Automatic Climate Control - Page 2 - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

sleepstar · #1 12-22-2012, 09:47 PM

watch this video. relevant section starts at about 2:50
Mercedes Benz 123 Chassis Center Console Wood and Switch Removal by Kent Bergsma - YouTube

you'll know if the automatic control is working by pressing the small button so that the high and low fan selection are both popped out. the automatic control should vary the fan speed. it will never shut off. it will also vary how much heat comes out of the vent. in using mine, it feels like the farther away the target temperature the hotter the air coming out of the vent. the system is very slow to react, by the way. i dont know if thats how its designed or because its 30 years old.

Adriel · #2 12-22-2012, 09:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sleepstar

watch this video. relevant section starts at about 2:50
Mercedes Benz 123 Chassis Center Console Wood and Switch Removal by Kent Bergsma - YouTube

you'll know if the automatic control is working by pressing the small button so that the high and low fan selection are both popped out. the automatic control should vary the fan speed. it will never shut off. it will also vary how much heat comes out of the vent. in using mine, it feels like the farther away the target temperature the hotter the air coming out of the vent. the system is very slow to react, by the way. i dont know if thats how its designed or because its 30 years old.

Thank you so much!

I will watch it, but interesting you say the automatic pops, as mine doesn't, thus why I was wondering how one knew what mode they are in. Now what?

Adriel · #3 12-22-2012, 10:06 PM

I found it interesting how far the automatic button sticks out in the video. Mine is missing most of the lettering. What is the unit called? I am thinking of finding a different unit...

toomany MBZ · #4 12-23-2012, 08:48 AM

It's an Automatic Climate Control unit.

Adriel · #5 12-23-2012, 03:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by toomany MBZ

It's an Automatic Climate Control unit.

Yep, thank you, I realized that late last night doing research. I thought the switch was separate but in fact part of the whole unit. So that ends getting new and maybe used. In the end, it does work better than nothing!

Zacharias · #6 12-23-2012, 04:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Adriel

interesting you say the automatic pops, as mine doesn't, thus why I was wondering how one knew what mode they are in. Now what?

The way you phrased that, I'm not sure if you understood what the other respondent meant by "pops". When you press the automatic button, if either of the manual fan control buttons (above and below it) is pushed in, the manual button should pop out when the auto button is pushed. The auto button doesn't stay pushed in like the others when it has been pushed, it's a momentary switch. Neither does it pop out when one of the manual buttons is pressed to take the system out of auto mode for fan control.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Adriel

Yep, thank you, I realized that late last night doing research. I thought the switch was separate but in fact part of the whole unit. So that ends getting new and maybe used. In the end, it does work better than nothing!

If you do need to replace the unit, auto climate control units new were nearly $400 last time I checked. I would suggest you put a 'WTB' (want to buy) posting on the Mercedes Used Parts for Sale subforum (accessible off the main forums page). Lots of folks have parted out w123s over the last few months so someone probably has one lying around for a more reasonable price. I would recommend that you get a unit out of a w123 -- the early w126 series unit looks identical, and some people say they have interchanged them, but technically it isn't the same. (The w123 part has 123 in the part number.)

BTW, sorry if I came across like a hard*ss in my reply yesterday to you about including model info in posts... likewise apologies to querty for snapping at him. Three days of meds for lower back immobility tends to make me snappy (and causes me to make typos, as querty was pointing out).

Adriel · #7 12-23-2012, 05:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zacharias

The way you phrased that, I'm not sure if you understood what the other respondent meant by "pops". When you press the automatic button, if either of the manual fan control buttons (above and below it) is pushed in, the manual button will pop out when the auto button is pushed. The auto button doesn't stay pushed in like the others when it has been pushed, it's a momentary switch. Neither does it pop out when one of the manual buttons is pressed to take the system to auto mode for fan control.

If you do need to replace the unit, auto climate control units new were nearly $400 last time I checked. I would suggest you put a 'WTB' (want to buy) posting on the Mercedes Used Parts for Sale subforum (accessible off the main forums page). Lots of folks have parted out w123s over the last few months so someone probably has one lying around for a more reasonable price. I would recommend that you get a unit out of a w123 -- the early w126 series unit looks identical, and some people say they have interchanged them, but technically it isn't the same. (The w123 part has 123 in the part number.)

Zacharias, thank you so much!

I got it now. I thought it was a momentary, but others said it "popped" like the others.

In my research, I found new units are no longer available, only rebuilt. Price range from about $700 for a Mercedes rebuilt unit to about $165 for ProgRama unit (which appears to have the longest warrenty at three years and unlimited miles). Core is around $25 so shouldn't be hard to get a used unit for about that (I wouldn't pay more than $50). For now the plan is understanding, which has been accomplished, then applying Bounty sheet to the inside of the glass to keep down the fog eliminating the need for high heat.