W210 - Is my AC going out or just needs recharging?
 

My 96 W210 is blowing cold on passenger side but driver side is not.

Does this mean that the AC needs charging or is there other potential problems?

TIA

Probably it is just low on refridgerant.

That means that you A/C system is about a 1/2 lbs low on freon. I have seen this many time. It should hold 2.2lbs and I bet its down to about 1.4 to 1.6 lbs of freon

Agree with BenzDoc
 

Your low on charge,

When you add that 8oz of refridgerant, get some pure 134a. It's unlikely that you really need any sort of o-ring conditioner or leak sealant, and those chemicals often do more harm than good.

Click HERE.

This is interesting. I never would have thought a low charge could cause different-temperature air to flow from the different vents.

The air flows through the evaporator and then out the vents. How does the low charge make the vent temps vary?

Update.

I dropped my car at the House of Imports here in So Cal.
I simply tell them that I want the AC system evac and recharged.
They call me back and tell me that the receiver dryer needs to be replaced and quote me a price of $750.
I asked them to just evac and recharge the system. They wont do it.

What a rip off. I am so pissed right now.
I told them to not do anything and I will pick up the car.
Of course I still have to pay the $115 diagnose fee.
I will never go to the stealer again!

What did they "diagnose"? You asked them to evac and recharge.

Typically, you need to replace the dryer if the system has been open. Sounds like yours has not.

However, if there is a leak, they are required by law to find and repair it and cannot simply top it off.

Vac and charge
 

Your local oil change place should be able to hook you up for about $30 for a vac and what ever it costs in R134.

The compressor takes 1kg (or 2.2lbs). If you asked them for a vac and charge, I would argue the diagnosis charge seeing as you didn't ask them to diagnose anything.

You didn't mention you were taking it to the dealer. A simple $7 can of refrigerant could have solved your problem, and you probably wouldn't have needed a whole can. I too would tend to argue against the bogus diagnostic fee, since they did something you didn't ask of them, but it's gonna be a tough one. Were your instructions in writing? Once the techs spend time even just looking at a car, they will feel they need to be reimbursed which is understandable.

They basically said that I need a new receiver and dryer, edac and recharge the system.
I am not too sure what the process is to recharge the ac but I was not expecting all this with the info that I received here.

My past experience with dealers have always been that they find stuff that needs to be replaced and I end up spending $700 - $1000 everytime.
I hate the feeling of being ripped off.

I was planning on taking my car to Enrique at MB Motors but he is just too far for me to drive.
House of Imports is about 4 miles from my office so I fugured I could take care of it while I was at work.
I will never go there again.

Unfortunatley I don't have any equipment to recharge the AC system.
Plus I don't want to risk messing things up. I did that once when I was in college on my RX 7 Turbo and ended up costing me $1000 to fix that mess.

So did you ask them to diagnose anything?
 

Or did they tell you that they had to run a diagnostic when you dropped it off? If not then I would not pay them. If they wont release your car, then pay with your American Express and then dispute the charge as soon as you get the statement arguing that the work done was not required and they were not willing to release your car until you paid them the amount. You should get your money back.

I would also threaten calling MB corporate and the better business bureau.
If and only if you did not agree to a diagnostic or it was not discussed.

I specifically told the service writer that I wanted to have the AC evac and recharged. I will dispute the charge when I go back later today to pick up the car. If it doesnt work, I will use your Amex approach.