Red "EC" Light stays on, Climate Control not cold

[97E300D]

My A/C stopped working on my 97 E300D. The Red "EC" Light stays on which I assume is the compressor economy Mode. What tests or assumptions can I make thus far. Will the Light go on if the refrigerant is low to protect the Compressor?

I located rebuilt Compressors for this car for $430, yet if it's just a leak I would rather not replace it.

Any advise would be greatly appreciated.

[okc329]

Hope you don't have a leaky evaporator. They are very expensive to fix and the problem is common on that series. Have somebody check it over using refrigerant with dye and the UV light which will locate the leak. There are also detectors which can be inserted from the transmission hump to get near the evaporator an "sniff" for a leak.

[97E300D]

How expensive is the part and what is general charged for labor?

The evaporator is the unit in the cabin right?

Will I damage the compressor by running the cliamte control with the red light on or is this "ec" mode activated when the pressure drop bellow a certain point ?

[PHAEDRUS242]

What you need to do is get the system charged up and have them add an infrared leak detection dye to the system. It could be that you just have a tiny leak that may or may not need attention. A lot of cars leak refridgerant, and will still go two years between recharges. With the dye in the system you can not only easily locate the leak, but also gauge its severity. Once you have this information you can worry about a possible evaporator (which is behind the dash). You won't damage you A/C system running it now as once the refridgerant pressure sensor detects a lack of charge, the compressor will not turn on at all, hence the EC light staying on.

[mgyl]

Hi

I've recently had the same problem, if you are lucky it's not an expensive fix.

In my case it was the "evaporator Temp Sensor", but you have to pull out some info from the climate control display.

Follow the links below:

http://www.benzworld.org/forums/forums/thread-view.asp?tid=1175387&posts=12&fid=17

210 chassis climate control problem

Morgan

[97E300D]

I Love this forum......
Thank You very very much.
1st I'll check the Actual Value and DTC's on the display to rule out the temp sensors.

Then I will have the unit changed with the UV or other dye, and cross my fingers.

Question: What type of refrigerant does the car take and could I just do a simple charge myself.

If I do charge the system myself how about the oil to lubricate the compressor, is it already in the recharge kit.

Any recommendation on kits?

[97E300D]

Vola, it's fixed and all I needed to do was to reconfigure the P2 setting as per mercedes bullitin. This is fantasic I can not beleive all the real-time and diagnostic information availbe through Cilmate Control screen. Check out this info:

37/99-2 GROUP 83 - MODEL 210, CLIMATE CONTROL "EC" LAMP ON: *** UPDATE TO MB-NET MESSAGE NO. 220 DATED APRIL 16, 1999, DTB 17/99 ***: If you receive client complaints on model 210 of "the EC lamp on", please check the system according to the published diagnostic and service procedures. Check if the version coding is correct. Replace the refrigerant temperature sensor in every case. If the refrigerant quantity, temperature or pressure sensors are within the specified values, the low refrigerant level indication should be switched off via the HHT or via the on-board diagnostics (P2 value) as described below. Do not replace AAC push-button modules for this complaint.
Please note that "EC" lamp low refrigerant indication is a redundant feature. Disabling this feature does not compromise the safety of the AC system, because the AC compressor will switch off if low refrigerant (level) pressure is detected.
Switching of the "EC" lamp low refrigerant level detection via the AAC Push-button Control Module can be accomplished as follows:
Switch ignition to position 2.
Set the left temperature to "HI" and the right to "LO"
Switch the ignition off.
While holding the "REST" button, switch the ignition to pos. 2. On the left side of the display, "P1" will be blinking and on the right side, the version code is
displayed. Press the "EC" button, no change is needed for the P1 value.
Press the "EC" button again. "P2", will be blinking on the left side of the display and the value on the right side.
Record this value. Using the right side temperature (red) button add 16 to the displayed value.
Press the "EC" button to store the updated version code.
Turn the ignition off and on again. Reset the left and right side temperatures to 72?F (by pressing the red and blue buttons at the same time).
For warranty, please use Damage Code 83752 04.

57/99-2 GROUP 83 - MODEL 210, CLIMATE CONTROL "EC" LAMP ON: *** REPLACES MB-NET MESSAGE NO. 461 DATED AUGUST 25, 1999, DTB 37/99 ***: On Model 210, for conditions of the EC LED lamp on although the button has not been pressed, please replace the refrigerant temperature sensor to resolve this condition. The refrigerant temperature sensor may absorb moisture may cause incorrect values to transmit to the control module causing the air conditioning system to switch off. For warranty, please use Damage Code 83752.




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