air conditioner diagnostics
 

I have a 98 E300 DT. The air conditioner does not cool and I hear a hissing noise from behind the dash board. I know that there is a diagnostic that can be activated by holding down one of the buttons on the air conditioner control in the dash.

Do you know where I can information on how to activate the diagnostic and then evaluate the meaning of the codes?

Also, what is you opinion on the life expectancy of a rebuilt compressor?

Thanks

you almost certainly have a refrigerant leak and need to find it.it's possibly the comp but not necessarily.the reason you hear hissing is because gas going thru expansion valve and not liquid.if you recently had comp replaced either whoever replaced it did not check for leaks or the replacement caused the leak[s].

Is it possible that the compressor went out? The car has 190K miles. I had drier, oil and refrigerant changed last year.

Do you know what the life expenctancy of a compressor is?

i dont know if your model will have same sequence in activating the diagnostic
menu, but here it is for W210....

http://www.eclassbenz.com/node/27

Thanks. I will give it a try tonight.