1982 300TD Wagon.

I recharged my system with Freeze 12 after a leak detector/sealant. I couldn't find a leak anywhere whatsoever. So I added the stuff. Everything seems okay. It gets pretty cool, but I know it's not anywhere near the 30's (like diesel giant's work). I think some working center vents might also do me some good. Anyway....

The system seems to be working, but where do I start to try to improve it? New compressor/drier/expansion valve? Dunno....

Any suggestions? (PS, someone should set up a nice tutorial on fixing those whacky center vents).

Thanks.

Is the condensor clean? How about the fan clutch/aux fan?

__________________
I'm not a doctor, but I'll have a look.

'85 300SD 245k
'87 300SDL 251k
'90 300SEL 326k

Six others from BMW, GM, and Ford.

Liberty will not descend to a people; a people must raise themselves to liberty.[/IMG]

Summer in Texas....I think we were all working on our A/C systems! I got cold air blasting the windshield from the defrost vents and no center vents.

I was piddling with my center vent problem this evening. Remove the passanger side kick panel and glove box, ash tray, CC unit. Now from the glove box you can look up and right behind the center vents is a black rubber boot, right behind that is the dreaded center vent pod and linkage. Look at the plastic duct below the boot, right there on the left side of the glove box, and you will see a white plastic "pivot point", I know that is the pivot point for the center vents.

With car running, turn on the A/C, cycle the buttons while watching that pod and see if anything happens. I could both see and reach in and feel the pod move the rod. However, I could not tell that it did a dang thing! Pod moves the rod, but no change. Now to that pivot point, if you reach in and and turn it clockwise with a pair of plyers, YOU GET A LOTTA COLD AIR OUTTA THE CENTER VENTS! Cool!! Except that MY pod will close the door again, so I'm right back where I started from, no center vents. I am thinking of clipping the rod and jamming the door in the open posistion and just turning the vents on/off at the dash...you might try that and I think you can do it without removing the dash. BUT, I'm pretty sure that would screw up the defrost option. Catch 22...heat stroke or crash because you can see where you're going with a frosted up window...heat stroke is a bigger risk!

I think I've read somewhere that the center pod is a dual action, so maybe just 1/2 of my pod works!? Anybody know about that??

__________________
Mark
1983 300TD Wagon
Even a broken watch is right twice a day

Paint the car white and keep it parked in the shade with the windows down most of the time That orta help sum Bribe the weatherman to conjure us up a rain er two and break this drout Punch louvers into the hood to get more air flow over the radiator/condensor. Add an extra liquid bottle under the hood and spray the radiator/condensor down with water/alcohol mix.....switch the winshield washers electric line to the new sprayer and trigger it off the steering wheel stalk .

Might make sure your evaporator unit under the dash is clean and that your blower motor is up to the task of greater air flow. Keep the radiator/condensor spotless. You might add some insulation wrap to the cold lines under the hood to make sure that all the cool is getting into the car.

Regards,

Run-em
1983 300SD -aka- SPARKY THE DIESEL

My '95 gets a little less cooler in the stop and go, but when I'm on the highway (which is most of the time) it's as cold as a butcher's freezer. I just don't think the German AC can keep up with the 96d heat and no movement over the condensor.

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- Brian


1989 500SEL Euro
1966 250SE Cabriolet
1958 BMW Isetta 600

I held my center vents open with a screw driver and ran a drywall screw in the right side of the housing just in front of the flap. You need to remove the glove box to do this.
You should also remove and plug the vac hose at the center vent pod to prevent it from leaking vaccum. Somehow the defroster flaps are tied into the center faps vac system and a leak will make them act wierd. I got this info from a vacuum diagram. And noticed it on my own heater box when I had it out a couple of weeks ago.

Get your windows tinted if you don't have that done already, the difference is huge.

__________________
I'm not a doctor, but I'll have a look.

'85 300SD 245k
'87 300SDL 251k
'90 300SEL 326k

Six others from BMW, GM, and Ford.

Liberty will not descend to a people; a people must raise themselves to liberty.[/IMG]

Check your ETR switch. Especially if your clutch starts to cycle off after the system starts to work and your high side pressure is OK.

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'82 300SD - 361K mi - "Blue"

"Good judgement comes from experience. Experience comes from bad judgement."

listen, look, .........and duck.