Clicking noise in dash

[smythg]

Can anyone help with this one ?
I have a CLK W209 which has a clicking noise in the dash when the ignition is turned to position 2, it only lasts for about 30 seconds. Someone has suggested it is the air distribution flaps being set and thinks there is a way of doing a re set to stop the noise ?
Cheers

 

[grayb]

With our W209 it was diagnosed as stripped cogs on the air distribution flaps inside the heater. These are apparently a weak point and the replacements from MB have been redesigned to be stronger.
Now the bad news - the whole dash comes out to replace them! Over £1000 at an MB dealer... Go somewhere like MBS outside of Southampton and it will be half that.
Make sure all the cogs etc. are replaced while they are in there, as we got caught by someone only replacing the broken cog only for a different one to go 2 years later.

 

[fjmrf]

203
To reset heater flaps and actuators
Switch on ignition.
Press recirculated air and defrost buttons on control panel together for longer than 5 seconds.
The LED's in the defrost and recirculated air buttons flash alternately.
Wait until the LED's stop flashing (approx 30 sec) system set to defrost LED on.
Switch off ignition.
After 40 sec re start engine.
It has solved my problem.

 

[andavaka]

203
To reset heater flaps and actuators
Switch on ignition.
Press recirculated air and defrost buttons on control panel together for longer than 5 seconds.
The LED's in the defrost and recirculated air buttons flash alternately.
Wait until the LED's stop flashing (approx 30 sec) system set to defrost LED on.
Switch off ignition.
After 40 sec re start engine.
It has solved my problem.

Just treid this and it worked on my 203 and it sort my issue out, just wish there were more tricks like this for all the other issue I have!!!

 

[LawrenceMB]

203
To reset heater flaps and actuators
Switch on ignition.
Press recirculated air and defrost buttons on control panel together for longer than 5 seconds.
The LED's in the defrost and recirculated air buttons flash alternately.
Wait until the LED's stop flashing (approx 30 sec) system set to defrost LED on.
Switch off ignition.
After 40 sec re start engine.
It has solved my problem.

!

That's an impressive gem of info mate!

 

[tony_1170]

!

That's an impressive gem of info mate!

Buy that man a pint :bannana:

Its cleared mine! just hope Ive caught it before its really damanged the cogs

 

[tdh-syorks]

I just took out the stereo, reached down and unplugged the unit, all blowers work fine except the foot blowers (which I never used)
Problem solved.

 

[Jaapster64]

Just tried this on my 320c class and it worked great shout thanks sved me clouds of dosh ☺

 

[will lam]

I just tried the reset and the LEDs just continuously flashing and won't stop. Any idea?

 

[dddooommm]

Evening MBCLUB

I've had his on 3 of my Mercs now, including my current w209
My mission is to get my Merc working near enough to 100%

I know this is an old post but it's still a relevant problem.
I've bought the replacement, improved stepper arm that controls the air flaps etc.
(there is a how to guide on another forum)

If you do the heater control reset and the clicking pursists, this means that it's more likely to be the flap coggs over the stepper motor.

Question1: It would be interesting to know how you can plug out and not use the foot heaters which will prevent the clicking nosiness (which will in turn stop the use of the footwell heaters). How easy is this to do by taking just the headunit out ?

Question 2: Also when people talk about replacing ALL of the actuator flap coggs- I thought there was only two?



Many thanks for any help & experience
DDDOOOMMM

 

[dddooommm]

Hi- problem solved.

Remove headunit.
Reach up to the top left.
Feel where the clicking is coming from by turning heating on then engine off.
Feel where the little wire harness clip goes into the motor.
Gently press the clip and wriggle the wires out of the motor.

Result: No clicking, no 500£ bill, heating to the feet, front and top still works.

Hope this helps.

 

[BigAdy]

Hi- problem solved.

Remove headunit.
Reach up to the top left.
Feel where the clicking is coming from by turning heating on then engine off.
Feel where the little wire harness clip goes into the motor.
Gently press the clip and wriggle the wires out of the motor.

Result: No clicking, no 500£ bill, heating to the feet, front and top still works.

Hope this helps.

Cheers for that mine started two days ago was driving me mad lol did what you said but with big hands not that easy but got there in the end happy days

 

[david b]

Stepper Motor

Same problem.
How easy is it to remove the radio?
Do you just disconnect the wiring to the stepper motor?
Do you also disconnect the plastic lever or both?
Or both?
Doe's the air conditioning still work after?
david b.

 

[dddooommm]

Hi-
Removing the radio: YouTube videos show a step by step guide.
When unplugging some stuff the esp srs light will come on your dash. When you plug everything back in it will automatically clear. Don't worry about getting the wrong wiring port as the wires will only fit into a specific slot.
What to disconnect: just the wiring to the motor.
It's fiddiley but no dramas.
Yeah my air con is working fine. Heating to my feet & windscreen etc.

Hope this helps. Any issues give me a shout

 

[JackBvmb]

Hi-
Removing the radio: YouTube videos show a step by step guide.
When unplugging some stuff the esp srs light will come on your dash. When you plug everything back in it will automatically clear. Don't worry about getting the wrong wiring port as the wires will only fit into a specific slot.
What to disconnect: just the wiring to the motor.
It's fiddiley but no dramas.
Yeah my air con is working fine. Heating to my feet & windscreen etc.

Hope this helps. Any issues give me a shout

Sorry to bring up old news. I'm going to tackle this over the next couple of days. Did you just wiggle it or leave it unplugged?

 

[merc estate]

Sounds like you have it sorted, but i did have a squeak on my old e class that i thought was from behind the dash, it turned out to be the wing mirror just the last little bit when it went out, so may be worth a look. Good luck with it.

 

[JackBvmb]

Sorry to bring up old news. I'm going to tackle this over the next couple of days. Did you just wiggle it or leave it unplugged?

Are you still on here?

Thanks

 

[ShaunB]

You're still here anyway

 

[philnewmerc]

Hi- problem solved.

Remove headunit.
Reach up to the top left.
Feel where the clicking is coming from by turning heating on then engine off.
Feel where the little wire harness clip goes into the motor.
Gently press the clip and wriggle the wires out of the motor.

Result: No clicking, no 500£ bill, heating to the feet, front and top still works.

Hope this helps.

I just took out the stereo, reached down and unplugged the unit, all blowers work fine except the foot blowers (which I never used)
Problem solved

So how do we know whether to reach up or reach down? Are there any other options regards what to unplug? Thanks. (interested in buying a ~2004 merc and been to see 3 CLKs now, and *all* click!)

 

[yellowsatan]

I just tried the reset and the LEDs just continuously flashing and won't stop. Any idea?

I'm getting the same mate, did you ever work out a fix ?