No air conditioned air on drivers side please help!

[Sihay]

Morning I'm new to this forum and relatively new to me ownership and the costs of repairs!

I have a 2008 e class avantgarde estate (e200) automatic which is lovely to drive but have had a few problems with it, the latest of which is the air conditioning which I haven't been a massive user of as I'm a slightly frustrated convertible owner and have tended to drive with the windows open until recently.

The problem is that there appears to be no air conditioned air coming out of the drivers side vents, I have a UK car by the way. I've tried it on various different settings and with the air con off and on.

Whilst I'm no expert it seems that with the air con off the temp on both sides is the same whether hot or cold and with it on the temp on both sides is the same when hot but on cold the air on the passenger side is chilled air but on the drivers side it's as if air con is off as just blowing out air at ambient temp.

I've had a good look round the Web and this forum and taken it into my local mb dealer who have replaced the heater shut off valve which made no difference and say that the
next step is to replace the main air con control unit at £500 plus. I don't have a warranty or deep pockets and would be interested to know whether you think this is the correct next step as I've read it could need regassing, a blockage from compressor or stepper motor.

As we seem to be heading for a hot spell any help would be greatly received!

Thanks Simon

 

[Stratman]

Get it regassed. My W203 had the same problem and a regas cured it.

It seems the cold refrigerant enters the heat exchanger on the passenger and with a low gas level it gets warmed up before it even reaches the outlet on the driver's side.

 

[Sihay]

Thanks for the response that sounds a cheaper alternative to a new control unit! Can anywhere do it or does it need to be done by an mb dealer?

Out of interest I experimented of the the way home and put the air con on its coolest setting and closed all vents expect the middle drivers side vent and after a little while cold air conditioned air started to come out and stayed cold (but maybe not quite as cold) when the other vents where reopened.

Tried again this morning and the same happened, does this still point to regassing?

Thanks again for the help. Simon

 

[b1g1an]

If it was as simple as regassing I'm sure your MB dealer would've done that, can't believe they'd turn down easy money.

Was thinking that just the changeover valve, right up to the point you said it had been changed

 

[Sihay]

Thanks for the response. Be testing it for the last few days esp in the heat and whilst I can get chilled air out of drivers side still only if I shut off other vents.

MB dealer said put dye in system to check for leaks but refused to say if it was topped up. They have said need a new control unit £500 plus but said would put in and if didn't work take off again and put mine back and not charge.

Seems a bit trial and error. Given cost of regassing may be worth a try?

Has anyone tried kwik fit for regassing as round corner from my work? I was a bit reluctant to go there. Any views would be appreciated.

Thanks

 

[Diesel Benz]

The heat exchanger shutt-off valve would not cause temperature differences between left and right side.

The garage can easily test flaps to verify that a broken flap motor would prevent cool air for the driver. I think this is a rare case on a 211 anyway. The test would also verify the control unit functionality.

Low refrigerant could also make the evaporator freeze from one side but this does not seem to be your issue if you don't get cold air even initially.

 

[Stratman]

Kwik Fit use the same regassing rig as everybody else. As long as the operator has read the instructions and doesn't cut corners with the vacuum check it should be fine.

 

[Sihay]

Thanks for your responses I think I'll give the regassing a try.

Fingers crossed it's nothing more expensive!