Is it really the condenser gone, w210

Gregjam

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A new air con compressor was fitted last year on my e200 classic estate and all seemed fine. A few weeks ago the system was regassed due to the air con not doing it's job. All seemed fine with a/c working well but now it is just as before with no real cooling. Car is serviced/gassed at an independent specialist who I am very pleased with and he indicated that if it failed then teh problem is likely to be the condenser. Before going for this major expenditure is there anything else that should be checked. The sensor fan above the interior light was renewed last year as well.

Is this a common problem or something to be expected on a car this age and mileage (225,000).
 

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The condensor is a problem with the 210 series, at AC specialist you will be looking at aroubn £400 for replacement and regas. However 210's also leak naturally, the gas generally lasts between 1-2yrs. It does look like you have a leak though as it has leak out in such a short time. Has you AC man doen a leak test?
Why was the compressor changed as a failed compressor is rare.
 

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In the last fortnight I have had to have a new condensor fitted to my wifes 2001 Astra. It had rotted through were all the leaves and road debris had been collecting between it and the auxilliary fan :cry: I believe that the aircon guys can add an ultraviolet dye to the refrigerant so in the event of a leak it can be identified without doubt. If a leak/vacuum test shows nothing then have it regassed with the UV dye as this will be far cheaper than replacing parts willy-nilly and possibly not fixing the fault first time.
 
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Gregjam

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When I bought the car the compresor was totally shot. Once some gas was put in it rattled like the proverbial 'bag of nails'. Despite renewing the compressor there was a fear that debris had got into the system but all seemed well initially. As I work abroad for long periods it was not really noticed until recently.

I have an air con specialist coming to look at the car next week and hopefully he will sort it our but I am anticipating a new condenser. Not sure but hope that some dye was put in with the last gas top up.
 
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Gregjam

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All sorted out now. Yes the condenser had well and truly gone. I had the job done by an air con specialist who came to the house to do the job. A non original condenser has been fitted and I have a years guarantee on it for about half the cost of the MB item. Even the main dealer said a non original was okay so heres for cooler summer driving.
 

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Gregjam said:
All sorted out now. Yes the condenser had well and truly gone. I had the job done by an air con specialist who came to the house to do the job. A non original condenser has been fitted and I have a years guarantee on it for about half the cost of the MB item. Even the main dealer said a non original was okay so heres for cooler summer driving.
Glad to see it's fixed, as per my previous around £400 for a condensor and regas, what was your ££ damage?
 
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Gregjam

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Job was done by 'Cool Runners' mobile air con specialist. Replaced condensor, service and regas. Cost £220 for the lot and took less than 2 hours and a years guarantee on the condenser. What I really liked was that he looked at my friends BMW as it 'apparently' was not working and did not charge for a quick check that revealed that in auto mode the air con button has also to be switched on (no owners handbook came with the car). Needless to say I was very happy.
 

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Now thats the kind of service that makes people wealthy. Recommendations go far. Good on him, and good on you for finding a bargain :)
 
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rjsdavis

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A question for Gregjam!

I think the same thing has happened to my E300, and am also expecting a new condenser to be required. However, I wanted to ask about the symptoms that you found.

In mine - I find that even with the EC button "off", and the fan set to "0", and and the vents set to the "mid-level" - it billows out really warm air. I have close all of the vents in the car, otherwise this warm air would make the temperature too stifling to bear in this hot weather - did you also get this really warm air coming out of your system?

Also - how do I get hold of Cool Runners - I am impressed with the service that you received. Whereabouts are you in the UK?

Thanks for your help.....
 

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I have said it before during the weather when its in use, if you turn it off a couple of mile before the end of your journey, the heat in the system will dry it out and stop it from rotting.

malcolm
 

Sprint'n'Go

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television said:
I have said it before during the weather when its in use, if you turn it off a couple of mile before the end of your journey, the heat in the system will dry it out and stop it from rotting.

malcolm

Hi Malcolm

I think you are refering to drying the evaporator as this is the bit that gathers all the dampness and drains out under the car making you think your motor is losing fluids!!!
 

television

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Sprint'n'Go said:
Hi Malcolm

I think you are refering to drying the evaporator as this is the bit that gathers all the dampness and drains out under the car making you think your motor is losing fluids!!!

so sorry you are correct, and that is the expensive bit and all dashboard out to fix, its been a long day

Regards Malcolm
 

Sprint'n'Go

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television said:
so sorry you are correct, and that is the expensive bit and all dashboard out to fix, its been a long day

Regards Malcolm

It certainly has. Just read about your Scouseland exploits. Crosby is getting out into the posh bits so I assume your car wheels will be safe until you collect. Plenty of bedtime reading with those manuals?(Mrs Sprint always finds them such a passion killer!)
 

television

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Sprint'n'Go said:
It certainly has. Just read about your Scouseland exploits. Crosby is getting out into the posh bits so I assume your car wheels will be safe until you collect. Plenty of bedtime reading with those manuals?(Mrs Sprint always finds them such a passion killer!)

Steve I am sure that you are right about the passion bit, I am sure that being the deputy tech; Secatary for the RREC finnished one of my many marrages, it does not mix does it.

Malcolm
 

Glenn Smith

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rjsdavis said:
A question for Gregjam!

