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robwill54
Veteran
Date registered: Aug 2007
Location: South of Houston on the Gulf
Vehicle(s): '12 G550,F350 Superduty, E250
Posts: 140
| Leaking evaporator
The ac on my '12 G550 has lost its charge. I see no leaks in the engine compartment so I need to check the evaporator.Can anyone give me any info on how to access it and/or remove it?
Thanks!
Bob |
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robwill54
Veteran
Date registered: Aug 2007
Location: South of Houston on the Gulf
Vehicle(s): '12 G550,F350 Superduty, E250
Posts: 140
| Re: Leaking evaporator
Just checked the drain tube for the air box; lots of dye. Guessing the cover has to come off the box in the rear of engine compartment so I'm going for it. Any suggestions for a decently priced replacement?
Bob |
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DUTCH
Administrator Doppelgänger
Date registered: Apr 2006
Location: US, GA, Atlanta
Vehicle(s): 2015 Audi Q7 3.0 TDI,2018 Sprinter
Posts: 9963
| Re: Leaking evaporator
robwill54 - 8/5/2016 9:19 AM
Just checked the drain tube for the air box; lots of dye. Guessing the cover has to come off the box in the rear of engine compartment so I'm going for it. Any suggestions for a decently priced replacement?
Bob
On the pre-MBUSA G's the evaporator is accessed for replacement from under the dash.
No parts on the G are "decently priced", but my best source for parts pricing is: https://www.oediscountparts.com/parts/index.cfm?searchText=463830070...
~25% discount from MBUSA MSRP, no sales tax to you in Texas, and orders weighing less than 10 lbs ship free. |
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robwill54
Veteran
Date registered: Aug 2007
Location: South of Houston on the Gulf
Vehicle(s): '12 G550,F350 Superduty, E250
Posts: 140
| Re: Leaking evaporator
guessed wrong must be behind dash. But a great time to change the cabin air filter! |
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BlueG
Elite Veteran
Date registered: Aug 2009
Location: DC
Vehicle(s): 2003 G500
Posts: 714
| Re: Leaking evaporator
One thing you could look at is the condition of the stepper motors and arms. With the dash out it would be extra easy to access them and see if any have a stress crack starting. Although on my 2003 I've only had to replace 1 and the dash didn't have to come out so maybe its not even worth looking into if the HVAC blend doors don't make funny noises or divert air incorrectly. |
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BlueG
Elite Veteran
Date registered: Aug 2009
Location: DC
Vehicle(s): 2003 G500
Posts: 714
| Re: Leaking evaporator
DUTCH - 8/5/2016 9:53 AM
robwill54 - 8/5/2016 9:19 AM
Just checked the drain tube for the air box; lots of dye. Guessing the cover has to come off the box in the rear of engine compartment so I'm going for it. Any suggestions for a decently priced replacement?
Bob
On the pre-MBUSA G's the evaporator is accessed for replacement from under the dash.
No parts on the G are "decently priced", but my best source for parts pricing is: https://www.oediscountparts.com/parts/index.cfm?searchText=463830070...
~25% discount from MBUSA MSRP, no sales tax to you in Texas, and orders weighing less than 10 lbs ship free.
Dutch thats a good find. I need a pair of rear calipers and they have them listed for pretty darn cheap. Less than $500 on both. I'm curious if there is a core or if its new. |
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DUTCH
Administrator Doppelgänger
Date registered: Apr 2006
Location: US, GA, Atlanta
Vehicle(s): 2015 Audi Q7 3.0 TDI,2018 Sprinter
Posts: 9963
| Re: Leaking evaporator
BlueG - 8/9/2016 2:42 PM
Dutch thats a good find. I need a pair of rear calipers and they have them listed for pretty darn cheap. Less than $500 on both. I'm curious if there is a core or if its new.
Those are new MB parts. That is an official MBUSA dealership. |
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Ertech
Veteran
Date registered: May 2016
Location: Montreal CA
Vehicle(s): 2011 G550
Posts: 156
| RE: Leaking evaporator
where is the drain for the evap?
thanks |
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BlueG
Elite Veteran
Date registered: Aug 2009
Location: DC
Vehicle(s): 2003 G500
Posts: 714
| Re: Leaking evaporator
DUTCH - 8/9/2016 2:45 PM
BlueG - 8/9/2016 2:42 PM
Dutch thats a good find. I need a pair of rear calipers and they have them listed for pretty darn cheap. Less than $500 on both. I'm curious if there is a core or if its new.
