R231 Air conditioning mystery

[Srdl]

Same here, car is booked in at MBS Southampton, let's hope they can fix it.

They will!

 

[paw777]

Same here, car is booked in at MBS Southampton, let's hope they can fix it.

Hi Mark, hope you’re well.

Did you get it sorted in the end?

Interestingly my 2014 R231 SL350 got recalled 2/3 years ago to change the system from r134a to r1234yf. I found this very strange as they seem to have done the opposite in the US quoting pretty serious safety concerns.

Unfortunately my AC has now stopped working (doesn’t retain gas). There’s a chance that the Stealers didn’t do the work properly during the recall, but want £200 to even take a look at it!

 

[SL63 Mark]

Hi Mark, hope you’re well.

Did you get it sorted in the end?

Interestingly my 2014 R231 SL350 got recalled 2/3 years ago to change the system from r134a to r1234yf. I found this very strange as they seem to have done the opposite in the US quoting pretty serious safety concerns.

Unfortunately my AC has now stopped working (doesn’t retain gas). There’s a chance that the Stealers didn’t do the work properly during the recall, but want £200 to even take a look at it!

Yes, MBS fixed the aircon very quickly. All it was was leaky seals underneath the car, due it being left standing so long before I bought it. Now aircon is ice cold. Very pleased. Also had time for a chat to Colin about 231s and life in general.

 

[SL63 Mark]

They will!

They did !

 

[paw777]

Yes, MBS fixed the aircon very quickly. All it was was leaky seals underneath the car, due it being left standing so long before I bought it. Now aircon is ice cold. Very pleased. Also had time for a chat to Colin about 231s and life in general.

Great to hear it got sorted Mark!

By any chance, does anybody have recommendations for an equally trustworthy and competent air conditioning specialist in the north or west London areas?

Have a great day all

 

[sam12]

How is the AC holding up on your SL63? I had mine regassed with Y1234 back in May 2023. However it feels like it is going back to how it was before (not cold and makes a louder A/C type noise). It was pressure tested before being gassed in May 2023, however I assume I also have a very slight leak.

Do you known the year and build month of your car? I know my March 13' left the factory with R134a, however was recalled in around 2020 with the previous owner to have the system updated to Y1234yf.

 

[SL63 Mark]

How is the AC holding up on your SL63? I had mine regassed with Y1234 back in May 2023. However it feels like it is going back to how it was before (not cold and makes a louder A/C type noise). It was pressure tested before being gassed in May 2023, however I assume I also have a very slight leak.

Do you known the year and build month of your car? I know my March 13' left the factory with R134a, however was recalled in around 2020 with the previous owner to have the system updated to Y1234yf.

Well, sorry to say, it's all leaked out again, so I have no aircon. So back to MBS it goes, once the weather improves. I did store the car for a few weeks in December/January, and when I took it out again, the air blew warm and the screen did not clear.

We will make a day of it, with a walk to Hamble probably.

The build year of the car was 2016.

 

[paw777]

Well, sorry to say, it's all leaked out again, so I have no aircon. So back to MBS it goes, once the weather improves. I did store the car for a few weeks in December/January, and when I took it out again, the air blew warm and the screen did not clear.

We will make a day of it, with a walk to Hamble probably.

The build year of the car was 2016

Sorry to hear that! Out of interest, do you know if your system was changed to 1234 gas after a recall?

That would make (at least) 3 of us with issues on the R231 after the changeover by the Dealer.

Mine is January 2014 by the way…

Did anyone else notice that they seemed to swap the AC systems the other way around due to safety concerns in the US, for the same model?!

 

[SL63 Mark]

Sorry to hear that! Out of interest, do you know if your system was changed to 1234 gas after a recall?

That would make (at least) 3 of us with issues on the R231 after the changeover by the Dealer.

Mine is January 2014 by the way…

Did anyone else notice that they seemed to swap the AC systems the other way around due to safety concerns in the US, for the same model?!

How would I find out ? Is there an easy way ? My service history is on line.

 

[00slk]

Wow, an SL that leaks out, not in

 

[mioba]

How would I find out ? Is there an easy way ? My service history is on line.

recall items are not online. Best to pop into a dealer - they should have records.

 

[sam12]

If you check under the bonnet there is a sticker that shows the gas type and quantity. I think its on the bonnet panel itself.

So very early cars left the factory with Y1234, they were recalled in 2013 to convert to R134a due to safety concerns. Then there was a recall in 2020 to swap cars back to Y1234. Another way to tell is you should have a pipe that runs around the back of the engine bay and down onto the turbos. The system fires argon gas at the turbos if you have a major crash!

Do you know what seals they changed @SL63 Mark?

Does seem fishy that there is 3 of us having very similar problems

 

[sam12]

Done a bit more research and found the SL63 and SL65 have an AMG specific condenser, which happens to be the exact same part number they fit in a C63. When my AC was last gassed they filled it with the UV dye. When i look at the condenser with UV light there are some tiny bits that seem to glow a bit (hard to tell what is glowing and what is just white oxidization on the unit). My 2013 C63 had to have a new condenser a couple of years ago as had corroded, very known thing in the C63 world and quite common. I guess as there are far fewer SL63's compared to C63's you maybe don't hear about it. Anyway mine is going to my AC guy in a couple of weeks who is doing a hydrogen sniffer test on it to try and find the leak. My suspicions are the condenser as the same part is known to fail in other AMG's.

 

[paw777]

Done a bit more research and found the SL63 and SL65 have an AMG specific condenser, which happens to be the exact same part number they fit in a C63. When my AC was last gassed they filled it with the UV dye. When i look at the condenser with UV light there are some tiny bits that seem to glow a bit (hard to tell what is glowing and what is just white oxidization on the unit). My 2013 C63 had to have a new condenser a couple of years ago as had corroded, very known thing in the C63 world and quite common. I guess as there are far fewer SL63's compared to C63's you maybe don't hear about it. Anyway mine is going to my AC guy in a couple of weeks who is doing a hydrogen sniffer test on it to try and find the leak. My suspicions are the condenser as the same part is known to fail in other AMG's.

Hey Sam, hope you’re well. Did you manage to do the hydrogen test? Cheers

 

[SL63 Mark]

Done a bit more research and found the SL63 and SL65 have an AMG specific condenser, which happens to be the exact same part number they fit in a C63. When my AC was last gassed they filled it with the UV dye. When i look at the condenser with UV light there are some tiny bits that seem to glow a bit (hard to tell what is glowing and what is just white oxidization on the unit). My 2013 C63 had to have a new condenser a couple of years ago as had corroded, very known thing in the C63 world and quite common. I guess as there are far fewer SL63's compared to C63's you maybe don't hear about it. Anyway mine is going to my AC guy in a couple of weeks who is doing a hydrogen sniffer test on it to try and find the leak. My suspicions are the condenser as the same part is known to fail in other AMG's.

I hope MBS fitted dye in mine so we can see where the leak is, I will order a UV light and have a look. AC Condensers are a failure point on many cars, they tend to be in the airflow. Mine is a low miles car though, so I would be surprised.