Anyone knows the location of the A/C relay on a 1996 E320.? The system is charged but I'm not getting 12 volts to the A/Ccompresor.. Need help
Thanks

ON the 1996 & later CARS the "pushbutton" controller sends the signal directly! No relay! Is the "EC" lamp on?

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Thanks for the info, the Climate control pannel semms to be working great and to answer your question the EC light does work and the A/C does not turn on with the EC buttom on or off.

I performed another test, which It probably was not the way to troubleshoot the system but maybe someone has an idea of the actual problem:

Once I found out that the A/C system was fully charged but I was not able to turn it on with the control pannel, I proceded to cut the A/C compresor wire and applied 12 volts from an alternative source and the compresor, condenser fan, blower etc. worked great.

Someone mentioned to me that the voltage required for the compresor is only 2volts and the problem is the compresor clucht, is any truth to that statement?

Thanks again for your help

The wire between the connector & the clutch is a "fusible link". IF it burns out you are supposed to replace the complete compressor.

__________________
MERCEDES Benz Master Guild Technician (6 TIMES)
ASE Master Technician
Mercedes Benz Star Technician (2 times)
44 years foreign automotive repair
27 Years M.B. Shop foreman (dealer)
MB technical information Specialist (15 years)
190E 2.3 16V ITS SCCA race car (sold)
1986 190E 2.3 16V 2.5 (sold)
Retired Moderator

Thanks
I will like to check your sugestion, but which is the conector that you are refering to? the wire that comes from the compresor is a single wire without any visible fuselink, the wire is routed behind the winshield washer tank and it goes into a wire harness containing other wires.

Can you tell me what is the voltage suppose to be for the A/C clucht? and were to locate the fuselink?

Thanks, great information.

pull the pressure switch on the reciever dryer and see if it is corroded. i have seen many that way causing similar problems as you describe. the reciever dryer is behind the drivers side headlamp.
Ray
mercedessd@cox.net

Ray, thanks for the suggestion. Defenetly sounds like a probable cause in lew that the vehicle was only driven 2500 miles last year. Only one question: Would you know which of the two switches is the pressure switch. The recever dryer has two switches, one switch with a small two wire conector and the other switch has a three wire conector. I believe you are refering to the one with a small conector with only two wires.

Thanks I will check it over the weekend..

it is the three wire, but be sure to check both for corrosion, please let me know what you find.
Ray
mercedessd@cox.net

Ray, thanks for the info. I will check them Sunday and let you know the results.

Also, I found an interesting feature on the 1996 E320 climate control pannel. If you leave the REC buttom pressed for over 5 seconds the display will give you up to 40 codes / diagnostics of all sensor in the vehicle. The only thing I have not been able to figure out or find out a list for the codes. For example the left of the display tells you the code number and the right of the display gives you the status or sensor readings. I was able to figure out that code 24 is the altenator voltage.

Also read on the STAR magazine that this wont work on all E 320s only on the early W210 chasis./

If anyone one wants to try it and let me what are all the codes. This is a great tool. all vehicles should be equiped with this feature.

Thanks