Greetings Forum Members,

I'ld like to start off reporting that I recently purchased a 1997 E420, 118K miles from an indy dealer, clean carfax very limited service records. I hope that the PO will be able to provide me with more information. The production date is very late in the model year, November 1997.
Based on reading various trany threads I'm led to beleive that Mercedes had resolved the earlier 722.6 transmission shift module issues by then.
Thanks to this form and an Alldata subscription I have repaired the instrument cluster lighting problems.
The car passed the Mass state inspection even though there was a small crack in an exhaust pipe that I had welded for $30.00. The center and rear mufflers are new.
I'm pleased to say that the car averaged 26.5 MPG on a 280 mile highway run from MA to NJ this past weekend.
Besides some annoying surface rust issues that will be delt with later there are 2 pending issues that I would like to take care of soon;
1. The dealer replaced the windshield and I'm pretty sure that the windshield antenna was not reconnected to the radio. No AM reception and FM reception in horrible. Where should I look for the Antenna connection from the winshield ?
2. The AC does not work. I tried to charge the system and as soon as the pressure builds and the compressor kicks on all the R134 blows out!
What does that sound like the problem could be, bad high pressure hose?
By the way that engine bay is quite tight to work in.
Any help with these matters would be most appreciated.

Knarf

__________________
72 350SL #69
73 450SL Parts Car?
78 450sl Parts Car
79 450SLC - Sold
1985 280sl
87 190E 2.6 - Donated
90 300E-Junked
97 E420

For the AC, if you have a leaking hose, you will lose the refrigerant before the compressor starts. I would suspect that you have a restriction in the system between the compressor and the refrigerant pressure sensor. Could be one of the hoses, the condenser or the dryer.

Is your VIN prior to J012091? I'm guessing not.

to hear you say that your '97 was made in November of that year. I was at the factory in August of 1997 and the 1998 models were rolling off of the line then.

Secondly, I don't believe there is an antenna in the windshield. I think it is in the rear window. There is a a piece of electronics in the rear "C" pillar ( I think it is on the driver side) that can cause bad reception if it fails or if the connection between the antenna and it is bad.

Thanks For The Replys MattL & okc329,

I errored in stating the production month of my car, it was manufactured in September of 1997 not November.
I don't know the order in which vin numbers are sequenced but my vin ends in 9VA519481.
What month and year did the 1998 model E430 begin production?
I'll check the C pillar for the antenna connection.
I'll have the dealer repair the AC since I'm within the 30 day dealer warranty.
Hopefully nothing major wrong pops up.
I'll search the forum for the appropriate code scanner for this car.

Knarf

__________________
72 350SL #69
73 450SL Parts Car?
78 450sl Parts Car
79 450SLC - Sold
1985 280sl
87 190E 2.6 - Donated
90 300E-Junked
97 E420

how you got into the C pillar.

okc329,


I ordered the radio removal keys from the dealer, removed the radio and discovered that someone had attached the radio to the telephone antenna and visa versa. After correcting this error I got AM and much better FM reception.
I do have an Alldata discription and picture for removing the panel to get into the C pillar that I can email to you. The file is too big to upload here.

Knarf

__________________
72 350SL #69
73 450SL Parts Car?
78 450sl Parts Car
79 450SLC - Sold
1985 280sl
87 190E 2.6 - Donated
90 300E-Junked
97 E420

I'll try to PM you with my email address.