I am finally getting around to getting the ACC system in my 190 working. (I know, its the middle of winter) I have read prior posts about compressor oil. The pulley on my compressor is wet. Nothing is leaking nearby, and it is not leaving any sort of puddle. I am assuming that it is the oil in the compressor?? Is there a seal on the front of the compressor that can be replaced without evacuating the system? Is it hard to replace? I need a new push button unit, but when I jump the KLIMA relay the compressor engages and blows cold air, so everything else appears to be in working order. Would you recommend using the system in its present condition or replacing this seal? Is the oil available separately and how much does it hold? BTW it has the Nippon. compressor. Any opinions as to the overall reliability of the AC systems in the 190`s?

I know it is a lot of questions, but I really appreciate any thoughts.

Thank you and a Happy New Year. Tinker

No, you can't replace the seal without discharging and recharging the system. If it is still making cold when the clutch is engaged I just wouldn't worry about the leak. You might find that its easy to have A/C seem cold when its cold out though.

Deal with your electrical problem first. When you get back to the refrigeration system the oil level can not be determined and overfilling is worse than not enough. There are ways to make good guesses on oil quantity but that's better left to a professional. The only procedure I can recommend to refill oil after a repair is to flush the whole system and replace the installation quantity.

Steve. Thanks for the info. Just out of curiosity, what does the AC oil look like? The reason I ask is if I remove the front carpets, beside the trans tunnel there is a sticky brown substance that looks similar to spilled coffee. I know some Benz`s have problems with their evaporators leaking. Is the 190 prone to this problem? Any idea what this brown substance could be? It doesn`t come up with paint thinner. As always, Thank you. Tinker

It does not sound good! The best way to find a leak is to use a dye and a black light. You local MB pro can do it. Do a search on the subject.