on or off

[orbitalegg]

on a w124 how can you tell if the air con is on or off i was told that if the red light is on then it is off ,this seems strange so please tell me as i do not have the owners manual for my 200te

thanks

 

[Blobcat]

If the switch has 'econ' then yes, when this is lit the A/C is off. A better way of checking is open the bonnet and check if the compressor is running. Have someone press the switch whilst looking at the compressor. You should see it run. If the compressor doesn't run with the switch in either position the gas has leaked out.

 

[Rory]

My W203 is like that. Light on when a/c off.
Yet for auto climate control, the light is on when auto is on.

How completely ridiculous. Apart from anything else, it means that in normal operation (auto on, a/c on) then there's always a red light showing (the auto one)!

 

[jberks]

Most people see aircon as something you switch on. MB see it as something that should be on all the time. To keep the greenies happy, they give you an 'economy' button and a red warning light to show its engaged.
It may seem counter intuitive, but in many ways, MB are right on this one. On a cars as powerful as most MBs (ignoring the A class perhaps), the aircon makes bugger all difference to performance or economy. On the other side, it keeps the cabin fresh. Remember - aricon is a lot more than just a refrigerator, its a dehumidifier and a set of filters - you can have heated airconditioned air. The result of this is that it aids safety. Then there is the damage caused to aircon systems if you don't run them.

 

[Rory]

..but it plays havoc with contact lenses! I also like to turn it off a couple of miles from home (although I only remember half the time) so it dries out the air system and doesn't leave it wet and a breeding ground for bugs.