Amazing what it sometimes takes to perk the spirits . . . having worked last year to get the AC working again on my '87 300TD only to find it would not work again this year contributed to dampening my spirits on diving into my many MB projects. A few words of encouragement from Brian Carlton, hitting the search feature, and pulling on the examination gloves got me off my a**. Now I am enjoying AC again. Reading several posts including the caveats from Larry Bible got me through the troubleshooting procedures safely and with good results.

I had switched from the Klima to the ice-cube relay last year and it worked. When I tried the AC this summer, the compressor would not engage. After a few half-hearted attempts at solving the problem I gave up and drove w/o AC. Yesterday, I started in using the advice previously used and all indications seemed to point to needing the system recharged. How could that be after having it done last year and being told it really was not too low? The tests rarely lead us in the wrong direction . . . took it to a local shop and sure enough, it was low or vacated. A leak was found and fixed. Cold air once again spills from the vents. Now I am moving forward with my other projects . . . Thanks to the membership of this forum . . .
Steve

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Steve
'87 300TD - 132K - Soon 4-Sale
'84 300D Turbo - 122K - Driving
'77 VW Type II - 77K - Restored
'08 250EX Ninja
English Bulldog (Brier) - My best friend. Passed away 12/02/04 while in my arms.

Brier,

I have the same problem. AC worked all last year and blew very cold....This year the compressor wouldn't even engage.

AC check discovered not a single ion of R134a left in the system.

Paid to have it charged up with 2 pounds and left on a trip. 4 days later I'm back to hotter than all get out.

Two problems on mine.....Monovalve is sticking adding hot/ambient air to the cooled air and leak somewhere causing a loss of coolant.

Got my work cut out for me...

Good news is, I fixed the sunroof by replacing the switch ! ! That gives me one more hole to get air into and out of the car....

Congratulations!

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1998 W202 C230 - The money pit of late.
1984 W126 300SD (356,800 miles) Gone to the wrenchapart
1984 W123 300D Gone to the wrenchapart
1972 W108 280SE 3.5 (sold but not forgotten)
1986 Buick Grand National 3.8l Turbo (86k miles)
1966 Glassic Model 'A' Replica http://www.glassicannex.org

http://banners.wunderground.com/weat...Round_Rock.gif

the monovalve is an easy fix and about $25...the A/C well thats another ballgame.

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Proud owner of ....
1971 280SE W108
1979 300SD W116
1983 300D W123
1975 Ironhead Sportster chopper
1987 GMC 3/4 ton 4X4 Diesel
1989 Honda Civic (Heavily modified)
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Section 609 MVAC Certified
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"He who fights with monsters might take care lest he thereby become a monster. And if you gaze for long into an abyss, the abyss gazes also into you." - Friedrich Nietzsche

Where do you find that kit for $25? Best I've found is $41......

__________________
1998 W202 C230 - The money pit of late.
1984 W126 300SD (356,800 miles) Gone to the wrenchapart
1984 W123 300D Gone to the wrenchapart
1972 W108 280SE 3.5 (sold but not forgotten)
1986 Buick Grand National 3.8l Turbo (86k miles)
1966 Glassic Model 'A' Replica http://www.glassicannex.org

http://banners.wunderground.com/weat...Round_Rock.gif

BrierS,
Where was the leak they found??

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Jimmy L.
'05 Acura TL 6MT
2001 ML430 My Spare

Gone:
'95 E300 188K "Batmobile" Texas Unfriendly Black
'85 300TD 235K "The Wagon" Texas Friendly White
'80 240D 154K "China" Scar engine installed
'81 300TD 240K "Smash"
'80 240D 230K "The Squash"
'81 240D 293K"Scar" Rear ended harder than Elton John

It was the valve under the red cap where they hook their machine to. Though I didn't look, their description was as if it is similar to a valve core on a wheel's valve stem.

They put dye in. I know I had read somewhere that some auto mfg companies do not like that yet doing so made sense to me.

In a somewhat related situation, I now have an aux. fan that comes on when the ignition key is turned to the run position and as far as I know, stays running. Last night I finally unplugged it and will need to find and solve that situation this morning. While checking the system prior to taking it for a fresh charge I may have disrupted something . . .
Steve

__________________
Steve
'87 300TD - 132K - Soon 4-Sale
'84 300D Turbo - 122K - Driving
'77 VW Type II - 77K - Restored
'08 250EX Ninja
English Bulldog (Brier) - My best friend. Passed away 12/02/04 while in my arms.