83 300SD a/c blower problems, its HOT out please help!
 

After school today i went and started my car, and then switched on the a/c. It didn't kick on at first, so i shut it off and checked the fuses. I then tried it again(no fuse was bad) and it worked, so i closed the door and it shut off on me again. I then open and closed(read slammed) the door and it kicked on for a second then shut back off. On the way home it would kick in and then back off, i left it on vent so i would not burn up my compressor. Fineally near the end of my 15 minute ride home it was working constantly. I'm wondering if this could be a low-battery signle as my amp would not work that well at all for a couple minutes after i was driving, but worked fine right after startup. I have also heard the blower turning when the car doesn't even have enough juice in the battery to turn the engine over, so i doubt it's a battery problem. thanks for your help. Oh one more thing, sometimes my glow light does not come on, and other times it will blink real quick after i have turned on the car and then shut right back off(the car ignition would have been on for a couple seconds before it would flash at all), and othertimes it works flawlessly, although i usually let it sit for a second or two after the glow light shuts off(it's easier to start that way) thansk for you help
R

come on guys, please help!
 

well the a/c worked fine on the way to and from work last night. I am planning on making a trip to fsu this weekend and it's about a 5 hour drive. IT would be a very long trip if the a/c crapped out on me. can anyone(txbill, running too hot, etc??) PLEASE give me some connections to check, other then the fuse terminal box. I greatly appreciate anyones thoughts/advice even if it's completely off the wall. I dont even know where the blower is!!!!
thanks
R

The blower motor is easily accessible in the passenger footwell with the cover removed. Have you actually pulled the fuse out and looked at the ends? Better yet replace it with a new one. I had an intermittent blower on my 84 SD and the fuse looked fine, when I pulled it out there was a hairline crack right near the end cap. These fuses filaments expand and contract do to heat and can fail from metal fatigue without being obviously blown. As the blower motor brushes wear function will become intermittent before failure. If your good with a soldering Iron you can replace them. The only other tip I can offer is to move the ignition key slightly when experiencing your problem as you may have dirty contacts in the switch.

Bob D.

well i do know for a fact it wasn't the fuse. On my car according to the fuse diagram the compressor and blower are on the same fuse, and when i pressed the a/c button i could here(and feel) the a/c compressor kicking in(i immediately turned it off to prevent damage). Unfortunately i have no trusted mechanic for my car, i have done all the work myself on it thus far. I did have a "regular car" trusted mechanic work on the valve covers, but after i had that done my tranny never did shift the same. I'm pretty sure its related to my 3 way vacuum valve up there, which i'll get to someday. I am extremely sceptical about mechanics after many have tried to rip me off, so if anyone knows of any good mechanics in the seminole/largo/st. pete florida area, please let me know.
thanks
R

I don't know what climate control system you have, but the pushbutton system is notoriously finicky. Luckily, I have the manually controlled system (the wheel and levers). Can you run the blower on "vent" mode without engaging the A/C compressor?

As for mechanics in the area:

Have you tried Rick's European in St. Pete? I haven't been there in a long time, but I think my dad uses them pretty regularly. They restored his '77 240D after I wrecked it in 1991, costing about half of what the insurance company paid (insurance called it totaled but he's still driving it today).

Precision Motorcars (the dealership) in Tampa is pretty good, and have always treated me well. They're the best MB dealership I've been to. But, they might be pricey for something like this, since it could otherwise be a very inexpensive job.

If you don't mind the drive, the *BEST* Mercedes mechanic around is Ledbetter's repair shop, but it's on Highway 301 - the opposite side of Tampa from you. I can give you his location and/or contact info if you desire. I'm in Brandon so it's very close for me.

- Nathan
'83 240D "Steiner"
'00 New Beetle TDI

Wow,

It's like old home week! I live in Parrish (Bradenton) and work in St. Pete. If you guys are ever in the Gandy blvd. area during business hours stop in at Associated Marine Institutes (across from the Race Track gas station) on Gady and say Hi. I'm usually out back up to my elbow in Diesel when I'm not on a boat delivery.

R.

Pull the cover in the passenger foot well (the one just infront of the passengers knees) and see if you are getting voltage to the motor when the fan is acting up. If you see battery voltage and it's not spinning look to the brushes.

Bob D.
Parrish, Fl
1983 300SD
1984 300SD
1971 220D (just went to a new good home)

thanks for the replies everyone. Yes, i deal with Rick's european quite often and find them very helpfull and fair. I got a ton of wood and other misc parts for my car, and they are willing to weal and deal on somet things:D (which for 17 i'm quite good at, got a center console peice of wood for 30 bucks:) ) They also helped me out with my window regulator assembly and installation, i was out having problems in their parking lot putting it back in and Jim came out and gave me a quick hand. He also showed me how to put the plastic slide on(and did it for me!) I wish they did mechanical work but they don't, only body oriented and the mechanical that goes with the body, not SOLELY mechanical work. thanks for the note about the shop past tampa, i may head up there and stop in that shop on my way to my g-mas who lives in brooksville. Thanks again for all your help, i think i'll just check my connections at the motor as i was fishing around up there when installing my amp power cable. thanks again
R

'79SD similar problem
 

On my '79SD I get in, start the car, turn on the air, reach over and hit the under dash cover on the passenger side, and that starts the blower. It is as dependable as turning on a switch.
I think it must be brushes or a loose connection at the blower. I should fix it, but there is something about getting in a really nice MB and having to slap it to get everything going.
Dan

I worked on a 83 300D before with exactly the same problem. The fuse terminals for the blower (I think it is for the horn too) were dirty. I resolved the problem by replacing the fuse and cleaning the terminals.

Of course, the SD may be different. I do not have the diagram in front of me, but double check your diagram.

David