Difficulty and trick to replacing A/C expansion valve
 

Can anyone give me any insight on how difficult it is to get at and replace the A/C expansion valve on my 1986 190E 16v? I am going to evacuate the system and replace some seals and the drier and a few of the sensors and thought that enough people mentioned the expansion valve that I might go ahead and repalce it also. I am guessing that the $25 part is going to be alot more expensive to have someone at an indy do the work, but I have not dealt withone before. Any hints of ideas? I have the tools and skills, I just have never done one or even messed with the A/C in the evaporator area on this car.

I know on the W126 it really sucks, but I bought a set of metric and standard line wrench crowsfeet and had the job done in no time. After three days of trying

I am guessing it is bad on the w201 cars too. I am guessing they are close to the same concept and location. Do you go at it from the engine bay? I figure it is either the engine bay or under dash, but I have not really looked at it yet. Sort of afraid to...I am tired of simple jobs being difficult...LOL

In my car it was under the dash above the gas pedal. It could be in the engine bay in your car, I'm not sure. It will give you a sore back and fingers and it gets hot down there and there is no light.

On the 16 valve 190's, the a/c expansion valve is located just under the wiper arm/motor. If you follow the ruber wrapped a/c lines along the driver side fender, thru the hood prop strut, and goes to the left of the fuse box towards the firewall then under wiper arm

I found it and it is closer than I thought to get at...have you changed one and it is a decent job or impossible?

Not personally, I had my Benz mechanic do it. I had the car converted to R-134 and it was one of the components not replaced after the line flush.
The system doesnt cool very well so I thought the A/C expansion valve was one of the culprits.

did it fix the problem?
mine cools well, just looking to fix a few samll leaks, it is losing freon over time

I've replaced the expansion valve on my '93 2.3 a couple of times. It's not very difficult. Remove the plastic screen under the wiper arm, locate the expansion valve on driver's side, remove nut holding on A/C hose bracket and pull straight out, then you will see 2 recessed small allen head bolts holding the expansion valve in place.

Below is a reference photo I found that shows the expansion valve just past the wiper arm on the driver's side.

http://i179.photobucket.com/albums/w...motorcover.jpg

excellent news, I might consider doing it after all. I checked it and it is easier to get at than i had first thought. It would be the ideal time to do it when the system is open anyhow.