A/C Diagnosed as Major Electrical Problem
03-07-2009, 11:31 PM
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2000 E55 AMG
A/C Diagnosed as Major Electrical Problem
I had an experience I thought I might be able to help someone who finds themselves confronted with incompetence.
The A/C on my 2000 E55 AMG stopped working. The blower wouldn't even work. I took it to a nearby A/C specialist shop.
After an hour looking at it the owner called me over and said there is a major electrical problem. The A/C is not even getting power. Said it was going to take hours (billable) while they tore into it to find the problem.
I told them thanks anyway but I will take it to the dealer.
The owner, who was an ex-marine was furious. "We are certified A/C mechanics on x different brands, are you saying we are incompetent?", blah blah.
I told him when I brought it in I thought it probably just needed a recharge. If it is going to be a big deal, I'd like to go to the dealer.
He screamed at the poor receptionist to "get this guy outa here, and don't let him come back!" (no problem there, I'll never go back)
Took it to the dealer and they had it fixed in 30 min. All it needed was a recharge. They said Mercedes are designed to prevent power from going to the A/C when they need to be recharged.
Lesson learned.
The A/C on my 2000 E55 AMG stopped working. The blower wouldn't even work. I took it to a nearby A/C specialist shop.
After an hour looking at it the owner called me over and said there is a major electrical problem. The A/C is not even getting power. Said it was going to take hours (billable) while they tore into it to find the problem.
I told them thanks anyway but I will take it to the dealer.
The owner, who was an ex-marine was furious. "We are certified A/C mechanics on x different brands, are you saying we are incompetent?", blah blah.
I told him when I brought it in I thought it probably just needed a recharge. If it is going to be a big deal, I'd like to go to the dealer.
He screamed at the poor receptionist to "get this guy outa here, and don't let him come back!" (no problem there, I'll never go back)
Took it to the dealer and they had it fixed in 30 min. All it needed was a recharge. They said Mercedes are designed to prevent power from going to the A/C when they need to be recharged.
Lesson learned.
03-08-2009, 11:57 PM
#2
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Thanks for the heads up. It's sad that getting a car repaired properly is such a hit and miss deal. Either the cars are too complicated today or there are too many crooks out there.
03-09-2009, 04:09 AM
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190D 2.5 (x2), 190E 2.6, W202 C240,W202 C43 (C55), W210 E55, W212 E250CDI
Like I keep explaining to the apprentices at work......You have to know how the system works to know what isn't working.
As much as dealers get a bad wrap all too often(unfortunately in some cases it's justified), sometimes we're the cheapest because we're not billing for finding the fault, we just bill for fixing the fault that we diagnosed 50+ cars ago
As much as dealers get a bad wrap all too often(unfortunately in some cases it's justified), sometimes we're the cheapest because we're not billing for finding the fault, we just bill for fixing the fault that we diagnosed 50+ cars ago
03-09-2009, 10:23 AM
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03 E500 and Corvette
Even chevorlet prevents power from going to the A/C when it is low on freon. The low pressure switch will turn the power off. Dah,, good thing you left the shop. I think they could see your $$$$$
