W208 Aircon EC Light on

[tpwuk]

Hi Guys,

The EC Light has just come one today and won't switch off.

I just read this on another MB forum.....

"Your EC light is stuck on because the compressor has been permanently turned off because of a problem (probably low refrigerant).

You can tell the level of refrigerant by pressing both auto buttons (left and right) for 5 seconds while both temps are at 72 degress, and it will go into diagnostic mode. The left side of the display will tell you a number (1 to 47/48 where each # represents a certain reading), #7 is the level/PSI of the refrigerant. Use the left AUTO button to scroll to #7, and read the value on the right side. Anything above 10 is good, 0 means no refrigerant.

You can get the error codes on the climate control by turning on the car before you start the engine. Within 30 seconds, have the left side be on LO and the right side on HI then press the EC & REST button for 5 seconds. The auto buttons will scroll to the different error codes. To erase the error codes, press the REST button for 5 seconds (I think this is the button). The EC light should be able to be turned off, if the problem is still there then the EC light will eventually get stuck again to indicate there is a problem. "

Is the above correct?

If so, I just checked #7 on mine and the reading shows 4. Is this the probable reason why the light has come on?

Cheers,
Glenn

 

[Howard]

I think you're spot on with that. Will posted a link like that some time back.

It'll probably be your condensor rotted through , the ages of the cars now , if they have never been replaced are on the way out. Coupled with the tons of salt on the road now has probably finished it off.

The system won't engage the electronic clutch to power the compressor if the gas is low / empty so as not to damage it.

Don't be fooled into just having a re-gas.

Olly told me it would be my condensor , i went ahead and had a KwikFit regas anyway , a month later , all the gas is gone and the EC light is on. Olly was right .

 

[tpwuk]

Thanks Howard. How much is a new condensor?

 

[Howard]

Don't think it's fortunes.

 

[steve333]

Had the same thing happen on my old w208 & although it didn't have climate control turned out to be the condenser & an aircon hose that were faulty,cost about £250 including a re-gass last year from memory.

 

[Howard]

£250 all in ?

New condensor
Fitting
Regas ?

Who did this for you please ?

 

[BlackC55]

A Decent condensor (one that won't leak in 5 mins) is around £150. Gas up is £50ish and labour is 2 hours.

 

[steve333]

£250 all in ?

New condensor
Fitting
Regas ?

Who did this for you please ?

It was Tony Purslow Guildford Howard,got the 40% labour & 10% parts discount as the car was more than 5 years old,ollie's guesstimate looks spot on to me.

 

[Howard]

But that would be nearer £370

£150 for condensor
£50 regas
2 hrs at £70 P/h

Tony Purslow did your job all in for £250 ?

 

[steve333]

But that would be nearer £370

£150 for condensor
£50 regas
2 hrs at £70 P/h

Tony Purslow did your job all in for £250 ?

Yep about £250(may have been a little more as part exed the car last october so don't have the invoices)

 

[clk208]

Suspect my condensor also packed up 6 months ago over summer.

No cool air again, regassed at kwik-fit and seemed to work again for about a day then went kaput again.

Interesting thing with mine is the EC light isn't permenantly on - I can turn it off/on as normal. Definitely no cool air though.