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I was driving my car from SF Bay to LA in very hot weather, AC working great as usual. I stop at a shop and then get in and AC not getting cold. I drive into the San Fernando Valley and no AC whatsoever. I am forced to find a dealership in San Diego (my eventual destination) and have the Freedom Warranty which the San Diego Mercedes service writer (what an ***, hated the entire experience) dropping it off today. He warned me it could take a week to find the issue and get Freedom to approve.
Any idea why the AC would die. I may have to get the car back as I need to get home, super frustrated!
Complex system, but a common problem is simple loss of refrigerant. When I happens suddenly like in your case, it's often the condensor which is positioned in front of the radiator and can be struck by stones or other stuff on the road.
I would have my friendly neighborhood shop put on gauges and see if the system has lost refrigerant. If that's what happened almost anyone can do a basic leak test to see if it's from damage to the condensor or another easy-to-check component. On the other hand, if the system is full of refrigerant, then you have a different troubleshooting path that requires pulling codes and possibly other specialized Mercedes expertise.
Last edited by Tom in Austin; Oct 9, 2025 at 09:43 AM.
Thanks I have the car already in a service bay at the worst experience I have had with MB service. There 24 hours and I have nothing from them nor have they filed a claim with Freedom Warranty which they said could delay by DAYS.
Thanks I hope it is a leaking line and they recharge and get me back out there. Meanwhile I am stuck 450 miles from home!
Lot of possibilities, but based on your description of a sudden change, most of the time it's the coolant/heater control valve. That would be my "shadetree mechanic" guess. You can search the forum for other example of what you've described. Obviously scanning the car will be the best way to find the problem, but that's what I'd bet on with the limited information you've provided and people's past expereiences.
Thanks I have the car already in a service bay at the worst experience I have had with MB service. There 24 hours and I have nothing from them nor have they filed a claim with Freedom Warranty which they said could delay by DAYS.
Thanks I hope it is a leaking line and they recharge and get me back out there. Meanwhile I am stuck 450 miles from home!
You can always use what we I had growing up; 4-50 air conditioning on your drive home...4 windows at 50 miles per hour...LOL
LOL I know right, but I have to drive through Interstate 5 and it was 90-93 degrees on my way down, that would get really old for 8+ hours. The dealership finally let me know that the lines are fine and that it is an electrical issue not telling the compressor to kick in, which sucks as they need to do further diagnosis. They told me they are already 3 hours into it so I am pretty much stuck with them and I will be testing the warranty I bought from Freedom Complete 2 year ago from Trent...Trent, if you're listening, I will post my results with them and if they make it easy or put me through pain.
I hate to be 'that guy' but the night I took possession of my W222 everything seemed to be going fine until I stopped for dinner to let the traffic loosen up a bit. New car to me, I started pushing buttons and observing (professional engineer here, stand back.) So on the way home it seemed like the A/C was mildly effective and now I'm thinking 'this is why I got such a good deal on this car', but the real culprit was the stupid A/C Rest button. When I got in the car after dinner, I saw there were two LEDs on either side of the climate controls indicating the AUTO setting for the climate control. Off center to the right is the A/C Rest button and LED which was also lit. So I turned it off because who designs a dash to have three lights lit at the same time with one off to the right (asymmetry)? Daimler-Benz does, that's who. Once I got home and started reading the manual I realized my error.
The point of all this is it still happens when someone is riding with me and has a taller cup in the right cup holder. It's just a the right height to bump that A/C Rest button and turn off the compressor.
Are you getting any fan at all? If so, this may be the culprit. I know it is at the dealer but the dealer is full of people.
LOL I know right, but I have to drive through Interstate 5 and it was 90-93 degrees on my way down, that would get really old for 8+ hours.
I was in line for the cash machine at my local bank when I heard a bang and then a rush of "air" when the A/C died.
It was 109ºF and I was soaked in sweat by the time I got home 5 miles away.
The main HP line from the compressor to the expansion valve ruptured.
They told me they are already 3 hours into it so I am pretty much stuck with them and I will be testing the warranty I bought from Freedom Complete 2 year ago from Trent...Trent, if you're listening, I will post my results with them and if they make it easy or put me through pain.
I've been checking the claim system since reading your original post yesterday, your service advisor has not submitted the repair order to the warranty company yet.
They need to email the repair order: claims@freedomwarranty.com
Leave a Voicemail acknowledging your repair order: (844) 809-5829
Once both are completed it will populate in the system in about an hour.
From your description most likely condenser leak as indicated above.
I would not think it will be possible to get this fixed in a few days even without the warranty complication.
Trent thanks for the update, and I appreciate your diligence. Update on the repair it is a complete compressor failure, and it is actually covered by Mercedes' extended warranty, apparently, my S550e has a difference setup for the compressor and this is a known issue, so I will not need to file a claim with them. I should tell you I was pretty disappointed with the rental car coverage which cover one day for every 8 hours of labor, that wouldn't have really worked for me. I am going to take a rental car back to SF and fly back on Thursday to pick it back up. I suggested to my wife that we just go but the though of 90+ (it is currently 95 in Bakerfield) for 8 hours is too painful.
