Charging A/C after compressor replacement - light blinking
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Jan 2020
Posts: 48
Likes: 6
2005 E55 AMG
Charging A/C after compressor replacement - light blinking
Just finished replacing my compressor, condenser/drier, and expansion valve due to a failed and locked up compressor sent shavings through the system.
Fast forward through that crappy job (the radiator/condenser/HE are such a pain to marry up correctly for mounting) and I vacuum down the system appropriately, and proceed to dump refrigerant in. Now, I’m just using some off the shelf bottles from a local auto parts store, but it should work. W211’s take 33oz and I purchased 32, figured it was close enough versus buying a third bottle to use 1oz.
My goal was to dump a fair amount in with the car off, then proceed to start the car and call for A/C to finish charging. Upon starting and turning A/C on, the light just flashes and my refrigerant is not letting me dump anymore into the line. So after a bit of googling it appears the cars have some sort of fail safe built in that will not allow the compressor to run if refrigerant amount falls so far out of spec one way or the other?
I’m ready to throw in the towel and take it in if this is a STAR only issue that needs to be reset in some way, but thought I would check in with you all before I quit. Any ideas?
Fast forward through that crappy job (the radiator/condenser/HE are such a pain to marry up correctly for mounting) and I vacuum down the system appropriately, and proceed to dump refrigerant in. Now, I’m just using some off the shelf bottles from a local auto parts store, but it should work. W211’s take 33oz and I purchased 32, figured it was close enough versus buying a third bottle to use 1oz.
My goal was to dump a fair amount in with the car off, then proceed to start the car and call for A/C to finish charging. Upon starting and turning A/C on, the light just flashes and my refrigerant is not letting me dump anymore into the line. So after a bit of googling it appears the cars have some sort of fail safe built in that will not allow the compressor to run if refrigerant amount falls so far out of spec one way or the other?
I’m ready to throw in the towel and take it in if this is a STAR only issue that needs to be reset in some way, but thought I would check in with you all before I quit. Any ideas?
Junior Member
Joined: Feb 2016
Posts: 58
Likes: 9
From: Canada
'06 E55 / '10 GLK 350
You should have 35-45psi on the low side while the compressor is running. How much do you have? Is the system atleast keeping its pressure?
Is the compressor kicking on at all?
Usually the compressor won’t kick in if the car doesn’t see any or insufficient pressure...
I know there is some hidden menu on the AC control inside the car, may be worth investigating that.
Is the compressor kicking on at all?
Usually the compressor won’t kick in if the car doesn’t see any or insufficient pressure...
I know there is some hidden menu on the AC control inside the car, may be worth investigating that.
Last edited by Sam.P; Sep 25, 2020 at 09:17 AM.
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Jan 2020
Posts: 48
Likes: 6
2005 E55 AMG
You should have 35-45psi on the low side while the compressor is running. How much do you have? Is the system atleast keeping its pressure?
Is the compressor kicking on at all?
Usually the compressor won’t kick in if the car doesn’t see any or insufficient pressure...
I know there is some hidden menu on the AC control inside the car, may be worth investigating that.
Is the compressor kicking on at all?
Usually the compressor won’t kick in if the car doesn’t see any or insufficient pressure...
I know there is some hidden menu on the AC control inside the car, may be worth investigating that.
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Jan 2020
Posts: 48
Likes: 6
2005 E55 AMG
