1997 C36 warm air problem (thermostat?)

[Rocky]

Hi guys,

It's been REAL cold these past couple days up in Toronto. It was 3 Degrees Farenheit last night. I was having problems with not getting hot air. It comes out warm at intervals. The engine temp never went above 80 and kept fluctuating between 75-80 whether i'm on the highway ro on the normal streets. Anyone else have this problem before? Could it be a bad thermostat? Is it easy to fix?

Thanks guys,

[amg kodiak]

Thermostat could be to blame (stuck open). Considering your car is a bit of a problem child (no offense intended) replacing the thermostat is an easy and cheap possible fix. The problem could be within the maze of temperature sensors and vacuum lines that make up a Mercedes climate system, but replacing the thermostat to help the engine maintain a constant temperature is not a bad idea.


Give it a shot- I think the part is like 40 bucks on FastLane.

~dnm

[RKreutzer]

Hi, Rocky,
we used to cover part of the radiator with cardboard in winter to help with the heating. It's easy and buys you some time until you get to do the thermostat. If your car has a monovalve, my bet would be on it.
Reinhard Kreutzer

[blackmercedes]

Originally posted by Rocky
Hi guys,

It's been REAL cold these past couple days up in Toronto. It was 3 Degrees Farenheit last night. I was having problems with not getting hot air. It comes out warm at intervals. The engine temp never went above 80 and kept fluctuating between 75-80 whether i'm on the highway ro on the normal streets. Anyone else have this problem before? Could it be a bad thermostat? Is it easy to fix?

Thanks guys,

All our late model MB's DO NOT get over 80C in cold weather. And sitting in traffic, the temp might drop to 75C. [b]Your cooling system sounds perfectly normal.[b]

But no heat sounds abnormal. Even at a coolant temp of 75C, my C230 makes TONS of heat. Check your heater core temp. While driving (be careful) press the "rest" button for five seconds, and then use the fan control "+" to scroll to sensor #3, which is your heter core temp. It should flash 3 and then a temp in C. If it's less than 35C, then you've got trouble. But, it REALLY does not sound like a thermostat problem. If you start driving down the freeway, and your collant temp falls to 50C, then you have a thermostat problem.

[Rocky]

Thanks guys.

Went to replace the thermostat today. $30 bucks CDN tax included and $20 for the labour.

Car temp is not between 80-85 and i'm nice and toasty warm. The old thermostat was not stuck in the on position. I think it was defective because it actually wouldn't open all the way.

Next on the list is Ball joints, tie rod ends and lower control arm bushings


A side note..how come ball joints fail so much on w202's?

Thanks for the help again guys.

[psfred]

Rocky:

Ball joints on the 202s fail for the same reason they fail on the new small BMWs -- junk parts and "american" engineering. The virus has spread to Europe from the Chysler purchase, I'm afraid......cheaper, lighter, disposable cars.

Peter

[Rocky]

I know ever since chrysler bought out dailmer the mercedes coming out are..sorry to say...CRAP. But my car.and previous w202's are still mercedes engineered cars.

[psfred]

Rocky:

Diamler bought Chyrsler, not the other way round! It was ballyhooed as a merger, but it really was an outright purchase.

Volvo has gone the junk parts route too, long before Ford aquired a controlling interest -- my next door neighbors just sold the 850 they bought to replace their 240 wagon (with 250,000 miles on it) -- only had it about a year before they got fed up with endless repairs, some of which had already been done once.

Very sad, the only reason I would every pay the going price for a new Benz is the condition of my 1972 280 -- inspite of serious neglect, it still runs and drives, and can be competely restored to new condition. Not so anymore......

Peter

[Rocky]

my mistake

anyways...next luxury car for me is either a Lexus or Infinite. European engineering doesn't seem like what it use to be.