What year 210's had the blower regulator problems? - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

muleears · #1 09-06-2009, 08:08 AM

I have read that "early" 210's had regulator problems. Mine is a 98 and is giving me trouble. It frequently stops on its own and refuses to start when told. Is this the problem caused by the regulator?

TIA

lupin..the..3rd · #2 09-06-2009, 10:55 AM

Is this blower the one for the dash vents? If so, mine will turn on and off, but regardless of how high you turn it up, it only blows at one (rather slow) speed.

I don't know if its the blower, or some other associated electronics.

Matt L · #3 09-06-2009, 10:59 AM

I don't remember the cutoff, but if you go to the "Buy Parts" link and find it, it will tell you the VIN cutoff for the new parts. If you have the old part and don't want to replace your motor, you should find the part number and modification procedure for the 140 regulator.

Lupin, yours has the classic symptom of a failed regulator. What year is your car?

lupin..the..3rd · #4 09-06-2009, 11:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Matt L

I don't remember the cutoff, but if you go to the "Buy Parts" link and find it, it will tell you the VIN cutoff for the new parts. If you have the old part and don't want to replace your motor, you should find the part number and modification procedure for the 140 regulator.

Lupin, yours has the classic symptom of a failed regulator. What year is your car?

In my sig.

It's a '97. Thanks, I'll check the "buy parts".

Oracle12345 · #5 09-06-2009, 11:02 AM

if you are having trouble with the ACC electrically you should be getting an error code. Get the code(s) and report back

Jeremy5848 · #6 09-06-2009, 11:28 AM

The PO of my '96 E300D (build date: 10/95) had that problem in 2003 at 156,000 miles. The complaint was "ACC interior blower has only one low speed." No codes were thrown.

Dealer replaced
210 821 15 51 Switch $287.56
210 835 27 40 Housing $50.88
210 820 68 42 Blower Motor $436.80

Plus labor. These are Portland, OR 2003 dealer prices. YMMV. "Updated parts" were used and the problem has not repeated (knock on wood). Car now has 262,000 miles.

Jeremy

Oracle12345 · #7 09-06-2009, 11:34 AM

Something about that isnt adding up.Since the climate control is about 90% electrical and right in wis there is a document that tells you what to do when you get a certain code. The check engine light wont light up but you get the code through the 19 pin diagnostic port in the fuse box.

the codes for the climate control are just numbers, for example 581, not obdII such P0303. I have dealership records and all they tell you is the compilant and what was replaced not all the work involved to find out what needed to be replaced.

TMAllison · #8 09-06-2009, 12:07 PM

Gusing that the error cdes from the diagnostic port are no different than those provided by the CCU (e.g. EB1234, etc.)?

If the fan is intermittent, and the reg will control fan speed "once" it starts, the problem prob lies with the blower motor brushes.

I beleive the cutoff for individual replacement parts was at the tail end of 98 production. Mine is a very early 99 and it parts were avail separately.

nhdoc · #9 09-06-2009, 12:34 PM

If you have the older style motor you don't have to upgrade it if the regulator is bad, you just need to buy the regulator for the W140 chassis and extend the wires. I had the "one speed" trouble when I bought my '98 and put the W140 regulator in and it has worked fine for 4 years. One of the reasons they fail is likely because people don't change the pollen filters which reduces the airlfow through the blower at low speeds to a point where the regulator (which is cooled by the blower) overheats. So, replace those filters.

You can determine if it is the blower or the regulator which is bad by monitoring the voltage to the blower which should vary up to 6V. If the blower is getting power but it isn't turning then it is the motor itself that is bad and not the regulator.

Matt L · #10 09-06-2009, 12:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lupin..the..3rd

In my sig.

It's a '97. Thanks, I'll check the "buy parts".

I have signatures turned off (also avatars and banner ads) in my user profile.

Oracle, this problem will not throw any code.

muleears · #11 09-06-2009, 01:01 PM

Maybe I can clarify things. The blower either doesn't work at all or works properly. It either works properly, all speeds or it won't come on. No CEL, I have not checked the readings from the ACC as Terry suggested. It has been about two years since I replaced the pollen filters, I should check them. IIRC they are behind the glove box?

Matt L · #12 09-06-2009, 01:11 PM

That is not the symptom of a failed regulator, Mule. I would think that it points to a flaky electrical connection, perhaps the ground point for the blower motor. I would check for voltage when it isn't working. If you have 12V on the black wire, you have a ground problem. If you have 0V on the red wire, you have a supply problem.

nhdoc · #13 09-06-2009, 01:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by muleears

Maybe I can clarify things. The blower either doesn't work at all or works properly. It either works properly, all speeds or it won't come on. No CEL, I have not checked the readings from the ACC as Terry suggested. It has been about two years since I replaced the pollen filters, I should check them. IIRC they are behind the glove box?

That can be worn brushes so it would indicate a worn out blower motor. You might try leaving the access panel off and next time it fails to start try giving the blower a spin...if it starts then you will know it is bad brushes. Your alterntatives are either buy a new blower (if yours is the old style you will need both blower and regulator) or try and find a used blower of the older style to replace yours with. I have heard the brushes are replaceable but have no experience with that to confirm or deny that it is true.

Yes, the filters are behind the glove box.

Matt L · #14 09-06-2009, 01:45 PM

Indeed, brushes too. The motor does not look easy to disassemble.

TMAllison · #15 09-06-2009, 01:50 PM

Len Sokolof claimed their was a brush kit for the motor....was aftermarket?

Give the squirrel cage a couple of nudges clockwise when in intermittent mode. You'll have to leave both panels off to reach it. If it fires up, its the brushes more than likely.