I was driving my car from SF Bay to LA in very hot weather, AC working great as usual. I stop at a shop and then get in and AC not getting cold. I drive into the San Fernando Valley and no AC whatsoever. I am forced to find a dealership in San Diego (my eventual destination) and have the Freedom Warranty which the San Diego Mercedes service writer (what an ***, hated the entire experience) dropping it off today. He warned me it could take a week to find the issue and get Freedom to approve.
Any idea why the AC would die. I may have to get the car back as I need to get home, super frustrated!
Not sure if you are still in the area, but Ray's MBZ is a great shop. He quoted me $1500 for labor on a CLA250 engine swap and $1400 for parts and labor on a S560 4MATIC W222. I am from the Bay Area as well, but when I need major repairs I for sure take the drive out to him. Save a ton of money.
Trent thanks for the update, and I appreciate your diligence. Update on the repair it is a complete compressor failure, and it is actually covered by Mercedes' extended warranty, apparently, my S550e has a difference setup for the compressor and this is a known issue, so I will not need to file a claim with them. I should tell you I was pretty disappointed with the rental car coverage which cover one day for every 8 hours of labor, that wouldn't have really worked for me. I am going to take a rental car back to SF and fly back on Thursday to pick it back up. I suggested to my wife that we just go but the though of 90+ (it is currently 95 in Bakerfield) for 8 hours is too painful.
It is always great when things are covered. Glad you were able to find the issue and even more glad they didn't hit you with "it is just wear and tear warranty will not cover it".
Where there is a warranty extension for a covered part Mercedes will jump right on it.
Electric A/C compressor in your car OP. Be glad MB is buying it.
I wanted to do the drive later and in fact we would have had 3 terrible 90 degree hours and the rest would have been tolerable, but my wife wasn't having it (I was *****ing on I5 when it was only 80). I plan to call MB tomorrow and complain about lack of rental or loaner car during the repair (the guy immediately denied me a loaner even though I did a B3 service with him) ,
Anybody that lives in San Diego, avoid San Diego Mercedes Benz (Kearny Mesa) the suck big time. Wish I had check Yelp before i booked with them to see their 1 star service reviews.
Thanks Trend!!! I got a call back from the crap dealership in San Diego, they are saying that the codes are not being thrown so there is nothing they can do. Right, they didn't even try. I told the to forget it and I will pick up the car. Meanwhile, I called MB customer service to see what they would say, and they put me on hold to call the dealership. Of course, they don't answer the @#$# phon,e so I will pick this up tomorrow. The guy told me this is a 15-hour job and I plan to die on the hill to get them to pay for it, but if not the warranty I have should cover it.
Anyone in San Diego Area, avoid San Diego Mercedes Benz terrible in every way.
Now I am interested in how Freedom reacts.
I have a 2015 S550 with an intermittent AC blower. The vehicle is throwing codes. Freedom has taken the stance of if the blower is working when their inspector comes and looks there is nothing they can do. Docs showing the malfunction codes have been provided to Freedom. For going on two months we have not had an AC that the blower works reliably.
Thanks Trend!!! I got a call back from the crap dealership in San Diego, they are saying that the codes are not being thrown so there is nothing they can do. Right, they didn't even try. I told the to forget it and I will pick up the car. Meanwhile, I called MB customer service to see what they would say, and they put me on hold to call the dealership. Of course, they don't answer the @#$# phon,e so I will pick this up tomorrow. The guy told me this is a 15-hour job and I plan to die on the hill to get them to pay for it, but if not the warranty I have should cover it.
Anyone in San Diego Area, avoid San Diego Mercedes Benz terrible in every way.
Take it home, take it to your local dealer, have it repaired under the OEM warranty, it just sounds like souther Cali dealer doesn't want to do it. Strange since it is all factory warranty anyways.
Now I am interested in how Freedom reacts.
I have a 2015 S550 with an intermittent AC blower. The vehicle is throwing codes. Freedom has taken the stance of if the blower is working when their inspector comes and looks there is nothing they can do. Docs showing the malfunction codes have been provided to Freedom. For going on two months we have not had an AC that the blower works reliably.
The vehicle has been to 2 different Mercedes-Benz dealerships with 3 different inspections. A/C was working as intended every single time. Just like factory warranty, repairs needed need to be present at the repair facility.
The SD dealership ordeal is over I drove it home (13 hours from SD to Bay Area through the mother of all traffic) and took to Autobahn Motors. They are still saying that without the codes that MB will not cover it, but I spoke with them on phone and the agent said "I see no reason why this should not be covered". If it isnt' then looks like the $5500 I spent on the Freedom Warranty will be an immediate wash as they told me this is between $5500 and 6 grand. I will be out about $150-200 as they are a little short on the labor rate vs. what the warranty will cover, but hopefully next week I get the car back with AC.
The dealership in SD was such a mess that they offered me deal, they will refund my $750 that I spent on B3 service if I pull my 1 star yelp review. I haven't said yes or no yet...I hate to not have a review for the worst dealership I have ever EVER had to deal with (including Toyota and Nissan) or take back my $$$..
Dropped off yesterday and they insist they need to repeat the work that SD MB did before they proceed.
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