Mercedes E200 - 1998 - Air conditioning

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Tue 4 Jun 2013 10:38
Mercedes E200 - 1998 - Air conditioning - mikechester

I have had the Mercedes E200 from new and 2 years after I bought it I had the local Mercedes dealer install air conditioning. He subcontracted the work and it now appears that the contractor did not use Mercedes parts. The non-Mercedes pump has recently been replaced, but the aircon engineer then burnt out the box by Autosystem (assumed to be the control box?) The aircon engineer had not disconnected the battery when working on the aircon wiring)! This box is housed in the passenger foot-well. I need help please either 1. Sourcing a replacement Autosystem control box or 2. Finding someone who can repair said Autosystem control box or 3 . Advice on whether a Mercedes aircon control box will do the job and where I might buy one - a car Mercedes breaker for example or 4. a competent aircon firm in or near Chester/ Manchester or London who can sort this problem for me.

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Tue 4 Jun 2013 11:14
Mercedes E200 - 1998 - Air conditioning - TeeCee

The aircon engineer had not disconnected the battery when working on the aircon wiring)!

Assuming that to be true and that it is the reason why the control unit has been burned out as you suggest, surely they should be fixing this rather than you?

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Tue 4 Jun 2013 21:12
Mercedes E200 - 1998 - Air conditioning - mikechester

Yes, you are legally and morally correct, but he isn't doing anything so it is for me to sort and then sue him for the cost. He came highly recommended, but has just moved from operating on a mobile basis (like many in this trade) to having his own workshop and that probably got him intersted in this more complex area, which was probably beyond his capability.

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Tue 4 Jun 2013 21:16
Mercedes E200 - 1998 - Air conditioning - mikechester

PS: He said that whilst he was repairing the wiring he smelt the burning smell and traced it to this unit. Am I wrong in assuming that his work caused the problem? He returned the car with the fuse box loose and none of the 4 screws affixed, which indicates a certain lack of professional care.

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Tue 4 Jun 2013 21:31
Mercedes E200 - 1998 - Air conditioning - elekie&a/c doctor

Most M/B models of this age,if not fitted with a factory install a/con,would have had a system fitted made by Diavia of Italy.This was an approved after market fit and did not invalidate the original M/B warranty.There were numerous other makes around at the time,but I would guess that most have since disappeared.You cannot fit original M/B parts to this system,however most of the add-on systems are fairly basic in operation and I am sure that any competent a/c engineer would be able to make the system function with a bit of adaption.Are there any stickers under the bonnet to identfy the original installation?These people may be able to help www.readerair.co.uk/

Edited by elekie&a/c doctor on 04/06/2013 at 21:33

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Wed 5 Jun 2013 21:24
Mercedes E200 - 1998 - Air conditioning - mikechester

The fans have "SPAL" on them, but no other stickers.

I had already tried www.readair.co.uk but they are now trade only. Any other ideas please?

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Wed 5 Jun 2013 09:45
Mercedes E200 - 1998 - Air conditioning - TeeCee

I think that's a fair assumption. The odds of the thing deciding to let go off its own bat at exactly the same time as he was working on the vehicle must be astronomical.

If he'd been working on removing the fuse box while the battery was connected you should probably count yourself lucky that this is the only thing that went......

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Wed 5 Jun 2013 23:02
Mercedes E200 - 1998 - Air conditioning - elekie&a/c doctor

Could this be the company/manufacturer you are looking for?They may have agents in the UK.www.autosystem.it/en

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