercially available cleaners we can use, but keep in mind there are temperature sensors you don't want to ruin it. Also there are flap motors, etc. Water based cleaner solutions might cause rust in the long run. I would never use any chlorine bleach related stuff cause it might damage the sensors and leave the chlorine odor. Even alcohol is a question mark to me. The foam cleaner is so cheap it's not worth to risk it. I used the FJC 5914 from amazon that's only $8 per bottle and I only used 3 bottles for 2 cars.
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 62
Likes: 8
2008 ML 350
I agree that there are many more options than the commercially available cleaners we can use, but keep in mind there are temperature sensors you don't want to ruin it. Also there are flap motors, etc. Water based cleaner solutions might cause rust in the long run. I would never use any chlorine bleach related stuff cause it might damage the sensors and leave the chlorine odor. Even alcohol is a question mark to me. The foam cleaner is so cheap it's not worth to risk it. I used the FJC 5914 from amazon that's only $8 per bottle and I only used 3 bottles for 2 cars.
Senior Member
Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 356
Likes: 66
2012 ML350 Bluetec, 2015 GL350 Bluetec
Yes there is but the coverage is like a joke. It only covers 100% for repairs within warranty, or 75% for repairs within 8 years/100k miles, or 50% for repairs within 10 years/125k miles. The cost of the foam is only $8 so it's obvious which option is cheaper.
https://topclassactions.com/lawsuit-...site-now-live/
https://topclassactions.com/lawsuit-...site-now-live/
Senior Member
Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 356
Likes: 66
2012 ML350 Bluetec, 2015 GL350 Bluetec
Great points! I just throught that since the coil freezes and thaws enough to cause water draining out, it's be safe to really hose it down. The foaming cleaners clean, but only allowing gravity to drain out the nasty stuff, it'd be nice to be able to really flush it out. Btw, I'm going in from the little tube behind the carpet to the left of the passenger footwell. I think that'll after the motor and straight into the coil. Any other electronics or moving parts in there?
For disinfection I sprayed a lot of lysol into the HVAC box to conduct it. I think it's much less harsh than chlorine though.
Out Of Control!!
Joined: Sep 2018
Posts: 14,692
Likes: 4,584
From: unbegrenzt
2017 GLE350 4MATIC
@jonUF02 No, there is no recall. A legal settlement exists, which has been mentioned in this thread. Members of this site report repeated refusals by dealers to offer the cleaning treatment free of charge. Allegedly MB disagrees with the settlement and the dealers are doing what dealers do and not helping the customer.
There is no recall. There is no fix or repair.
There is a service treatment, which is a temporary and partial remedy. The treatment cost appears to be not covered by MB or dealers.
There is no recall. There is no fix or repair.
There is a service treatment, which is a temporary and partial remedy. The treatment cost appears to be not covered by MB or dealers.
Last edited by chassis; Sep 9, 2020 at 02:25 PM.
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Junior Member
Joined: Oct 2019
Posts: 26
Likes: 5
GL450
Can anyone provide detailed X166 instructions for spraying the foam evaporator cleaner? I just bought a can of FJC 5914, but not sure where to use it. And do I need to use a wire/screwdriver to clean out a drain hose before doing so? If so, where is this hose? Pretty sure mine is so clogged, I won’t be able to locate it with a drip spot. I thought I once saw a post that had detailed instructions and pictures, but can’t find it anymore. Everything I see now is for different MB models. Thanks for the help.
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Out Of Control!!
Joined: Sep 2018
Posts: 14,692
Likes: 4,584
From: unbegrenzt
2017 GLE350 4MATIC
Can anyone provide detailed X166 instructions for spraying the foam evaporator cleaner? I just bought a can of FJC 5914, but not sure where to use it. And do I need to use a wire/screwdriver to clean out a drain hose before doing so? If so, where is this hose? Pretty sure mine is so clogged, I won’t be able to locate it with a drip spot. I thought I once saw a post that had detailed instructions and pictures, but can’t find it anymore. Everything I see now is for different MB models. Thanks for the help.
Junior Member
Joined: Oct 2019
Posts: 26
Likes: 5
GL450
I thought I had previously seen a thread with pictures that show exactly where to spray behind/above the glove box area. I think this is the more effective approach, but recall there is more than one tube back there? Or maybe there was something you have to disconnect to to spray into and I didn’t know which way to spray it? That post with the pictures is what I’m looking for (or just some more hand holding). I need to know where to spray the foam cleaner and if there’s anything I need to do with the drain tube. The posts I’ve seen are either written by someone with generic language or someone that failed to find what they were looking for (like the link below where someone failed to find the drain tube).
https://mbworld.org/forums/gl-class-...rain-tube.html
https://mbworld.org/forums/gl-class-...rain-tube.html
Junior Member
Joined: Oct 2019
Posts: 26
Likes: 5
GL450
I just found it here. Please let me know if linking to other sites is a no-no and I’ll remove it. Not sure what proper etiquette is in this situation
https://www.benzworld.org/threads/20...#post-16010042
https://www.benzworld.org/threads/20...#post-16010042
Newbie
Joined: Nov 2022
Posts: 2
Likes: 0
RX 350
First, switch your air conditioner system off along with any air handler unit in your home. Then, gain access to the coils by removing the panel of the air-handling unit. Where it is will vary depending on models and I think you should to check the book guide of it for sure.
Newbie
Joined: Dec 2022
Posts: 3
Likes: 0
BWM
First, switch your air conditioner system off along with any air handler unit in your home. Then, gain access to the coils by removing the panel of the air-handling unit. Where it is will vary depending on models and I think you should to check the book guide of it for sure.
