A/C went warm on my '98 c230 last night. I want to simply buy the refrigerant (R-134A ?)at a local auto parts store and recharge the system. I will probably have the complete A/C service done next Spring (drain....replace oil...recharge). I have a few questions:

1. Am I going to do any harm to the system by simply filling it up again with refrigerant ?
2. Is this a simple procedure I can do in 10 min ?
3. Where is the receptacle that accepts the refrigerant in my engine bay ?

The car is only 3 years old with 35k miles, I do not think anything is wrong with the a/c system, it just needs refrigerant.

Thanks.

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1998 C230
1994 Infiniti J30T
1984 BMW 318i
1987 VW Golf GT
1975 Buick LeSabre Conv.

Hmmm, when you are low on refrigerant, the system *should* still cool, but not as much. If it suddenly went warm, I was suspect the problem is elsewhere. You should try and get some codes out of the A/C system.

1. Put the key into the ON position (position 2), but make sure the car is off.

2. Put the climate control into AUTO and LO.

3. Press and hold REST and DEFROST (front/windshield defrost) at the same time until you read dIA on the climate control screen.

4. Using the AUTO button, scroll through the codes, and record them. Report the codes back to me and I will tell you what they mean.

GOOD LUCK!

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2006 E350 w/ 155k miles (Daily Driver)

Previous:
1993 300E 3.2L Sedan w/ close to about 300k miles
2003 E500 Brilliant Silver (Had 217k miles when totalled!)
1989 300E with 289,000 miles (had for <1 yr while in HI)
03 CLK 500 cabrio (Mom's)
2006 C230k (Dad's)
1999 S420 (Mom's/Dad's)
2000 C230k Sport sedans
2001 CLK320 Cabrio (Mom's)
1995 C280 My First Mercedes-Benz... (155k miles. EXCEPTIONAL AUTOMOBILE. Was Very hard to let go of!)

Lets see. 98 with 35k miles? This would be a WARRANTY repair!

Remember this, if you have to add gas, there is a leak! Let them repair it for free.

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Benzmac:
Donnie Drummonds
ASE CERTIFIED MASTER AUTO TECHNICIAN
MERCEDES SPECIALIST 11 YRS