Center Vent Heating Issue

[mickey13]

So I've searched the forum and read posts all over the net. There seems to be some conflicting information and I think I already know the answer to my question but I need to confirm it with a tech or mb expert.

I own a 99 c43 with electronic climate control, it has the ec button. I bought it from a mb dealership and it came with a nifty limited comprehensive warranty. I noticed that on HI (where I usually run my heat) I'm not getting any blow out of the center vents. Unfortunately, the car is at the dealership and I can't test the center vents with AC or heat at different temperatures (I also read that sometimes center won't blow over 75? Not positive as I was up pretty late shifting through this stuff).

Dealer is telling me that center vents are designed not to blow heat because it'll put the driver to sleep. After asking around on other forums, members with 99 c43s have confirmed they are getting heat on the center vents.

Also after searching around, I've found posts that say no heat from center is normal. Now I suspect there are two different types of climate systems, but as far as I can tell, it's only the electronic with AC and manual without? The dealer is telling me that my system doesn't blow out of the center which I am 100% sure they are wrong on, however short of getting an estimate from another mb dealer, I have no way to prove and get the repairs done. So essentially what I'm asking is how do I prove that my system should be blowing the hot air through the center without incurring the cost of a written estimate?

[RemoLexi]

Invest in an owners manual. I may even have one.

Yes, no heat from center vents is normal to not put the driver to sleep, there is many features the auto climate control has that you may want to know.

Example, press both temp up & down keys at any temp to automatically set to 72' instead of clicking up or down 30 times.

[mickey13]

Thanks. I've got the owner's manual on pdf and the original that came with the car, it's silent on heat blowing from the center vents.

I'm just not comprehending how certain individuals who have owned this model since new have heat blowing out of their center vents and I don't. Like I said, I found posts with conflicting information, but most unsettling is that owners of the same model and year are telling me they have heat on the center.

I'll mess with it a bit in 2 or 3 days when I get it back and maybe see a clear distinction that makes sense. May also make sense to invest in a new climate control unit since the LCD on mine is crapping, needs a bit of pressure or the display fades lightly. I will be extremely upset if after ordering a new unit, the center started blowing after the dealer stated it was normal, in fact I'd probably slap a lawsuit on him.

[RemoLexi]

It also depends on if your in automatic climate setting or just commanding it to blow air where directed.

That climate control unit is very ahead of its time, there's certain features locked away in it and information is limited or undisclosed so even the dealer techs would have to dig for the info.

[kowalski]

if you block the EC (red dot light up) you have no ac functionality, hot air stream should come from mid vents, you have different arrow settings on lcd display

[AMG KC]

Hot air never has come from any center vents in any W202 ive ever been in, it either shuts off or continues to blow cool air.

[AMG KC]

Youd slap a law suit on a dealer cause they told you how its meant to work? Thats kinda silly... There is no reason for it.

[taz069]

Mickey13, sorry for the late post. Like remo has stated the controler you have has a lot of extra functions! I have one in my 96 c280, check out the sticky on fupabox!! He runs thru several of the functions that the unit from temp on the insides vents, voltage from the alternator, ac comp temp along with many other things, fault codes and where to find out what they mean. But please check out the fupabox sticky he has several vids related to the w202. Hope this might help.