New w202 advice

[dan1w]

Hi,

I'm new to the forum and a new Mercedes owner. I'm hoping experienced W202 owners can help me out with a few issues with my car.

1. It's a 1999 C220 CDI estate I bought 4 days ago from a Mercedes specialist. Since buying the car I've noticed a tendency to drift to the near side and I'm having to fight the steering wheel ever so slightly to keep the car in a straight line. My first thought was to get the car to Kwik Fit to get the tracking done, but I've since read that tracking on a Merc is a bit more of an art and should be done by someone familiar with the car, is there any truth in this? I've also heard a story about about the W202 drifting to the N/S being an inherent problem with some cars that is unable to be rectified by tracking adjustment?

2. The car also annoyingly has a broken catch on the arm rest that results in it popping up at the slightest bump, does anyone know if you can buy a replacement catch from MB or would a new lid be required?

3. When I test drove the car I operated the air con and was sure that it was functioning. Unfortunately I didn't check the engine revs and or listen for the click of the compressor and am now not sure if it was down to the weather being cold. Now when I switch it on I notice the engine revs don't change at all and am starting to wonder if the dealer topped up a slow leaking air con system to give the illusion it functioned. Are there any weak points in the pipe work such as a pipe that runs across the bottom of the compressor and so could be exposed to water and salt from the road? I wouldn't have expected a 99 reg car to have corroded air con pipes but want to make sure it isn't a common weak spot before I pay for a leak test and attempt to get compensated by the dealer. The EC light does go out when the button is pressed.

4. My radio is subject to interference when the rear heated screen (demister) is operated. It seems that this can be caused by the screen itself or a faulty capacitor. Does anyone know the cost of a replacement capacitor if that's the case?

Any advice at all would be much appreciated. I'm a great fan of forums like this which do a great job and can save people a fortune fixing problems a mechanic might milk for all their worth. Hopefully I can return the favour once I find my way around this car.

 

[philharve]

Hi dan1w

Welcome to the forum.

Item 1. is familiar to me, my car had a tendancy to wander above 70mph. Check the steering damper, ball joints, wishbone bushes, wheel bearings, tightness of steering box and linkages. Don't automatically assume that if the car wanders that it is a tracking problem. The condition of the tyres and irregular wear patterns might suggest it is off track. Check the simplest and most likely causes first.

I cannot comment upon your other items but you shouldn't have too long to wait for answers.

REGARDS

Phil

 

[television]

Dont forget that your air con is off when the EC light is on. The engine speed does not change on this later car model

tyres pressures can influence the wandering.

The Cap was added to reduce interference, the best way is to wire it to a 18volt source and leave it on for 20 mins

 

[dan1w]

Thanks for the replies so far. I've checked all the tyre pressures, but unfortunately it's too wet to jack the car up on my stoney driveway to check the other suspension components.

I noticed there is a clear viewing eye attached to the air con system, does anyone know what I should be looking for (if anything) going through it to check correct operation?

 

[bigasotonuk]

Hi,
If you get the tracking done use a company with a full laser 4 wheel alignment set up (i use Micheldever tyres near Winchester). This will check camber/castor, front/rear etc. and give you a printed read out before and after adjustment.
The centre console lid if you manage to replace go for an earlier style (1996-97) one which is a magnetic catch, better IMO.
Has your air-con got a digital display? As Malcolm says the EC light being on means that the compressor will be off.
Radio, Your aerial is in the rear screen if you look at the heater element you will see additional lines in the glass this is your radio aerial, Inspect the connections on the rear window both for the aerial and the power in for the heated window, and where the aerial enters the stereo as well. Make sure all connections are secure and in good condition. Make sure the rear window is clean on the inside as well as a dirty windscreen could cause the element to draw more current.

 

[dan1w]

Cheers Andy,

I'll try to find a company with that tracking set up and hope that cures the problem before I start getting wet going under the car.

I popped into Mercedes today and was told a replacement lid would be in excess of £100. In the end I melted the plastic catch and made it wider which has worked so far.

The air con doesn't have a digital display. I realise the EC light turns on the economy setting and turns the air con off. I just can't seem to feel a great deal of difference between either setting when set to cool.

 

[joem]

1/ I'm thinking the wandering you describe is the front lower ball joints - mine have just been done at 120,000 miles. Wandering follows the camber and turn in is not as good as it should be either. Any decent specialist can check this out. How many miles has your car done?

2/ The catch I think just screws on - you should be able to get another for next to no money. If MB won't sell you the part on it's own, maybe look for something similar in the local DIY?

3/ The EC (EConomy) light is on when the aircon is off. I have never had any problems with the aircon and it is freezing cold. I think you would know if ti was working.

4/ I've never had any radio problems either but a capacitor can't be expensive.

 

[dan1w]

With regards to the aircon, that's what I'm thinking, I would know if it were working. It's cold but not blisteringly so, I want to be sure it's not working rather than just low before I take it back to the dealer. I have a air con test gauge, does anyone know where the low pressure port is on this engine?

I've noticed a few clips on the right hand side of the passenger footwell, anyone know what these are for? Extinguisher?

Cheers,

Dan

 

[joem]

Clips are probably for the standard map net. I've seen a few that have been ripped off. Easy to get heels stuck in in the dark apprently.

No idea where the low pressure port is - sorry.

 

[dan1w]

Ah, just found a photo, the clips seem to be for a storage net.

 

[Marvinstockman]

Why don't you rotate your tires front to back and see if that cures the drift.

 

[alans]

Re-armrest catch Had the same problem with my '96 202. Went to local diy store small magnetic catch for cabinet 45p + tube of superglue 99p.
Fixed for £1.44 as opposed to Stealers £120 + vat for fitting new armrest.

 

[poseidon]

Hi,

I did steering geometry check on my 1996 c220D few years ago (£180 at dealers) but it did not improve steering much. They all pull to the left. If you are comming from a front wheel drive car that looks very bad. You will get used to it soon.

The armrest lid is held by a small magnet. Very simple and inexpensive.

Pose.

 

[dan1w]

Poseidon,

I suggest you mean it is following the camber of the road? This isn't the case as I've driven it on the opposite camber and it still goes left, although less so, but it certainly doesn't go to the right. It also clunks when the steering is at full lock which suggests the suspension/alighnment setup is certainly not as it should be.

Unfortunately my armrest is a cheap plastic catch and not one of the older magnetic ones. I may look out for a suitable magnetic catch though as Alan suggested.