CLK Air Con Leak behind dashboard possible?

[steveatesh]

After a period of being SORNed my CLK's air con leaked the coolant out (I know, I know!). The leak was a joint above the front radiator, duly repaired and re-gassed. Great I thought. Should have known better as after about 2 weeks I smelled a strong chemical type smell in the cabin and the air con stopped working. The technician told me there was no gas in again and searched all around the engine compartment for the leak. he had used a gas that showed up under certain light, but couldn't find it anywhere.

He suggested it must have leaked behind the dashboard and told me it would be a major job to remove it, find the leak and repair it.

So, are there Air Con seals tucked somewhere behind the dashboard, and if so is it a full dashboard out or just part of it? I have some days spare coming up and thought if possible I'd gain access to any Air Con seals behind the dashboard and then call in a mobile Air Con technician to sort it from there.

Any advice appreciated thanks.

[television]

It could be the evaporator leaking and yes this is a dash out to change it. I can check to see whats involved.

[steveatesh]

television said:

It could be the evaporator leaking and yes this is a dash out to change it. I can check to see whats involved.

That would be great thanks appreciate it !

[r129sl]

Evaporator failure is not uncommon. Don't be too intimidated by the thought of having to take the dash out. Although there are lots of steps, the whole process is relatively straight forward. Usually there's a fair bit needs to come out on the engine side of the bulkhead: the wiper assembly, the blower motor and the heater box (which is where the evaporator is situated). I had the evaporator changed on my 124 and it wasn't the end of the world.

There's a speeded up You Tube video showing the job on a w203 (which is essentially the same car) here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nVQXTbNvsuY

Edited by r129sl on Tuesday 19th May 21:31

[television]

The car please, a 208 or 209.

[steveatesh]

television said:

The car please, a 208 or 209.

It's a 209 thanks

[steveatesh]

r129sl said:

Evaporator failure is not uncommon. Don't be too intimidated by the thought of having to take the dash out. Although there are lots of steps, the whole process is relatively straight forward. Usually there's a fair bit needs to come out on the engine side of the bulkhead: the wiper assembly, the blower motor and the heater box (which is where the evaporator is situated). I had the evaporator changed on my 124 and it wasn't the end of the world.

There's a speeded up You Tube video showing the job on a w203 (which is essentially the same car) here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nVQXTbNvsuY

Edited by r129sl on Tuesday 19th May 21:31

Cheers for that, had the wiper motor off recently, that was straight forward, I'll watch the video and assess my level of competence!

[television]

One tip on doing this as you are going to have a lot of screws etc. where it will stick place the screws back in the holes and use masking tape to hold them in place, and you will not have the problem of knowing which ones went where.

[steveatesh]

television said:

One tip on doing this as you are going to have a lot of screws etc. where it will stick place the screws back in the holes and use masking tape to hold them in place, and you will not have the problem of knowing which ones went where.

Just been reading other threads like this on the MB Owners club site - Is it possible that the leak I have is actually coming from one or the of the O ring seals shown as part number 35 on this diagram posted by you here:

http://forums.mercedesclub.org.uk/showthread.php?t... post 4

If so, am i right in thinking that I can access these from under the bonnet, removing the plastic cover that sits above the wiper motor and mechanism at the base of the windscreen?

That would save me taking it all to bits, not something I would relish having watched that video linked above!