loudandheard
08-30-2005, 05:34 PM
I was told a while back that I had a leak in a small part behind the dash and it would cost almost a $1000 in labor to replace a $50 part. So I told them just to refill it and they did. So the air condition was working when I parked it 3 months ago, so I assumed that the refrigerant had leaked out.
I was at school and saw this shop right by it and by chance I had seen a mercedes being serviced there. So I went there to get my refrigerant refilled and I asked them to make sure that they do service mercedes and they said yes.
Well the guy comes back and says that the car was completely empty of refrigerant and should be vacumed. So I went a long with it and then he said that the compressor sounds a little rough and would be neccessary to lubricate it. I remember from reading the manual not to put mineral oil in the system or it could harm it, p136 in the manual. Well, so happens I don't have the manual with me and I can't prove it to the guy. So he reasures me that all ac systems use mineral oil and I even make sure to ask him about mercedes and again he assures me. I just figured I had read the manual wrong and since he had worked on previous mercedes, he was right. I am also desperate to get my ac refilled because traffic in Houston is dense and very, very hot.
So I wait there for two hours waiting for it to be done, so I walk outside to see if there is a problem. The gut says that I have a voltage problem and that the compressor does not want to work. He has a very low-tech voltage tester that lights up when voltage is present. He shows me at a fuse that it is bright and when connected to one of the connection of the compressor it is dim. I saw it for myself, so I told him I'll take it home and figure out what the problem is.
So I spend $90 bucks for nothing and have to wait in the scorching heat for about an hour all the way home from school without any ac what so ever. So I check the manual when I get home and I turns out I was right. Could the real problem be that they used R-12 mineral based lubricant or could it just be that the voltage is was really low. The ac was on mind you. What should I do to solve this problem, I'm afraid that my whole ac system might have gone to crap because of that guy. I'm hoping if that's the case he will need to cover the expenses and I know that might not work. I do have the proof of work he did.
I was at school and saw this shop right by it and by chance I had seen a mercedes being serviced there. So I went there to get my refrigerant refilled and I asked them to make sure that they do service mercedes and they said yes.
Well the guy comes back and says that the car was completely empty of refrigerant and should be vacumed. So I went a long with it and then he said that the compressor sounds a little rough and would be neccessary to lubricate it. I remember from reading the manual not to put mineral oil in the system or it could harm it, p136 in the manual. Well, so happens I don't have the manual with me and I can't prove it to the guy. So he reasures me that all ac systems use mineral oil and I even make sure to ask him about mercedes and again he assures me. I just figured I had read the manual wrong and since he had worked on previous mercedes, he was right. I am also desperate to get my ac refilled because traffic in Houston is dense and very, very hot.
So I wait there for two hours waiting for it to be done, so I walk outside to see if there is a problem. The gut says that I have a voltage problem and that the compressor does not want to work. He has a very low-tech voltage tester that lights up when voltage is present. He shows me at a fuse that it is bright and when connected to one of the connection of the compressor it is dim. I saw it for myself, so I told him I'll take it home and figure out what the problem is.
So I spend $90 bucks for nothing and have to wait in the scorching heat for about an hour all the way home from school without any ac what so ever. So I check the manual when I get home and I turns out I was right. Could the real problem be that they used R-12 mineral based lubricant or could it just be that the voltage is was really low. The ac was on mind you. What should I do to solve this problem, I'm afraid that my whole ac system might have gone to crap because of that guy. I'm hoping if that's the case he will need to cover the expenses and I know that might not work. I do have the proof of work he did.