Those are new MB parts. That is an official MBUSA dealership.
Using those part numbers I found www.genuinemercedesparts.com to be about another 5% cheaper than oediscountparts.com
Edited by BlueG 8/9/2016 10:25 PM
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robwill54
Veteran
Date registered: Aug 2007
Location: South of Houston on the Gulf
Vehicle(s): '12 G550,F350 Superduty, E250
Posts: 140
| Re: Leaking evaporator
If you crawl under the passenger side the drain tube is just behind the firewall. If you have the truck running just follow the dripping water. Stealership quoted $4300 for the repair, 19.9 hours @$165/he plus parts. That's a bit over $1000 a year for a working evaporate core. I intend to invite MBUSA to financially participate in the repair. 40 years of brand loyalty should be worth something, right?
Will keep you all posted
Bob |
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robwill54
Veteran
Date registered: Aug 2007
Location: South of Houston on the Gulf
Vehicle(s): '12 G550,F350 Superduty, E250
Posts: 140
| Re: Leaking evaporator
Took the truck to Star Motorcars in Houston and called MBUSA customer care. Issue has been elevated to a case worker and although no promises have been made, they consider these instances on a "case by case basis". Looks like I'm going to see what Mercedes is made of.
Bob |
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robwill54
Veteran
Date registered: Aug 2007
Location: South of Houston on the Gulf
Vehicle(s): '12 G550,F350 Superduty, E250
Posts: 140
| Re: Leaking evaporator
Just to fill you guys in...
MBUSA first offered to soak up 25% of the repair cost. I cried on their shoulder some and they came back with 33%. I took them up on their offer(probably caved too soon) but I'm ready to get on with it. I just figured after 15 vehicles over a 40 year span ( you do the math) it would be worth a bit more to keep me happy... Guess not.
Bob |
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BlueG
Elite Veteran
Date registered: Aug 2009
Location: DC
Vehicle(s): 2003 G500
Posts: 714
| Re: Leaking evaporator
Wow thats amazing. I would have guessed the reply to be something along the lines of "no warranty can't help." |
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robwill54
Veteran
Date registered: Aug 2007
Location: South of Houston on the Gulf
Vehicle(s): '12 G550,F350 Superduty, E250
Posts: 140
| Re: Leaking evaporator
Whole deal was handled professionally. Got the panzer wagon back for just over 3 large. Icy cold ac.No rattles but a few scratches courtesy of MB's finest techs on the dash. Guess I just have a higher standard that way.
Bob |
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ILIAN
Veteran
Date registered: Sep 2014
Location: Boston MA
Vehicle(s): 2000 G500 1999 CL500
Posts: 181
| Re: Leaking evaporator
For that kind of money and on a 4 YO vehicle I would make them replace whatever they scratched. |
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H1LM002G55
Expert
Date registered: Mar 2010
Location: S Florida / Geneva / Jeddah
Vehicle(s): 500 GE, G55, LM002, H1
Posts: 1796
| Re: Leaking evaporator
Me too. And choose your techs more wisely next time. |
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robwill54
Veteran
Date registered: Aug 2007
Location: South of Houston on the Gulf
Vehicle(s): '12 G550,F350 Superduty, E250
Posts: 140
| Re: Leaking evaporator
It's not like I just dumped my vehicle at the first place I happened across; I interviewed 3 different dealers in the Houston area questioning them at length about their techs and service department. Star Motorcars is I believe the oldest and respected dealers there and the tech had 13 years experience with MB and this dealer in particular. The next closest had 5 years. Seriously, which would you have chosen?
I don't think coulda shoulda really matters here, just stating the facts.
Bob |
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H1LM002G55
Expert
Date registered: Mar 2010
Location: S Florida / Geneva / Jeddah
Vehicle(s): 500 GE, G55, LM002, H1
Posts: 1796
| Re: Leaking evaporator
That's fair- you did your best and asked questions. A lot of people would have just dumped the vehicle off. |
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robwill54
Veteran
Date registered: Aug 2007
Location: South of Houston on the Gulf
Vehicle(s): '12 G550,F350 Superduty, E250
Posts: 140
| Re: Leaking evaporator
I appreciate your reply. As of yesterday the truck is back at Star for free replacement of the damaged parts.
Bob |
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H1LM002G55
Expert
Date registered: Mar 2010
Location: S Florida / Geneva / Jeddah
Vehicle(s): 500 GE, G55, LM002, H1
Posts: 1796
| Re: Leaking evaporator
Good on them for stepping up to the plate and making it right... |
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