A/C Compressor Clutch ONLY?
 

2000 W210 e320. Compressor is good, compressor clutch is bad. Anyone know where I can buy just the clutch? I've looked around and have only found the clutch with the compressor. Don't want to spend the money if I don't need to...

Clutches fail much less often than compressors.

If it were me, I'd look for a junkyard compressor.

Bear in mind that MB compressors are very similar to many late high volume vehicle compressors, which differ primarily in not having a speed sensor.

It's either a sanden or seiko, can't remember off the top of my head...

Jim

I searched on ebay and found quite a lot

A C AC Compressor Clutch Kit Chrysler Dodge Mercedes Pulley Coil Bearing 7SB16C | eBay

here is one - you can filter down the list and find just the magnet coil too for less money. Your compressor model is 7SB16C and is used in a lot of mercedes benz sedans, SUVs and also on the sprinter vans.

I have replaced the clutch itself on these compressors without removing the compressor or even discharging the system. Its not too bad of work, the only oddball tool you will need is a large snap ring plier to remove the circlip for the magnet coil.

Make sure you set the clutch gap correctly - on these compressors its set by a stack of shims that look like 6mm metric washers behind the pressure plate of the compressor. On these ones set to 0.6mm - nothing more.

In my own car I used a genuine denso clutch which cost me 100 dollars about three years ago - it was a genuine denso reman assembly and contained a new pulley and pressure plate along with a new magnet coil and its little hardware too.

A lot of rwd Toyotas and lexus models from the same era used the same clutch and coil. Check the resistance of your coil, should be around 4 ohm. The coil has a built in thermal fuse. I replaced mine with one from a Toyota without the fuse.

That is also a workable solution. The thermal fuse is to protect the belt from shredding to bits in the case of a seized compressor. I think toyotas simply cut off power to the clutch in the event of an rpm mismatch just like the old W124.

But you have a lot to be careful of the pulley diameter, number of belt ribs, and offset. It's important to know the mechanism for releasing the clutch...is it a speed sensor identical to the Benz? is the three position wiring harness compatible? If all this isn't right, the next thread will be about tricking out the Klima.

In the OP's case the most likely failure point is the coil not the clutch itself. That said, I've had a Lexus LS 400 clutch next to my W210 clutch and they were identical in every way except for the part number. Right now I have a Toyota coil sitting inside my MB clutch. I'm keeping the Lexus clutch as a spare. A w124/201/126 clutch also works but not the coil.

no klima in the W210 - its more finicky than a relay.

MB cheaped out on the A/C clutch on the W140 and W210 etc. where instead of utilizing an rpm sensor like they used to do, they just put a thermal fuse on the coil. Once the fuse opens up you are done for. Pay a visit to benz and they sell you a new compressor.

After my W210 was off warranty, I pretty much gave up on the annual A/C repair. As long as the dealer was paying, I was fine with the cost and complexity.

Its not too complex for tinkerer type gearheads. Its just a bit oddly setup. And if you look hard enough, you will find other bits at lower cost.

e.g. if you roll with this problem to the dealer, they sell you a new A/C compressor and other bits - if you look harder at part number level you can find the clutch and you dig even deeper you find other parts that you can use in place (like the toyota above)

its just a different approach.

e.g. I had a dilemma in finding a proper windshield washer jet elbow for my W210 (part NLA from MB).

looked it up - found BMW use same part and still sell it.:cool: