I'm freaked! I need an A/C evaporator (I think)
 

I have a 500E,a 92, 170,000 miles. last year I replaced the a/c compressor and condensor, for about $2,000. Last week, the CC suddenly stopped blowing cold. Went to the tech, who said he couldn't find a leak, refilled the tank, and off I went, until three days later. same thing. Back to the tech. This time he says they have traced the leak to where the evaporator lives. They have referred me out to a local A/C specialist, with the guesstimate that I'm looking at $3000 in parts and labor.
What kind of labor is involved, and whaat parts do I need, besides the evaporator? I believe I've had all hoses replaced within the last two years.

I have spent $17,000 on my car in the last two years, so I am really freaked. I'm tapped out. it may be a hot summer!

Tom

My repair on the 95 E420 cost around $2100.

You'll need a new evaporator (ACM makes a nice one for lots less than the crappy OEM), new Receiver/ Dryer, and you'll definitely want them to replace the 6 vacuum modules that control the HVAC System while they're in there. Those little suckers fail, and it makes great sense to replace them for 1/2 hour of extra labor now than 10 hours of labor later.

You're looking at around $2-3K, depending on where you get the car fixed. My car had the same symptoms. Could only hold a charge about 2 days. This happened about a month after I bought it.

Sorry to hear this - could be a hot summer for you.

Troy K.
1995 E420 108k (in process of being totaled by insurance company)

Check out this info on JimF's webpage:

http://pages.prodigy.net/jforgione/AC_Seal.html

He had an evap leak on his W140 years ago, and used a stop leak product, and it worked.

Don't know if it will work or not for your car, but if you are going to have to replace your evaporator anyway, it might not be permanant, but it might buy you some time.

There are some links in the 'links by parts category' section:

http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/diy-links-parts-category/142408-climate-control.html

all under W124 for dash removal and evap replacement.

Save some money and do it yourself.

Thanks for the help, guys. I especially like the one about trying the sealant first.
Is there a downside to using the sealant? It sounds as if techs routinely use it after other A/C repairs to prevent "callbacks", so I'm assuming it isn't likely to harm other components. True?

Tom

The sealant isn't a great idea, it is designed to seal, and you do have moving parts in the system, and not just the compressor. The jobs a pain, and when I get so lucky with one, I charge by the hour, not flat rate. If the charge was gone in three days, the sealant wont work.

You may want to read article on sealers.
http://www.motor.com/MAGAZINE/Pdf/042003_04.pdf

is there dye in the system? if so look for this dye under the car at the evaporator drain along with the condesation runoff. if not use a sniffer run down the middle vents and stuck up the drain tube.

i would make sure it is the evaporator leaking and not something else before a dash removal or sealant.

If you don't detect leak with sniffer or with dye as mentioned above you could still have an evaporator leak. I've replaced evaporators on three 124's in the last 2 months and only one had dye come out of the drains. It also lost the gas from that system overnight, i.e., less than one day. On the other two I could not find the leak. On both of those it was obvious the evaporator was leaking once I had the evap out of the case.

Thanks, guys. Right after I wrote my post about sealants, I read up on them and realised that it was not the solution.
I am just going to bite the bullet and have the job done right.

I'm just frustrated because after spending mega bucks last year, including a/c work (compressor, etc.,), adressing every known 500E "issue", and then some, I thought I was done with repairs for awhile.

It's true - the purchase price of an old MB is just the first repair bill.

Tom
92 500E, 170,000miles

Why can't the evap be accessed/replaced from inside the engine bay like it can on the W201?

Because, or at least it would seem that, Mercedes designed the air conditioning system and then built the car around it. I suppose they did not think the evaporator would ever fail.

Yes, that and the water pump!

Did the evaporator a couple of years ago over a weekend. Interesting job and not too bad really. Do a search and you will find tons of info on the job.