Largest 124 radiator.

[LvR]

I guessed R22 because I thought it wouldnt be R12 - your vehicle is not that old, but R134 is even better - R134 press/temp tables makes out that you need to see only about 50C in the refrigerant line to trigger the fan. ( and that’s before compression ie the use of the AC even).

Would love to get feedback on your particular problem's outcome and also that of the the other 2 vehicles you mentioned suffering the same malady

 

[WDB124066]

They are owned by people I am not in regular contact with, they were customers of the garage I use. Whether they want to spend much to fix what could be a very expensive problem on such an old car would need to be realised - that is if it isn't leaking just from the connection/s that were disturbed during the CHG job.
With mine the AC worked well enough, with theirs if the AC was not working as well i.e. old compressor etc, they may be able to ride out summer with a gauge that doesn't see the temps I was seeing.

Thanks to Olly @ PCS I was able to source a Genuine compressor for a realistic price a while back so at least that spendy bit of the system is new.
So I'm guessing my thoughts need to turn to condensers, evaporators and things, evaporators being the next most likely thing to fail...?? I have visions of having to go through this...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hPAAo9Mia6M

Won't be able to get somebody on it till later in the month but I'll update once we have had a look around at the rest of the system.

 

[WDB124066]

Fired up the other car yesterday with the AC switched on full from cold, surprise surprise the electric fans run for a few seconds only with coolant temp at 75 odd.

 

[LvR]

"other" ?

Me? - if I had to design the animal I would have a coolant temp sensitive switch (fans off below say thermostat opening temp) installed in addition to the pressure switch on the AC line for the fans ................

That a possibility at all?

 

[WDB124066]

Yes, but let us find why I am losing a tiny bit of refrigerant and get that back in order.

I don't think it is easy finding a small leak but I fully intend to find it if it exists.

To me Mercedes Benz is like the ASME BPVC, the only mistake I ever found was a typo on a page and clause number - that gives me confidence in design.

 

[Lyserman]

Find someone with an ultrasonic leak detector.
Excellent bits of kit.
The Auto AC specialist I use from Plymouth has one and he found a very small leak in 30 seconds.
The system had previously passed the standard test on the local ATS machine.

 

[rorf]

Crikey R22 (environmental reasons) was banned in the last century and certainly most vehicle after 90 would be using R134a, so lets not confuse the issue.

Redo your HG - this thread is not making any progress in rectifying the OPs problem

 

[LvR]

Crikey R22 (environmental reasons) was banned in the last century and certainly most vehicle after 90 would be using R134a, so lets not confuse the issue.

Redo your HG - this thread is not making any progress in rectifying the OPs problem

...................and here I was thinking I am living in the armpit of the earth


If you are unable to follow a logical discussion then please don’t you confuse the issue with assumptions

 

[WDB124066]

I'm planning to have the car hold its refrigerant so the low seed fans come on the same as the green car, once that is achieved and if the problem still exists then it's time to rethink the situation.

There will be a delay in cooling proceedings while I attend to another small problem. All going very well, except I lost this yesterday - only to find it again under the carpet under the AC ducting. After vowing never to return to the tools I think I've done well enough so far to be giving myself a 10. Tomorrow is another day of course...

 

[WDB124066]

...

 

[LvR]

:d

 

[rorf]

...................and here I was thinking I am living in the armpit of the earth


If you are unable to follow a logical discussion then please don’t you confuse the issue with assumptions

I suggest you start reading this thread from the beginning - it started as an over heating engine not long after a head job was done, now we are looking at every other excuse that can cause over heating ha ha

 

[WDB124066]

The engine has never overheated. I don't use excuses rorf never have never will. Read the thread from the beginning & tell me what doesn't fit, the reason why it showed up after a CHG was that they most likely disconnected the system.

 

[rapture]

Subb'd to this, great info. Will need to relook radiators for forced induction needs.