(NOT) A Beautiful Day - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

SGT John · #1 08-23-2007, 11:19 PM

Here goes my last week:

I was in Tampa on a little vacation and I decided that getting my AC was a bit more important that I thought. It hasn't really worked since I got this car in Feb. I have been to a few places, including firestone who basically refunded part of my money and told me they had no clue.

I went straight to the dealership, I called at 7:30 and they got me in at 8. Everything but the price was fantastic. I more or less paid 180 bucks for the diagnosis of a bad compressor. The dealership wanted 612 bucks for a new compressor so I had the mechanic evac the system totally, and went and bought a reman from Advance Auto for 150 bucks.

On the way back to the dealership I saw a place called ICE COLD AIR, and they listed 45/hr labor on their sign, so I popped in. They ordered me a new x-valve and dryer, and I waited around all day. the dryer was the wrong one but I was on a pinch to get my AC running so I could get back to NC ASAP. I told them to leave the old dryer and I would get it replaced once I got back to NC, since I had one laying on my bed back here. Anyway, they got my AC blowing ICE COLD, and I went home.

The next morning, no more cold air. I went back and complained and the owner basically told me "Well it's going to be 80 bucks to troubleshoot and I can't get you in today" I tried to push that they didn't do a complete job and if it leaked down overnight that they must not have done the job right. She didn't budge. I went to the dealership and the same mechanic (an old Mercedes deisel afficianado) had me throw in some die when I got home and come back first thing in the morning before the shop actually opened. I got caught up in I-275 traffic and didn't make it in time so they had to do it all official... he found a leak and showed it to me, then he voided out my 150 dollar bill, and I slipped him and his mantenance advisor both 25 bucks.

I went back to ICE COLD AIR and pushed again and basically the owner told me (without even having anyone look at it) that they refused to even work on it because I brought my own parts and they were so bad that the store couldn't even honor their own work... or something. I am going to sue her to get my wasted 300 bucks back.

I drove over to another shop who's owner I had talked to the day before. He did my tint and I had him look at my AC. He found a couple of leaks on a couple of hoses, but they were all little pinholes. He gave me the option between some 40 dollar leak stop and sending each hose to get rebuilt and of course I took the easy way. All the leaks were stopped except one hose that was in VERY rough condition. I took that one to be rebuilt the next morning at some hose place.. it cost me 22 dollars. The guy only charged me 20 dollars labor for the whole 2 or 3 days that his guys were working on my car (He knew how bad I got screwed at the other place)

So I got to head home to Tampa on Saturday afternoon (A day later than I wanted, but I had AC... sorta. I had to buy a big can of 134 so I could top it up about every 6- 8 hours.. The system stopped leaking down about the time I finished that can (Sunday morning) and worked for about 3 days...

I had a few new problems. I started developing vacuum leak symptoms (Car won't shut off, brakes aren't working quite right), still haven't pinpointed the cause, but I have improved it by totally removing the EGR hose and the one below it, and plugging them at their destinations, it's gotta be multiple leaks, because I am still having problems occasionally.
Also was overheating pretty badly.

On Tuesday, I overheated my car to the point that steam was coming from under the hood sitting in a parking lot. I got back on the road and got up to about 40 because I had been keeping the temperature down by not idling. Well, my AC stops working but I get my temp down. At that point my concern is just to keep the engine cool and get home. When I do get home, and open the hood, the whole left side of the engine is COVERED in green UV dye and oil goop. The sensor that screws into the reciever dryer (probably as old as the car) had sprung a leak and with the help of my compressor I guess I evacuated my whole AC system... all over my engine.

I fixed the overheating problem later that night by spraying the heck out of the radiator and condensor with the high pressure carwash hose... but now after spending over 900 bucks on my AC and maxing out my credit card, I'm back to freaking square one. NO AC.

My 300D and I are NOT having a good week!

Dieseldoofus · #2 08-24-2007, 01:21 AM

GAH!
Its always the one thing that "I'll replace when I get home" or "worked for 22 years, it can hold on a couple more weeks." At least you've chased down most of the leaks.

winmutt · #3 08-24-2007, 01:34 AM

I drive in Atlanta traffic with no AC... Aug is the hottest month on record with 8+ days in a row with 100+ degree heat. Sorry to hear it cost so much to learn a valuable lesson, cheap way out usually ends up costing double.

TJR300SD · #4 08-24-2007, 02:23 AM

Just 8+ days in a row with 100F heat? Here in Phoenix it's over 100F everyday from late May to early September.

I know how you feel. I spent over $500 on my A/C replacing some parts and converting to R-134a in preparation for my move here to Arizona, only to realize that the system is totally inadequate for this climate, especially since it's working with a refrigerant it wasn't designed for. My AC barely "works". I get about 65F air from the vents on the highway at high noon (110F ambient), and about 55F at night (90F ambient). But that's not good enough, especially in stop-and-go traffic where the vents blow 75F-85F air.

WINGAS · #5 08-24-2007, 06:51 AM

Almost seems cheaper to buy one of those "Vintage Air" resto units and bolt it on, you know the ones you use for old cars w/o air.

#6 08-24-2007, 08:08 AM

After going through a couple of AC fiascos myself (including the ill-advised R-134a "conversion"), I've pretty much decided that the only solution is to bite the bullet and spend the $1500 (or whatever) fix these systems correctly with R-12 and the required new parts. Every-time I've tried to half-fix one of these systems it ended up costing much more in the long run.

ImBroke · #7 08-24-2007, 04:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TJR300SD

Just 8+ days in a row with 100F heat? Here in Phoenix it's over 100F everyday from late May to early September.

Yeah, but it's a dry heat..

John, that totally sucks. I'm not going to replace my compressor til I pull the dash out to replace the evap.. and fix the leaky pod, and...............

SGT John · #8 08-24-2007, 05:24 PM

I've still got 5 cans of R12, and I need to figure all this out. Any info on the conversion to R12? Can I just flush everything and use the same parts? I have a new X valve and dryer, what else would you need to replace?