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

[Mike Murrell]

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?

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.

[euro 287]

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.