We have a 97 E300D where the vents are ice cold on the left side and hot on the right. The car has a new evaporator, condensor, and filter drier with no leaks in the system. Dealer keeps saying it is low, but we don't beleive them. Any thought's?

As strange as it sounds, yes, it may be low on refrigerant.

Do a search. This is mentioned often.

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2012 E350
2006 Callaway SC560

The other frequent culprit for this behavior is the duovalve. Run a search on that term and you'll have plenty of reading. I'm going through the same thing on my '98 right now.

Cheers, John

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'98 E300TD (W210) | Sold 6/09 with 205k and counting
'04 VW Touareg V10TDI

Just to let you know it was the duovalve. The ACC now works the way it used to, ice cold.

Low refrigerant can cause warm left-side vents while still having cold air on the right. It won't cause the reverse, which really could only then be the duovalve or the pushbutton unit.

Did you have some kind of diagnostic to figure this out, or did you just replace the duovalve and then have your solution? Also, approximate cost if you don't mind sharing?

Thanks --
Cheers, John

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'98 E300TD (W210) | Sold 6/09 with 205k and counting
'04 VW Touareg V10TDI

http://mbclub.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=26888

Makes you log in, Doom.

Yeah, I followed Parrot's cleaning the duovalve instructions. That post alone is worth registering and logging in to that forum, I have to say!

It seemed to maybe improve my issue a lot, but it is not completely resolved. I get cool air and the car cools down, but the vent temperatures are warmer on the driver side than on the passenger side. I don't have a thermometer jammed in there -- it's clearly noted just by holding your hand up at the vents.

I haven't coughed up the $100+ to pull a vacuum and get all the refrigerant out and then recharge the system, though several folks have recommended that to me. The lazy bums at the local quickie shop just noted 39psi on the schraeder valve and told me the system was fine. Grrr... Still diagnosing and waiting till I have time to sort this out.

Cheers, John

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'98 E300TD (W210) | Sold 6/09 with 205k and counting
'04 VW Touareg V10TDI

Check the high-side pressure while you're driving. It's probably reading low.

Excellent tutorial!

Thank You.