Mr Morgan's E320CDI evaporator repair - MBClub UK

**BlackC55** · 26-06-2012, 03:05 PM

Before:

renault12ts · 26-06-2012, 03:07 PM

After?

**BlackC55** · 26-06-2012, 03:08 PM

We removed everything behind the dash console to gain acess to the leaking evaporator. The evaporator is inside the heater box. We removed the heater box and stripped it into a million bits and replaced the evapotator.

A little pic of during the work.

**BlackC55** · 26-06-2012, 03:10 PM

We found the heater matrix leaking too. So we had to repair that with some new seals. There was coolant sitting inside the heater box mixed with AC dye and AC oil.

Put it all back together and its now working better than ever.

It's quite a daunting job but the sense of satisfaction is great.

Aerialmark · 26-06-2012, 03:18 PM

Hell !

How long did it take to take apart and put back together did it all go back ok and what was the most difficult part of it apart from the thought of should I do it !!!!!! ?. Well done by the way

wemorgan · 26-06-2012, 03:19 PM

A nice day to bury bad news

ringway · 26-06-2012, 03:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BlackC55

We found the heater matrix leaking too. So we had to repair that with some new seals. There was coolant sitting inside the heater box mixed with AC dye and AC oil.

Put it all back together and its now working better than ever.

It's quite a daunting job but the sense of satisfaction is great.

Well done, Olly. I'll bet a lot of mechanics would trip up somewhere along the line doing that job.

I never had a firm identification of the cause of the aircon problem.
MB Macclesfield said evaporator and someone else said a corroded pipe was at fault. I knew the dash had to come out so I never considered having it investigated further or repaired.

That car will be perfect now and last a long time. I do miss it, but hardly ever got the chance to drive it.

Fantastic job, Olly.

Good luck, Charles.

clk208 · 26-06-2012, 03:29 PM

Wow that is absolutely crazy. Some talk of certain volvo models being built around the heater fan and much dismantling needed to replace, but this takes it to a new level!

Is this a common fault? any other consequences of not attending to this other than presumably no air-conditioning?

bolide · 26-06-2012, 03:39 PM

The last W124 evaporator I did took about 20 hours. But them I am not a highly-trained Mercedes deconstruction technician

Nick Froome

BTB 500 · 26-06-2012, 03:43 PM

Wow, good job!

ringway · 26-06-2012, 03:55 PM

I had heard of it being done before where two garage bays were used.
The dash was dismantled and placed in the empty bay in "out" order and then reassembled in reverse.
THIS is the job where the phone keeps ringing as a distraction.

Igurisu · 26-06-2012, 03:57 PM

Christ Olly, what a job! How you can ever get it all back together is beyond me but I have the greatest of respect for you guys that can.

renault12ts · 26-06-2012, 04:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Igurisu

Christ Olly, what a job! How you can ever get it all back together is beyond me but I have the greatest of respect for you guys that can.

Getting it back together isn't the problem...its the 2 dozen left over bits you need to worry about!

Aerialmark · 26-06-2012, 04:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wemorgan

A nice day to bury bad news

What behind the dash ?

**BlackC55** · 26-06-2012, 04:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Aerialmark

Hell !

How long did it take to take apart and put back together did it all go back ok and what was the most difficult part of it apart from the thought of should I do it !!!!!! ?. Well done by the way

The tricky bit was the brace bar that goes across the car. That was a bugger to get back in. The wiring has to go back in exactly the same place too otherwise they are often too short for the consumer.

I quite enjoy it actually.

Quote:

Originally Posted by ringway

Well done, Olly. I'll bet a lot of mechanics would trip up somewhere along the line doing that job.

I never had a firm identification of the cause of the aircon problem.
MB Macclesfield said evaporator and someone else said a corroded pipe was at fault. I knew the dash had to come out so I never considered having it investigated further or repaired.

That car will be perfect now and last a long time. I do miss it, but hardly ever got the chance to drive it.

Fantastic job, Olly.

Good luck, Charles.

Thank you.

Quote:

Originally Posted by clk208

Wow that is absolutely crazy. Some talk of certain volvo models being built around the heater fan and much dismantling needed to replace, but this takes it to a new level!

Is this a common fault? any other consequences of not attending to this other than presumably no air-conditioning?

Not a common fault. Its the first 210 one I have had out. In fact its the first evaporator I have ever done.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Igurisu

Christ Olly, what a job! How you can ever get it all back together is beyond me but I have the greatest of respect for you guys that can.