I think the same thing has happened to my E300, and am also expecting a new condenser to be required. However, I wanted to ask about the symptoms that you found.

In mine - I find that even with the EC button "off", and the fan set to "0", and and the vents set to the "mid-level" - it billows out really warm air. I have close all of the vents in the car, otherwise this warm air would make the temperature too stifling to bear in this hot weather - did you also get this really warm air coming out of your system?

Also - how do I get hold of Cool Runners - I am impressed with the service that you received. Whereabouts are you in the UK?

Thanks for your help.....

this sounds like a problem with the heater, and not neccessarily the a/c, a small amount if hot coolant leaking through the heater matrix will wipe out any a/c effect quite easily. with heater in off position check to see if the coolant pipes are getting hot beyond the control valves ie towards the cab. like wise to check the a/c, switch it on with engine running, look to see if compressor clutch has engaged, if it has feel the temp. of low press. hose ie large one from cab to compresssor, this should be icy cold after a short period.
 

Glenn Smith

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Gregjam said:
Job was done by 'Cool Runners' mobile air con specialist. Replaced condensor, service and regas. Cost £220 for the lot and took less than 2 hours and a years guarantee on the condenser. What I really liked was that he looked at my friends BMW as it 'apparently' was not working and did not charge for a quick check that revealed that in auto mode the air con button has also to be switched on (no owners handbook came with the car). Needless to say I was very happy.


Excellent price, that. I did mine myself and that cost me £165 for the condensor, on top of this you have the price of the gas which i didn't have to pay for, but woul be about £15-£18 per kilo.
what make condensor didi you get, I bought a non mercedes item, which turned out to be a behr, excactly as was fitted as original. 5yrs seems a typical life for a high mileage condensor on a merc. 8-10yrs would be more typical and more acceptable (5yrs is mondeo stuff)
On the merc. i think it's how it's fitted, so close to the rad, road dirt and salt build up with no chance of escape and they rot ( that reminds me i must pull mine apart and wash the muck from between)
 
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rjsdavis

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Glenn Smith said:
this sounds like a problem with the heater, and not neccessarily the a/c, a small amount if hot coolant leaking through the heater matrix will wipe out any a/c effect quite easily. with heater in off position check to see if the coolant pipes are getting hot beyond the control valves ie towards the cab. like wise to check the a/c, switch it on with engine running, look to see if compressor clutch has engaged, if it has feel the temp. of low press. hose ie large one from cab to compresssor, this should be icy cold after a short period.


Glenn

Thanks so much for the reply - but unfortunately, I don't really know my way around the engine bay that well - I can cope with most jobs, if I know what's what!

I am not sure where to find what you are referring to in the engine bay - is there an info resource that will assist me track it all down?

Thanks again

Richard
 

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Glenn Smith said:
this sounds like a problem with the heater, and not neccessarily the a/c, a small amount if hot coolant leaking through the heater matrix will wipe out any a/c effect quite easily. with heater in off position check to see if the coolant pipes are getting hot beyond the control valves ie towards the cab. like wise to check the a/c, switch it on with engine running, look to see if compressor clutch has engaged, if it has feel the temp. of low press. hose ie large one from cab to compresssor, this should be icy cold after a short period.
I also thought it might be the duovalves (under the bonnet, on the driver's side near the bulkhead) They do tend to get stuck, causing similar symptom.
 

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definately sounds like a leak.
have a leak test done at a reputable garage, not a back alley AC specialist.
They should put some dye throught the sytem then ask you to go back when the dye has travelled the system.
they will find the leak with UV lamp.

I was also told i had condenser problem and about 400 to replace - this was on my ford galaxy.

i took the car it to another guy as i just didnt believe the shady "AC specialist" who regassed for me.

anyway the problem was found in a split pipe, it never came close to 400 quid and the AC is working a treat .
 
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rjsdavis

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Fandango said:
I also thought it might be the duovalves (under the bonnet, on the driver's side near the bulkhead) They do tend to get stuck, causing similar symptom.

I have a feeling that it is the duovalve that is screwed on my car - I was in the garage yesterday, as they claimed that the last time it was in, they re-gassed, and put in the dye so that I could come back, and they would check for leaks.

When I went back for my check, there was no gas in the system, and no apparent sign of a leak. I doubt that it was gassed in the first place. Anyway, I watched as he connected up the machine to re-gas again, and watched it vacuum out the system, and input 1400g of gas. Followed by a shot of dye.

However, whilst this was being done, the owner noticed that the duovalve's were blisteringly hot, which he confirmed should not be the case, as the temperature dials on the dash were on maximum cold. With the engine running, only really warm air came in through the vents.

It would appear that the duovalve is indeed screwed and requires replacement. However, this doesn't necessarily negate the fact that there could be a gas leak as well..... I guess only time will tell on this!

Anyone know where you can get a good, cheap replacement duovalve from? MB just quoted me £149 +vat, which seems steep. Also - is this a bolt-out, bolt-in replacement item? Is this someone a reasonably competent basic mechanic can manage on their own - or is it part of a system that is under pressure, and/or needs to be sealed and bled when it replaced?

Guidance on how tricky this is to replace is VERY welcome!

Richard
 


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