Katie22

Hi all. On our Maybach with 65,000 miles we had to get the ac recharged and thankfully they put the UV die on the system. The other day we had to charge it again I brought the UV light and glasses. Turns out the leak was on the tube going from the compression up to the connection (near the filling port) at the drivers side shock tower. The leak was actually down by the compressor on the rubber tube where its connected to the metal tube end. This would be the part that flexes with the engine movement.

Hubby put the sealant in the system so perhaps that fixed the leak but if not I got the part number for the tube a2228306402 and will order one along with the a0239976545 and install it myself after I have system evacuated.

Jud Chapin

I hate to tell you this but sealant should not be used in a/c systems. The leak should be properly repaired.

https://macsradiator.com/car-tips/pr...ng-ac-sealant/

Katie22

Yea I got you there. We were on the road and AC went out. Husband brought a can of the stuff and put it in the car. Wife suggested we wait but husband was not hearing wife. Sometimes wife just has to let husband do his thing...........right?

Mind you if wife has to fix something after husband messed it up wife will be grumbling.

Katie (wife)

PS for the record I have to admit there are times when Wife also is on a mission and does not listen to husband.......... Smiles

Jud Chapin

You are very funny, Katie. Wife right as usual. I suggest you have husband talk to a/c pro before next step. Perhaps system can be flushed to rid sealant.

Jud Chapin

Here's a good a/c forum that can help.


https://www.autoacforum.com/categories.cfm?catid=2

Katie22

Well the AC is working fine at the moment and the leak has not changed at all since the stain (seen with the uv light) has not gotten bigger.

My husband is an engineer and I am a jill of all trades but some of my college was FAA airframe and powerplant certificates so fixing stuff is often my game. I have no issue changing the hose if it continues to leak I just have to have the system evacuated.

I must admit my husband is VERY often correct really its true. We rarely ever disagree and when we do he is correct at least half the time. This instance though he was on a mission like he was possessed and I realized it was pointless to resist.............

sclass350d

My A/C also stopped working about two months ago.... after the MB dealership drained my system and refilled with the UV dye they found the bottom corner of the condenser was leaking.

They contacted Mercedes UK as I was out of warranty but they agreed to replace the condenser free of charge as it was a manufacturing fault in the condenser.

Heres my thread with pics: https://mbworld.org/forums/new-s-cla...as-packed.html

Repair bill was over £1000 so happy I didnt have to pay for it.

seamus2154

Katie, you did what you had to do at the time, and I am sure the ride was more comfortable. BUT I would change evacuate everything out of that system and change that hose on your own terms and when its convenient. These things always come back to bite at the worst times. The AC system is a harsh environment that works hard....I don't see it lasting. It has been a brutal summer this year in Florida, but October is coming, a good time for repairs!! Good luck

Katie22

Thanks Seamus. I have an update. Sadly the compressor has been making strange noises. Kind of like a growling noise. With that said I would agree with you it needs to be evacuated and probably a new compressor. I did hook up a manifold to the system and it was in good pressure ranges so he did not overcharge it. My poor husband is really sad about messing up the poor car. Well get it all fixed and personally I would do it but I’m not sure if I should change the receiver/ dryer as well. It was only one ounce of sealant but if I have this correct it went from the port down the tube that needs replaced and into the compressor. Probably gummed it all up.

Oh well.

seamus2154

I was once told by an AC mechanic working on my car that anytime the system is opened the dryer should be changed if it were his car. He explained they are a disposable item. He further explained you can get away with it, but depending on how long its open and humidity he always changes it to be safe. Good luck.

MBNUT1

Katie,

Thank you for sharing your experiences with the AC leak. Good luck going forward. As allways I appreciate your hands on approach to your S class ownership. With your aircraft experience I can see why you are not intimidated by the S Class.

Katie22

Took the car for a ride today. Ac oaks perf calypso fine and the noises seem less so was talking to hubby and said why don’t we drive it fo a bit and see how it does before we do anything else.

Bare in mind I wrote the post to identify the leak point and that was the tube that has the low side port. It goes from the driver side shock tower directly down to the compressor. MY leak was near the compressor where the rubber tube terminates to the metal tube end that mounts to the compressor.

This is would be the tube that flexes a lot because it mounts to the body and the. To the compressor which is mounts to engine and as you know engine moves a bit.

nishboo

What freon do these cars use?

Tom in Austin

Freon is a brand name for R12 refrigerant. Our cars use R134a ...

nishboo

Ahh ok. Yes, thank you. I read somewhere they use CO2 but that did sound right.

dlafever

Actually that is correct, but I do not believe we got that in the US. The CO2 refrigerant is called R744 and was introduced ~2015 for certain markets. It's a terrible refrigerant. Mercedes backed away from it in 2021.

https://vasa.org.au/mercedes-benz-dumps-r744/

Tom in Austin

Yes, there is a very efficient alternative based on propane or butane that has less climate impact than today's refrigerants but is highly flammable.

nishboo

Ok great. Thanks for sharing. I was completely lost when I found a thread mentioning cO2, but now i recall it was in europe (Greece I believe).