W210 Air Conditioning Problem

[GordonTarling]

I have noticed over the past few days of very hot weather that the aircon in my car just never seems to cool the car down enough - even with the fan on max, the recirc seems to stay engaged continuously. On a cooler day, the recirc turns itself off after a while. Seems to me that the system is struggling on the hotter days. Is there any easy way of determining if the air is getting cold enough? I can easily measure the temperature of the air coming out of the front vents, but what temp should I expect to see? Car is 2001 E320CDI Elegance with the 'manual' air conditioning controls. Car has to go into stealer's soon, so want to be sure of my facts before I ask them to fix it.

[230K]

My 210 300TD blows between 2 & 5deg C with Air con on(measured with a thermocouple on a multimeter). When was your pollen filter changed last?

230K

[GordonTarling]

230k - thanks for the help. I'll run the A/C tomorrow and check the temperature. Don't know when pollen filter was last changed, I've only had the car for a month and the last (A) service was done about a year ago - I think the pollen filter is only changed on a B service? If you think this may reduce the effectiveness of the A/C, then I'll get one and change it to see if it helps.

[teky]

just get it re-gassed, normally every 3 yrs

[guydewdney]

like they ever bother actually changine the filter...


sorry - being cynical - but check both filters (pollen and re-circ) yourself.

[GordonTarling]

Thanks chaps - it's in at a local independent MB garage today for an oil and filter change, so he's also going to check the A/C. He did mention that 3 years is generally about how long the gas lasts, so re-gassing will probably do the trick. Don't suppose MB will pay for the re-gassing under warranty?

Guy - I know the pollen filter is located under the panel below the glovebox - is the re-circ filter there too?

[guydewdney]

lookign at the epc - theres a second pair of filters effectivly where the glove box is - horizontal ones - called 'dust filter' - above the blower motor -179 below

- the easy to access ones are the vertical ones in the passenger footwell. 182 below

remember this is a US LHD version - so make it a mirror image...

http://www.dewdney.co.uk/guy/210blower.jpg
no idea how to get to them... sorry.

[GordonTarling]

Guy - Thanks for that, most helpful. I'll print it out and then use a mirror. :) Don't suppose those upper two filters have ever been changed!

Just got the car back from Auto Care Services late this afternoon - Their opinion was that it needs re-gassing and a pollen filter change. I'll try to get stealership to do this work under warranty, but don't hold out a lot of hope. if the stealership won't wear it, then I'll get Auto care to do it at greatly reduced cost!

[GordonTarling]

Update - car went to stealership today for some warranty work, one of their tasks was to look into why the aircon wasn't cooling enough. Their answer was that they found the pollen filter almost blocked and have replaced it. I'm taking that as an admission of guilt that they didn't change it previously when the car was serviced there, though I'm sure they'd find SOME excuse that was either mine or the previous owner's fault!. Anyway, there's a LOT more air coming out the vents now, but whether it's enough to cool the car down properly on a hot day, only time will tell.

[C240Sport97]

so, we'll know, if we're lucky, in summer 2005




but whether it's enough to cool the car down properly on a hot day, only time will tell.

[dvndave]

Hi Guys,

Very interested in your thread as Iv'e just posted a problem with my aircon, however first time Iv'e known about additional, "dust filters" - thanks Guy for the diag. Any ideas how I can find out how to change those little b**gers.


Cheers

Dave

[uumode]

so, we'll know, if we're lucky, in summer 2005

[Fast Forward to Summer 2005]

Seems to be looovely today and yesterday. :)
only my air-con ain't working and it was hot on the drive home yesterday

Hose pipe bans on the way too..

[Copiertech]

I`ve got a can of castrol r134a gas with lubricant, and seal rejuvinator, with a hose, connector and pressure gauge you can have for £30. easy to top it up yourself. can contains approx 350g, enough for a top up but not enough to fill from completely empty, but chances are there is still gas left, just needs a top up.