Tuscan1311

Hey guys my compressor just went. It seized on way home from mechanic. I was wondering my car has 125k miles on it should it have lasted longer or is it normal for it to go at this mileage? I have a rice beater with 250 k miles and still have orig ac compressor even though it acts up some times it still works. I know to expect things to break or wear out but come on man i feel it should have lasted longer. What u think? What would be the right hrs charged to install at a shop????

tusabes

AC compressor or Airmatic suspension compressor???

The airmatic air compressor is a common failure item because the relay fails in the on position, burning out the compressor.

Ive never heard AC compressor failure in a w220 yet

MB-Dude

+1 In all the MB's I've owned, never had to replace an AC Compressor. Oldest was in a '73 450SL (RIP 1999).
Cheers,
Jeff

Tuscan1311

Ok its the ac pulley that stop spinning. When i opened the hood the belt was off and but not broken. Smelled burnt Rubber also maybe from comming in contact with other pullies. It was hanging down from engine.

Tuscan1311

If it helps i found the engine diagram and the part that stopped spinning is number 13 And also the pully that is right under the chain in the diagram came off what is that pully for?

http://mb.ilcats.ru/part/class/1/cco...966/group/01//

Quadcammer

13 is, as it says, the air conditioning pulley or power steering. Both are strangely numbered 13.

the part below the "chain", if I'm looking this properly, is an idler pulley. Does nothing but spin freely.

Tuscan1311

The 13 under the 13! There are 2 number 13. Ok the idler pully was gone when i opened hood. I have no idea how and why that happened.

daisound

The idler broke and caused your belt failure. That will break your AC pulley too. It happened to me last Sept. when I was driving at 80mph on freeway. After I replace the idler, belt and attached back to the pulleys, everything goes on cool but after few weeks, the AC pulley made noise once you turned on engine. The noise is so annoying, it comes out from the AC compressor, does not matter the AC on or off. As you know, our S50 compressor runs all the time, when the clutch engaged, it must run faster.
I wish to replace the compressor myself, but I do not know how to pull it out from the limited space under the power steering pump.
Can someone help to suggest how I can retrieve the bad compressor, under or over the steering pump ?

MB-Dude

Not necessarily on-topic but related... My S55 (M113 engine) had an annoying howling noise. The noise turned out to be the ABC Dampener. But in the midst of troubleshooting the noise source, I found my double idler pulley incredibly wobbly. So much so that I suspect a number of the inner ball bearings disintegrated, or the races were grossly enlarged. Of course I replaced the pulley assembly. But the lesson here is to check condition of the idler pulley bearings periodically. If they disintegrate, catastrophic failure - complete loss of the pulley - could result. Just passing along a possibility as to why your idler is no-more.
Cheers,
Jeff

Tuscan1311

Thanks feel better to know it happen to someone else.it seized and will be replacing compressor I expected little things to pop up since i only have car for less than month and it has 125k miles. But a plastic pully causing a c compressor pully failure never would have expected it. I would have thought the alternater or even psp would go before a c . If you know what else should i lookout for. The hoses on radiator feel soft, should i replace when doing collant replacement? I will fix thing as needed but i rather prevent it even more. Do not want to be the benz on side of road with hood up. Thanks again

daisound

The radiator hose should be soft. I will not worry about it. You should replace the compressor only if the pulley lock up in the AC or no cold air after corrected freon service. This can only be sure by taken the belt off and use your hand to spin the pulley.
Yesterday, I visit the dealer, they advise me not to change the compressor, from service manager, adviser and shop manager, customer has been continue to use noise AC bearing for years without the compressor go out. There is no clutch in S500 AC, it is a 2 speed compressor, AC light on, it runs 20%, dries in car air humidity. AC light off, runs high speed for cooling, temp control in display controls the volume liquid freon flow through the expansion valve, that is the reason for the #7 reading freon pressure varies during AC on. The pressure sensor is on top of the drier reads the same BAR as the Hi port pressure next to the condenser.
Going back to the problem of the compressor, the pulley hardly seized, there is a clutch between the pulley and the pump, clutch means weak link, not magnetic operated as in other compressor,will disconnect the pump from the pulley, in case the pump seized, so the belt is saved and the car still runs.
Belt Problem: due to broken idler, made of plastic, should replace every 50K miles to avoid problem.

Tuscan1311

Thanks for info.
The compressor seized and will be rePlacing it tomorrow. I plan to keep this ride a few years and want it in top shape to go anywhere without hesitation. My ricebeatter has 250 k miles and i would driver her to alaska without a thought of it might break down or anything like that. I only had my benz a month and i know it will take time to have that trust. What preventative maintenence would you recomend other than obvious( oil, tune up) for benz. Seem to me that benzs need extra special care when it comes to maintenence. The compressor caught me by surprise and im glad it happened close to shop not on highway needing a tow.
Thanks

daisound

You have to follow the A and B service items. DIY yourself will save lots of money. I have the car for 12th year from new but only drove 86K miles. I have been put it on the shelf since I got my new Porsche 997 in 2006. Even my wife's 2001 E320 has more miles, 122K, than my S500

Tuscan1311

Yes i will drive this car regular basis back and forth to work on most days. I will be following the service intervals. It had a transmission service done in 2010 at 100k mile filter and all. Also the 100 k tune up with plugs at same time. I purchased it with 124 k miles on it. Should i change tranny fluid only or do it with filter change. I will change collant at next oil change. I have 126 k miles now. Thanks for reply

daisound

Since the transmission has been service at 100K, I will replace filter and fluid at 150K and check the level of fluid every year. The old seal ring or spacer 203.540.02.53 will leak fluid in this model and caused transmission failure. Help yourself to buy a transmission dip stick similar to the one in motor oil. It is available in the internet or go to S G motor sport $22.99.

daisound

Tuscan,
Are you going to replace the compressor by DIY or from dealership ?

Tuscan1311

No my mechanic did it for me. New compressor, serp belt and top plastic pully. He changed the differential fluid also front and rear.

daisound

I plan to DIY myself. The est. cost will be $600 to replace the compressor, drier and buy the vacuum pump, hoses & 3 cans of 134a