Air Conditioning help, CLK 320 Cabriolet, A209, 2005

[WoodyBristol]

Hello

I would appreciate your expert help and advice

Two weeks ago I purchased CLK 320 / A209, 2005 Facelift

The air conditioning wasn't brilliant so I booked in to KwikFit for a re-gas. I was told that the gas was very low and loads was put in, if it doesn't do the job, come back and we'll put in more. Which I did. if I'm honest I was a bit confused having to come back for more.

For two days it was like driving around in a fridge. It's now not working, the air coming out is pretty warm especially on the drivers side.

Over to you the experts

many thanks

David

 

[Blobcat]

It will need a dye added and a leak test done to see where the gas is leaking from. Condenser is a likely culprit to have a leak

 

[WoodyBristol]

It will need a dye added and a leak test done to see where the gas is leaking from. Condenser is a likely culprit to have a leak

I've booked in with an air conditioning specialist next week. Their initial over the phone prognoses that it sounds like a leek.

 

[mioba]

Typical kwikfit to say if it doesn't do the job, come back and we'll put in more... Should have rang alarm bells.

Usually they suck out what's in and then refill to the spec for the car..

The vacuum/fill should have identified any leaks and you should have been told then.

Clearly a leak needs investigating, any reputable place will put dye in and get the lamps out to check the circuit, Hopefully its just a pipe and not something like a condenser which could have rotted, how old is the car.

 

[WoodyBristol]

Typical kwikfit to say if it doesn't do the job, come back and we'll put in more... Should have rang alarm bells.

Usually they suck out what's in and then refill to the spec for the car..

The vacuum/fill should have identified any leaks and you should have been told then.

Clearly a leak needs investigating, any reputable place will put dye in and get the lamps out to check the circuit, Hopefully its just a pipe and not something like a condenser which could have rotted, how old is the car.

I've submitted a claim for a refund from KwikFit. In the meantime I've booked in next week with an air con specialist. The initial prognoses over the phone points towards a possible leak. After the second "top up from KwikFit the aircon worked like a fridge albeit for only a few day. My car is 2005 - 15 years old. I bought it a few weeks ago. Absolutely love it

 

[mioba]

OK well its definitely a leak, next job find it then fix and ragas and your good to go. In the meantime enjoy the windows down! Bes sure to post back the result!

 

[WoodyBristol]

OK well its definitely a leak, next job find it then fix and ragas and your good to go. In the meantime enjoy the windows down! Bes sure to post back the result!

Its a CLK 320 cabriolet - roof down as well .... and it's raining !!

I'll post after it's been to the garage next week.

 

[Wighty]

Its a CLK 320 cabriolet - roof down as well .... and it's raining !!

I'll post after it's been to the garage next week.

Good luck buddy . If you ever need an MB Independent specialist , you have Steve at Avantgarde Mercedes , Clevedon near Bristol

 

[WoodyBristol]

Good luck buddy . If you ever need an MB Independent specialist , you have Steve at Avantgarde Mercedes , Clevedon near Bristol

Thanks, you can never have too many contacts. I live in South Bristol and found an air con specialist 5 mins from me.

 

[LostKiwi]

I'd imagine Steve can also regas MBs.
My local VAG specialist does mine along with any MB work I don't want to / am unable to / don't have time to do.

 

[Flyinspanner]

Hope it gets sorted - if you find one side blows cold, one warm, there is a reset which can be done as the stepper motor can go out of sync. Search you tube, very simple process.
Worked a treat on ours - same year.

For all, always check wowcher/groupon for air con deals. Got ours done this spring £39 at ATS.
They vacuum test - if it fails they delay fill until you get part changed (no extra cost).

 

[WoodyBristol]

Hope it gets sorted - if you find one side blows cold, one warm, there is a reset which can be done as the stepper motor can go out of sync. Search you tube, very simple process.
Worked a treat on ours - same year.

For all, always check wowcher/groupon for air con deals. Got ours done this spring £39 at ATS.
They vacuum test - if it fails they delay fill until you get part changed (no extra cost).

Thanks for the advice. I'm booked in with an air con specialist for next friday

 

[rifiki]

Woodybristol, when you do get the aircon fixed have it on all the time. 20 years, 2 cars have done nothing to aircon apart from filter changes.

 

[WoodyBristol]

Woodybristol, when you do get the aircon fixed have it on all the time. 20 years, 2 cars have done nothing to aircon apart from filter changes.

Thanks for the advice. I will post the outcome once it's repaired.

 

[joderest]

Above advice is correct, they should have created a vacuum first to see if system leaked, and if it did, not re charged it and should not have charged you.
Saying that, my "lump" (ML270) needed air con recharged every year, it had a leak, but it was so small the machine could not detect it, however, this year, only lasted a month, i changed the condenser, it was rotted out after 17 years.
£88 for part, £50 for another re gas, all good now.

 

[WoodyBristol]

Above advice is correct, they should have created a vacuum first to see if system leaked, and if it did, not re charged it and should not have charged you.
Saying that, my "lump" (ML270) needed air con recharged every year, it had a leak, but it was so small the machine could not detect it, however, this year, only lasted a month, i changed the condenser, it was rotted out after 17 years.
£88 for part, £50 for another re gas, all good now.

I've applied to Kwik Fit for a refund. Going there wasn't my best decision Ive made.

 

[A.J.]

I have got a 'Passenger Airbag' light up on the dash. Can't find anything in the hand book as to how to deal with it, anybody any ideas ??

 

[joderest]

Wow, thread hi jack !!!!!!!.
There may well be a fault in the airbag system. The car will have to be plugged in to a diagnostic tool that can read the airbag module.
It may well be it just needs a reset, could be connections under seat, lots of reasons.

 

[joderest]

Or is it turned off because a child seat was used in he front. Normally done with the key or via on board computer

 

[Bubble]

Our air conditioning regas machine will automatically hold a vacuum in the system for 25 minutes. If no vacuum loss is detected, it will carry on and refill the system. If it does detect a loss of vacuum, it will abort.

Unfortunately often the leak is so small that the vacuum does not drop. We only know when the customer phones back up after a few weeks. We always put a dye in the system, but unless the leak is in a visible area, sometimes you cannot see it with the UV lamp.

The system should then be filled with Nitrogen at a higher pressure to enable finding the leak(s)

If you know that there is a leak, it's illegal to carry out a regas and allow gas to escape into the environment.