help, help help.

my new [to me] 400e all of a sudden has NO ac.

i recently acquired a '92 400e with just under 90k.

original owners were awesome people regarding maint [first 60k], second owners LACKED and took car to a sunoco for repairs.

after bringing the car current on maint and service, [major tune up, caps and rotors, fuel filters, drive belt, new front rotors and brake pads], my air is gone totally.

air is gone, NO warning. also this happened during or right after this service work [the stealership].
re-charge with dye does not show any leaks, we can see...

the tech says it's the evaporator.

i've read previous posts. will it hurt to engage air cond to look for dye in condensation water?

also is it possible this catastrophic failure is because the leaking power steering pump oil may have run on to ac clutch and disabled it??

i'm just sick over this... my wife is going to go wild, she was a bit pissed over this car anyway.

DAMNIT! i just want my v-8 to work.

do i have to suck on the tailpipe or what, to make this car run?

please, i need GOOD, EXPERIENCED help and advice. THANKS

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*92 400e 124.034, SOLD

*92 300e 124.030, SOLD

Has anyone determined for fact that the AC system is low? If it is low, or empty, then double check the main hose for fatigue. You mentioned the PS pump was leaking, I imagine that a good portion of that fluid may have saturated the main hose.

I noticed you mentioned that the AC system failure was sudden. My thoughts would be to double check the harness connection at the AC compressor. The 3 wire harness leading from the chassis was known to be short on the 124 body. The engine shifts when you accelerate and over time the individual copper strands inside each wire would break.

There is little question that at some point you may/will need to replace the Evaporator as it is prone to failure but wouldn’t it be nice to repair three broken wires…………..

I would guess that an evaporator wouldn't catatrophically fail.... I would tend to think a leak would take several weeks to deplete the system.

Larry Bible always seems to have good ideas. I freaked once over a similar problem...turns out my belt got wet and the compressor shut off... I wonder if power steering fluid is getting on the belt, causing it to slip and shutting the compressor off....

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1989 300ce 129k
( facelifted front,updated tail lights, lowered suspension,bilstein sports, lorinser front spoiler, MOMO steering wheel, remus exhaust,stainless steel brake lines). (Gone)

1997 s320 154k (what a ride). Sold with 179k miles. Replaced with Hyundai Equus

1994 e320 Cabriolet 108k



1972 280se 4.5 153k Owned for 12 yrs, sorry I sold it


[/SIGPIC]

As the previous replies indicate, the first thing you need to know is why the AC doesn't work. Is the compressor turning? Does the system have pressure?

The fact that you had it recharged would tell me that it was low, but not necessarily. Many techs just pull out the contents and recharged by weight. They may not know how much was in there to start with. Did they tell you that the system was so low it wasn't working? And did the system work after they recharged it? YES! one should definitely run the system with the dye in it. The dye is in the oil and if the system just sits the oil will only touch the bottom of each container (evap, cond, receiver, compressor, and hoses. If the leak is at the top the dye would not show anything.

During normal activity the oil and refrigerant blend and flow as one through the system, coating all surfaces and allowing a good indication. one should run it till the performance is reduced and then check with a black light for leaks. WE normally see evaporator leaks as stains that run over the sides of the trans from the drains.

Obviously, if the evap is the problem full AC will be restored with a recharge. If it doesn't that isn't the problem.

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Steve Brotherton
Continental Imports
Gainesville FL
Bosch Master, ASE Master, L1
33 years MB technician

steve, lee, mrcjames thanks a lot

i will be at the stealer tomorrow and find out the answers to your 2 questions

compressor turning?
pressure in system?


a full re-charge should enable system to work [if evap is the problem], right?

it didn't.

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*92 400e 124.034, SOLD

*92 300e 124.030, SOLD

Try to find a GOOD independant MB mechanic and take your car there. Think about it, Steve is an independant. Dealers are, in my book, very last resource.

Good luck!

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J.H.
'86 300E

That's a darn pretty 400E.

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95 SL500 Smoke Silver, Parchment 64K
07 E350 4matic Station Wagon White 34K
02 E320 4Matic Silver/grey 80K
05 F150 Silver 44K