Help A/C Nightmare 300e
 

I’ve been struggling with the A/C on my 300e. The latest dynastic is a maybe compressor leak. The independent MB shop added ½ lb of Freon about three weeks ago. The a/c worked great for a few days. It went form great to intermitted to nothing. When I took it back the tech jumped the pressure switch the site glass was cloudy. The tech noticed dye around the compressor.
I have a appointment to have the systems leak checked. Does anyone have any suggestions that will help? I see a future of replacing the compressor then the evaporator and then the hoses. Can the seal be replace on the compressor?


Thanks for your comments

Evaporator replacement is about 20 hrs. book if I remember correctly. Depending on where you live, that could be $1000 - $1500 just for the labor!

I wouldn't go there until it was first confirmed that nothing else was wrong. Sounds like the leak is under the hood. Isn' t that where you've seen dye?

a/c woes
 

I had the exact same problem on an 89 300E I owned a while back. After several shop visits and replacing every seal in the system, $$$$!, they eventually found a pin hole in the manifold piping. This part cost around $700NZ. The system was still ok a month later, by which time I had had a guts full and sold the damn thing. Good luck
BriNZ

As Mike pointed out the evaporator is the evil culprit. It’s possible that I have several leaks and a sensor problem. I got a price of 368.00 for a rebuilt compressor. Is that a good price? Is it possible to just replace the seal?

If you have a Nippon compressor check this place for parts:

http://www.acsource.com/cgi-bin/SoftCart.exe/scstore/denso_c.html?E+scstore

and look here for instructions:

http://www.pelicanparts.com/techarticles/911_Nippondenso_rebuild/911_Nippondenso_rebuild.htm

Before spending a lot on parts to fix a leak, you might try a leak sealer like Super Seal Pro. I used it on an '81 Eldorado and it held a charge for over 2 months before I sold it.

We replace alot of compressors , I have seen some last no time and some last a while. After warrantying too many from rebuilders years ago we started going to Mercedes remans and they hold up great. As for evaporator I think book is only 18 hours and dont put that factory junk back in , get an ACM with the e-valve on it they list at 350 or so. Make sure to check all actuators while you are in there. :D