SL/R230: Air recirculating actuator
Thread Starter
Newbie
Joined: Apr 2019
Posts: 3
Likes: 0
SL55
Air recirculating actuator
I’m new to the forum and have recent taken on a 2003 SL55. Unfortunately the car has just been diagnosed with a faulty air recirculating actuator with a bill attached. I was wondering if there are any alternatives that would fit and if sourced a secondhand one could be fitted. Sorry this is my first experience with an SL. Thanks for any advice!
Super Member
Joined: Jul 2014
Posts: 992
Likes: 245
From: Tucson, AZ
'20 X5 M50i; '17 Ram 3500; Golf Cart; Bikes; Scooters
Welcome to the forum and great choice on your car.
How are your DIY skills? This may involve removing a lot of the dashboard and console to get access to the motors. If you are lucky, it may require just reaching under the dash.
I had this issue on my 2003 C32 AMG, but not on the SL.
There are electrical stepper motors (step only a few degrees) that move a lever and flap in the HVAC plumbing, and provide for recirc air.
The motors can fail, or the switches can fail to provide power or a signal, but more often the plastic levers attached to the motor break, and no longer moves the flap.
This is so common MB made stronger levers for the motors to prevent future failure.
Are there any noises when operating the recirc button, like clicks or motors moving?
This will help determine if the motor or lever is bad. You really need to find the fault before throwing parts at it.
You can buy a used motor for cheap, and the new flap levers are fairly inexpensive too, but the labor to get to them takes a lot of hours.
See if you can find a skilled independent shop that wants to tackle this.
And get a second opinion on the diagnosis, as these are easy to get wrong.
How are your DIY skills? This may involve removing a lot of the dashboard and console to get access to the motors. If you are lucky, it may require just reaching under the dash.
I had this issue on my 2003 C32 AMG, but not on the SL.
There are electrical stepper motors (step only a few degrees) that move a lever and flap in the HVAC plumbing, and provide for recirc air.
The motors can fail, or the switches can fail to provide power or a signal, but more often the plastic levers attached to the motor break, and no longer moves the flap.
This is so common MB made stronger levers for the motors to prevent future failure.
Are there any noises when operating the recirc button, like clicks or motors moving?
This will help determine if the motor or lever is bad. You really need to find the fault before throwing parts at it.
You can buy a used motor for cheap, and the new flap levers are fairly inexpensive too, but the labor to get to them takes a lot of hours.
See if you can find a skilled independent shop that wants to tackle this.
And get a second opinion on the diagnosis, as these are easy to get wrong.
Thread Starter
Newbie
Joined: Apr 2019
Posts: 3
Likes: 0
SL55
Hi thank you very much for taking the time to reply. I think this is a different issue to mine as I’m told the air circulating actuator is a cause for the car not running, I’m told it’s located on the underside of the supercharger. The car will run for about 15mins then cut out becoause the valve is sticking, sorry I didn’t realise there were others.
kind regards
james
kind regards
james
Super Member
Joined: Jul 2014
Posts: 992
Likes: 245
From: Tucson, AZ
'20 X5 M50i; '17 Ram 3500; Golf Cart; Bikes; Scooters
OK, let’s start over.
Do you have any codes for the problem?
Does the car go to limp mode, or does it quit running?
If limp mode, you may just need a coolant pump for the supercharger. Does it go limp mode after a couple full throttle runs?
It could be the flaps and controls to the charge air cooler (under the intercooler). These rarely fail, but it can happen.
You can DIY if you want. Here’s some info on the supercharger: https://mbworld.org/forums/w211-amg/...moval-diy.html
Let us know the issue and we can help you better.
Do you have any codes for the problem?
Does the car go to limp mode, or does it quit running?
If limp mode, you may just need a coolant pump for the supercharger. Does it go limp mode after a couple full throttle runs?
It could be the flaps and controls to the charge air cooler (under the intercooler). These rarely fail, but it can happen.
You can DIY if you want. Here’s some info on the supercharger: https://mbworld.org/forums/w211-amg/...moval-diy.html
Let us know the issue and we can help you better.
Thread Starter
Newbie
Joined: Apr 2019
Posts: 3
Likes: 0
SL55
Hi the car just stops running it doesn’t go into limp mode, I will be getting a report from the garage soon, the only thing I have at the moment is the need to replace this actuator under thebsupercharger, the part is approximately £1000 plus time to fit.
