SL-Class (R230) 2003 -- 2012: Discussion on the SL500, SL550, SL600

SL/R230: Air conditioning issue R230

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Old Jun 13, 2012 | 12:10 PM
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"2003" SL500 and E-320
Air conditioning issue R230

Another issue with the air conditioning. I bought the 134a refrigerant and attempted to put it in the low pressure side, the gauge indicated 150 psi.in the red. I'm still getting warm air blowing in. So I'm guessing its' not the refrigerant leaking. Any idea's what to do before I have to brining it in to dealer? Compressor being spun by belt. Is it suppose to engage a clutch? Appreciate any advise.
I have a 03 SL500.
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Old Jun 13, 2012 | 07:19 PM
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Were you running the A/C while filling it? If not, you're supposed to. It may be totally discharged as well. I had to replace the compressor on one of my cars so the system was totally empty, with no vacuum, so i had to have my buddy fill it with his machine. Doing it with those cans wasn't working. Good luck.

Yes the compressor clutch is supposed to engage when turned on.

Aaron
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Old Jun 13, 2012 | 07:32 PM
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not sure but i believe that its the same for your model too but, MB goes by weight not pressure. i learned the hard way. since you are now most likely over charged they wont charge you for refig just the e vac and refill. mine was low barley blowing cool air i then added 134 with no oils or stop leak and then i was over full blowing warm air.
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Old Jun 20, 2012 | 08:38 PM
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"2003" SL500 and E-320
ran air conditioning full blast and tried filling it with the r134a and the gauge is showing 140 psi still blowing warm air. Red light on AC button blinks. I don't hear the compressor kicking on, hate going to the dealer. Any suggestions???
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Old Jun 21, 2012 | 06:51 PM
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When you turn on the AC does the clutch plate engaged and turning as well?
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Old Jun 21, 2012 | 08:06 PM
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Don't hear the clutch plate engaging, it obviously is spinning because of the belt. AC was working before I took it out of storage now its' not.
I bought a can of r134 and the gauge on the canister is showing 140 psi and is in the red on that gauge.
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Old Jun 22, 2012 | 11:07 AM
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Originally Posted by LVDSB
Don't hear the clutch plate engaging, it obviously is spinning because of the belt. AC was working before I took it out of storage now its' not.
I bought a can of r134 and the gauge on the canister is showing 140 psi and is in the red on that gauge.
The "motor" runs when the belt turns, but when you turn on the AC the clutch is engaged TO the motor and hence the AC works. Two possibilities here ... one is your compressor broken, and the other is the gas.
Since the gas is much much cheaper solution, why don't you take it to your local repair shop and have them recharge your unit for you. That shouldn't take more than 120 or so. Most places, if the AC is not cold after they recharge, they won't charge you any money for it. I would try that first. I hope this helps. Good luck.
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Old Jun 22, 2012 | 11:15 AM
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Originally Posted by LVDSB
ran air conditioning full blast and tried filling it with the r134a and the gauge is showing 140 psi still blowing warm air. Red light on AC button blinks. I don't hear the compressor kicking on, hate going to the dealer. Any suggestions???

No clutch in our system. Your ac system has thrown a code since the ac button blinks three times then stays on. There is a problem somewhere in the circuit. You need to hook it up to star and take a look at what code has been thrown. Could just be the dryer or a sensor. If its the compressor your looking at +1k from an indy shop to replace.
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Old Jun 22, 2012 | 08:58 PM
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is there a way other then star to diagnose the AC????.
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Old Jun 22, 2012 | 09:10 PM
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Not that I know of. Trust me on this, I just had a new compressor installed. We changed the drier and in the end it turned out to be the compressor. The only way to get your ac working is to clear the code. You need to clear the code and get your AC working so you can put the gauges on it to see how the pressure looks. If the pressure is off, you need a new compressor.

Question for you, have you had any problems with the consumer battery recently? Around the same time your AC issues began?
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Old Jun 22, 2012 | 09:25 PM
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"2003" SL500 and E-320
Not the consumer battery but I did change the starting battery. I believe the air was working at that time. Thats the only thing I did. I installed the starting battery myself.
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Old Jun 22, 2012 | 09:26 PM
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"2003" SL500 and E-320
is there a combination of buttons to push to diagnose. Just trying to do the obvious myself before I bring it in to MB. Thanks
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Old Jun 22, 2012 | 09:36 PM
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Not on our cars, there is no combination of buttons to press that will reset it. Star is the only way to do it. The consumer battery dying could cause a fault in the ac circuit. Happened to me. The battery in the front is just for the starter.

Your going to have to get it looked at by someone who has the star system.
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Old Jun 23, 2012 | 11:35 AM
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Too Much Coolant?

Originally Posted by LVDSB
Another issue with the air conditioning. I bought the 134a refrigerant and attempted to put it in the low pressure side, the gauge indicated 150 psi.in the red. I'm still getting warm air blowing in.
Are you sure that you don't have too much refrigerant resulting in too high of a pressure? If so, the pressure sensor/switch would prevent the compressor from running. Is the 150 psi reading on the low pressure or high pressure side? My gauge for the low pressure side shows "red" at 55psi, but I don't know if Mercedes runs much higher on the low side. If you are reading 150 on the low pressure side, I'd bleed off some refrigerant and see if that helps.

Last edited by slk55er; Jun 23, 2012 at 05:41 PM. Reason: clarification
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