It really is not that hard if you are methodical. You just need to hit it in one. No distractions. Thats why I started it at 6:45 this morning.

Quote:

Originally Posted by renault12ts

Getting it back together isn't the problem...its the 2 dozen left over bits you need to worry about!

Jack sat in one seat and me in the other. It took us 5.5 hours per person per side. 11 in total.

No bits or screws left over. There were a few missing actually that I replaced.

26-06-2012, 03:05 PM	#1
BlackC55 Authorised Forum Sponsor Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Horndean, Portsmouth, Hampshire, Southsea Car: C43 AMG with mods, CLK55, C250TD, MK1 Caddy Posts: 14,164	Mr Morgan's E320CDI evaporator repair Before: __________________ Olly Prestige car Service: I am listed here on MBClub please click to see services and discounts available.

26-06-2012, 03:08 PM	#3
BlackC55 Authorised Forum Sponsor Threadstarter Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Horndean, Portsmouth, Hampshire, Southsea Car: C43 AMG with mods, CLK55, C250TD, MK1 Caddy Posts: 14,164	We removed everything behind the dash console to gain acess to the leaking evaporator. The evaporator is inside the heater box. We removed the heater box and stripped it into a million bits and replaced the evapotator. A little pic of during the work. __________________ Olly Prestige car Service: I am listed here on MBClub please click to see services and discounts available.

26-06-2012, 03:10 PM	#4
BlackC55 Authorised Forum Sponsor Threadstarter Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Horndean, Portsmouth, Hampshire, Southsea Car: C43 AMG with mods, CLK55, C250TD, MK1 Caddy Posts: 14,164	We found the heater matrix leaking too. So we had to repair that with some new seals. There was coolant sitting inside the heater box mixed with AC dye and AC oil. Put it all back together and its now working better than ever. It's quite a daunting job but the sense of satisfaction is great. __________________ Olly Prestige car Service: I am listed here on MBClub please click to see services and discounts available.

26-06-2012, 03:07 PM	#2
renault12ts Hardcore MB Enthusiast Join Date: Mar 2009 Car: 2000 S210 E320CDI Avantgarde Posts: 8,926	After?

26-06-2012, 03:18 PM	#5
Aerialmark Hardcore MB Enthusiast Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Burnley (where the M65 is cobbled) Car: E320 cdi avantgarde auto Posts: 265	Hell ! How long did it take to take apart and put back together did it all go back ok and what was the most difficult part of it apart from the thought of should I do it !!!!!! ?. Well done by the way

26-06-2012, 03:19 PM	#6
wemorgan Hardcore MB Enthusiast Join Date: Apr 2008 Car: R172 SLK 250CDI Posts: 7,087	A nice day to bury bad news

26-06-2012, 03:29 PM	#8
clk208 Hardcore MB Enthusiast Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: NW Car: CLS Posts: 680	Wow that is absolutely crazy. Some talk of certain volvo models being built around the heater fan and much dismantling needed to replace, but this takes it to a new level! Is this a common fault? any other consequences of not attending to this other than presumably no air-conditioning?

26-06-2012, 03:39 PM	#9
bolide Hardcore MB Enthusiast Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Brighton Car: BMW E39 525 Diesel Touring Posts: 3,038	The last W124 evaporator I did took about 20 hours. But them I am not a highly-trained Mercedes deconstruction technician Nick Froome

26-06-2012, 03:43 PM	#10
BTB 500 Hardcore MB Enthusiast Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Berkshire Car: '97 R129 SL500, '07 Vito 120 Dualiner Long, '96 Audi A4 TDi 110 SE Avant Posts: 13,497	Wow, good job!

26-06-2012, 03:55 PM	#11
ringway Hardcore MB Enthusiast Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: In the Doghouse. Car: S210 430 V8. 2008 Tinworm Express Vito Dualiner 120 Sport. C240 Sport V6 Estate Posts: 4,533	I had heard of it being done before where two garage bays were used. The dash was dismantled and placed in the empty bay in "out" order and then reassembled in reverse. THIS is the job where the phone keeps ringing as a distraction.

26-06-2012, 03:57 PM	#12
Igurisu Hardcore MB Enthusiast Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Lancashire Car: 911 Turbo Posts: 680	Christ Olly, what a job! How you can ever get it all back together is beyond me but I have the greatest of respect for you guys that can.

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