Hello, I have owned an '83 MB 300D now for about a month. This was a problem I ignored for a couple of weeks but now I am ready to tackle it. On the ride home, after I bought the car, (and after 200 miles of driving without turning on the A/C), I decided to turn on the A/C. After a couple of minutes on and at a red light, the A/C gas just bursts out all around my hood. (I didnt know it was A/C gas at first). I turned off the car then I open the hood, I noticed all this liquidy "green" stuff around the A/C dryer so I knew something happened with the A/C. I look at the compressor and it says R-12 on it but, is it really R-12? I am also wondering if it was R-12 and they topped it off with R134 to sell the car and then the dryer could not handle it. I am going to do as follows:

1. Buy a new A/C Dryer
2. Get my hands on 6 cans of R-12 and refill the system.

Any suggestions?

Thanks,
Adiel

You need to determine exactly what gave way...
The actual Reciever/Dryer ?
The pressure switch on the R/D ?
The line going into it ?
Etc....

The green stuff was likely leak finder installed in the system.... and it sure worked for you .... you know you leaked refrigerant....

You will need to do a lot of reading in order to determine if you need to correct anything before you put it all back together.. because if you don't it is not likely to last long....

Stay with R12 if you can... you can read the "Air Conditioning Wars" by searching for" R12 alternatives".....in the search feature...

Mercedes published a separate manual with regards to the ' heating, airconditioning, and automatic climate control" You might consider acquiring one...

Thanks again leathermang, I was thinking of buying a new Receiver/Dryer anyways before refilling it since the one it has now looks to be in bad shape plus the fact that I do not know what they previously did to the system. What I did not know about was the pressure switch on the Receiver/Dryer. Would this come as part of the new Receiver/Dryer? Have you heard of other systems blowing up like that in that area of the A/C system?

Thanks,
Adiel

ps: leathermang, did you see the transmission article I am working on?

Check all your hoses real good too. Can you post a pic of the exploded dryer? I can't say I have ever seen one explode.

__________________
Jim

Hey Jim, sorry I am bad at explaining myself sometimes. The actual dryer did not blow up. What I meant was the area right around the dryer had all the green stuff when the gas came out. The green stuff is actually gone now, I guess since it has been about a month since it happened. I painted in the area where the green stuff was at.

Adiel

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this was the area that was green...

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LOL... expost facto repro pictures..... LOL CUTE.....
When you get into reading you will find that ANY time a system is opened up or has a big leak you need a NEW Reciever Dryer... lots of other rules for those who want to keep from wasting their money and time on short fixes... but will give you time to read them and come back if you still have questions about it...

I used ms paint ....one quick question, I ordered a new A/C receiver/drier and pressure switch. I am also going to be putting in 40oz of R-12 according to this article:

http://www.aircondition.com/dsmobileac/mercedes_benz.html

Should part of the 40oz that I put in be one can of R-12 Oil Charge (One can of R-12 Oil Charge contains 2oz of oil and 2oz of R-12 Freon)?

Thanks,
Adiel

UH-OH... this question means you have not finished your homework assignment for reading the AC wars.... this concept and LOTS more things you need to consider before starting are already discussed very well there....

(Hint-you are going to need to flush everything and put fresh oil in. You do not know how much was lost in your catastrophic leak.)

I have seen this happen before on my 190. The culprit is likely the front fan or switch gear. The fan is not kicking on (the electric one in front of the radiator). In turn, the pressures steadily increased when you at the stop, and the refrigerant began to blow beyond the o-ring seals of one or more of the connections (i.e., the two hose connections, and the two sensors.

Check the front fan, when not operating, the pressures can quickly increase. You can consider yourself lucky, often this condition leads to a destroyed compressor.

__________________
Jovan

'84 (11/83) 190D 2.2 5-Speed; Silver/Blue; Motor No. 00354, 402k mi (340+kmi mine)

'89 Porsche 911 Turbo Coupe; Black/Black; 53kmi
'05 BMW 530i 6-Speed; 302kmi
'19 Range Rover; 30kmi

Hello, I believe the temperature sensor with the two white plugs shown in the picture is what turns on the a/c fan. Is there a way to short that switch (maybe by connecting the two wires together?) to see if the fan is actually working?

Thanks,
Adiel

What makes you think it is the temp switch instead of the pressure switch next to it ?

Hello, I am not sure actually. What is the job of the temp switch and of the pressure switch?

Thanks,
Adiel

I wonder if a search for ac temp switch or ac pressure switch or Aux fan switch would bring up any good information ?

I actually got conflicting ideas. Most people say the pressure switch turns off/on the compressor and the temperature switch turns off/on the a/c fan.