Air Conditioning - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

HAWKKMAN · #1 06-26-2003, 04:02 PM

WHILE DRIVING, AC SWITCHED TO ECONO-AIR, WILL NOT RESET TO ANY SETTINGS, HAVE CHECKED R134, IS FULL NOT LEAKS, AND HAVE CHANGED HIGH PRESSURE CUT OFF SWITCH. COMPRESSOR STILL DOES NOT ACTIVE. PLEASE HELP

mike690003 · #2 06-26-2003, 04:18 PM

Stay away from that EC switch, It does not engage the compressor. You will have no cold AC, use another setting to get cold AC. I went to a shop to get my car fixed, and the mechanic said "Your AC is not working" I looked at the setting and of course, he pushed the EC switch on my Climate control unit.

HAWKKMAN · #3 06-26-2003, 04:30 PM

WELL, MAYBE I DID NOT MAKE MYSELF PERFECTLY CLEAR, SO LETS TRY THAT AGAIN.....I CANNOT GET CONTROLS (OFF OF) EC...ALLOWING THE COMPRESSOR TO CUT ON FOR COLD AIR.

#4 06-26-2003, 05:24 PM

Buttons may be stuck

HAWKKMAN · #5 06-26-2003, 05:30 PM

ALL BUTTONS WORK FINE, BECAUSE I CAN GET TEMP, AND ALL OTHER FUNCTIONS TO WORK....ONLY AC COMPRESSOR WILL NOT ENGAGE FROM DASH BUTTONS.

okc329 · #6 06-26-2003, 05:58 PM

What year/model is the car? My understanding is that system goes into EC mode to keep compressor off and not damage it.

Hope you don't mind if I tell my A/C tale of woe. My '97 E320 quit cooling while it was sitting idle for a week. Not knowing what the problem was, I engaged the EC button to keep the compressor from running. Dealer says that it needs a new evaporator and that it will take 20 hours and cost $3500. I know that the S class cars of the 90's have big labor bills and bad evaporators but I have not heard of this problem with the W210 cars. Can anybody share their experiences?

cbdo · #7 06-26-2003, 05:59 PM

Hawkkman, one minor point--typing in all caps is interpreted on the net as screaming, so watch your caps lock to avoid giving inadvertent offense. As for your compressor issue, the most likely problems would be inadequate refrigerant causing a low-pressure cutout or else a defective low-cutout switch, a defective panel switch not telling the compressor to cut in; beyond that would exceed my DIY capability. When you run the car and switch from econ to normal, do you hear the compressor clutch click at all?

HAWKKMAN · #8 06-26-2003, 06:09 PM

ANSWER TO CRAIG, NO IT DOES NOT SWITCH FROM EC, THUS THE COMPRESSOR DOES NOT ENGAGE. AND AS FOR R134, IT IS FULL, HAS BEEN EVAC AND RECHARGED.

nycfamily · #9 06-26-2003, 07:02 PM

We have the same problem with our 1997 E320. Button appears stuck. Cannot get the econo cycle off to allow A/C to work. Mechanics only suggestion to date is to change the entire panel. Does anyone know of a way to permanently disconnect the econo-cycle or engage a/c without changing the entire panel? (Quote for replacment part is over $500). Please advise.

HAWKKMAN · #10 06-26-2003, 07:04 PM

THIS IS SOMETHING, WELL IF I HEAR OF ANYTHING THAT HELPS ME, I WILL MOST CERTAINLY LET YOU KNOW....AND I WOULD HOPE YO DO THE SAME FOR ME.

nycfamily · #11 06-26-2003, 07:12 PM

Yes, good luck. I will keep you posted if we can find a cheaper solution then changing the entire panel.

400E · #12 06-27-2003, 08:26 AM

Hawkkman,

Please re-read the comments above about turning off the CAPS LOCK, and also please do post the model and year of the vehicle in question. It saves a lot of time and frustration.

Thanks.

nycfamily · #13 06-27-2003, 05:06 PM

Hi. On the web site www.alldata.com, I was able to find that a service bulletin was issued on Aug. 20, 1999 regarding this problem with my E320. (#45 on listing. called "EC lamp ON, Cannot Be Shut OFF") Does anyone know how I can get a copy of this service bulletin and/or if Mercedes will repair the problem without charge even though the warranty is expired? Thanks.