It is possible that they could be related. your check engine light code of p1700 is a fault with the upshift delay system of the transmission. Upshift delay is when you start the car cold, it holds shifts longer to heat up the catalyst. It does this by applying vacuum to the control cable which has a vacuum pod attatched, and vacuum holds the cable to delay the shifts. these vacuum pods leak after time and this is possibly why you are getting a check engine light on.

Your climate control system is also vacuum operated, so if there is a vacuum leak, it would affect your climate control system with all sorts of weird problems.

What kind of MB do you have?