Air Con Problem?

[SuffolkBenz]

Hi all.

My new 2006 C280 was boiling inside today- the air con would just not cool it down. The air con light was on and the temperature controller was on 18 C but the air was still not cold. I guess it needs looking at but just wondered if (a) the system is normally good and (b) Are there any settings I should change to improve the air con?

 

[recycled]

edit

 

[Ted]

Aircon light should be OFF for aircon to work on a Mercedes.

 

[kwakdonut]

hmmm, looks like you had the a/c switched off! Try again with the a/c button latched out.....

 

[portzy]

The A/C light can be confusing depending on the model. For instance on my old 2003 C200 the light "on" meant that the A/C was "off", on both my SLK and A Class its the other way round.

Best way to check is select, (light), what you believe to be on, set all controls to max cold, then wait about ten minutes before checking how cold the A/C pipework is in the engine bay it should be freezing cold and it may also be covered in condensation.

If you dont get any cooling in either mode, ie light on or off, then you do have a problem.


Portzy.

 

[SuffolkBenz]

Doh! I am not normally a car muppett but if the light is ON the aircon is OFF? .... I would have loved to be at the meeting where they agreed that....Many thanks for the answers.

While I am digging a hole here, here is another one.

I am sure that my 2006 C class Avantgarde should have automatic wipers but on the "first" setting the wipers just work on intermittent. Is it just that I don't have auto wipers? You can imagine the mirth if I ring the dealership to complain about auto wipers not working and they are not in fact fitted.....

 

[Howard]

Do you mean rain sensing wipers ?

 

[crockers]

Well I have a 2005 C Class and when the A/C light is on the A/C is on....

If you have rain sensing wipers you will have a few sensors on the windscreen. If there is only one that is the light sensor for auto headlights.

 

[portzy]

Doh! I am not normally a car muppett but if the light is ON the aircon is OFF? .... I would have loved to be at the meeting where they agreed that....Many thanks for the answers.

While I am digging a hole here, here is another one.

I am sure that my 2006 C class Avantgarde should have automatic wipers but on the "first" setting the wipers just work on intermittent. Is it just that I don't have auto wipers? You can imagine the mirth if I ring the dealership to complain about auto wipers not working and they are not in fact fitted.....

I agree. The logic behind the "light on = AC off" was to warn you that you might mist up the windows without A/C (dehumidification) on. The logic now, ie "light on = A/C on", is to warn you that consuming more fuel in that mode and therefore you are responsible for the melting of the ice caps so.....

Pack it in!

If you have the rain sensing wipers the frequency of the wipe will not be uniform and in some cases they will come to a complete stop when the screen is dry. Try selecting the first setting then shower the screen with a sprinkler and alternate the sprinkler. If the wipers continue wiping with a fixed frequency then you dont have the rain sensors, if they alternate fast/slow/stop/slow/fast for example then you probably have the rain sensors.

A couple of things to bear in mind. Most modern MB's drop the wiper setting by one level when you come to a standstill and if you open a door, typically a passenger door, they stop completely so all the above tests need to be done with all doors shut.

Hope that helps.

Cheers.
Portzy.