300M ac

Bob Shuman wrote:
> "Steve" > wrote in message
> ...
>
>>Steven Stone wrote:
>>
>>>Just cracked 20,000 miles on my wifes 2000 3ooM.
>>>Why does the condensor fail ? poor design ?
>>
>>Condensor? I've never heard of the condensor failing. Evaporator-
>>definitely and you could argue its a design problem, but its more a
>>materials problem in that carmakers have switched to aluminum evaporators
>>for R-134a systems, and they corrode more easily than the old brass/copper
>>cores.
>>
>>Condensors fail when small rocks punch holes in them, and the low nose of
>>the LH cars and open intake below the bumper tend to increase the odds of
>>that happening. I'm utterly amazed that our LH has gone 247,000 miles
>>*without* catching a rock in just the wrong place. The lower 1/3 of the
>>evaporator looks battered to hell, but its still intact.
>
> ^^^^^^^^
>
> I think you meant condenser, but typed evaporator!

Isn't it a fundamental law of Usenet that if you correct grammar, you
make a grammar mistake? I guess if you try to clear up
"condensor/evaporator" you're guaranteed to make the same mistake too :-p

You've had very good
> luck with the AC on that vehicle.
>
> Bob

I didn't mean to imply it had never been repaired- its had an EVAPORATOR
(see, got it right that time) replaced and shortly thereafter I had to
replace the compressor (probably from oil starvation due to all the oil
leaking out the leaky evaporator). But that was well over 100k miles ago.

You have got to be kidding. They replaced a head gasket and they're not
responsible for coolant leaks? That's just crazy.

"Clint" > wrote in message
news:I_q7i.243971$aG1.42339@pd7urf3no...
> Don't ask... My M has kind of a lemony scent...
>
> Just got it back from the shop. It's leaking coolant from the thermostat
> housing area. The shop says they weren't playing in that area at all, so
> they're not responsible (timing belt and #5 piston side head gasket
> replacement). And I had the air conditioner re-charged since it's
> supposed to get up to 30 degrees here for the first time this year (80+)
> and I was just getting "cool" air, not cold. I'm hoping the evaporator
> isn't on the way out, but the way things are going, who knows. If it is
> the evaporator, I'll probably try some form of sealant first, then try
> finding a wrecker version of the evaporator.
>
> Clint
>
> "Bill Putney" > wrote in message
> ...
>> Clint wrote:
>>
>>> BTW, www.300mclub.com for some reasonably active forums, and good
>>> information.
>>>
>>> Clint
>>
>> Hmmm - I wonder where you learned about that? LOL!
>>
>> So is your M still doing well after the repair?
>>
>> Bill Putney
>> (To reply by e-mail, replace the last letter of the alphabet in my
>> address with the letter 'x')
>

This doesn't make sense. April1rst is referring to the head gasket work.
You are referring to the head gasket work. There's wasn't any confusion. It
fits.

"Clint" > wrote in message
news:Xkz7i.244582$aG1.67179@pd7urf3no...
> Sorry, I didn't post a complete history... About two weeks ago, I blew the
> head gasket on the car, after owning it for only a month. So when I said
> the shop said they weren't in that area, it was in reference to the head
> gasket work, not the refilling of the a/c.
>
> Clint
>
> "april1st" > wrote in message
> oups.com...
>> Coolant leak -- there is a bleeder screw for the coolant system
>> that the shop HAD TO TOUCH in the thermostat housing area when they
>> were refilling it with coolant (otherwise you would wind up with an
>> airpocket in the system and the car would be overheating). Make sure
>> that it is not leaking from the screw...
>>
>> Alex

Thanks to everyone for all their help.

End result is that the ac started cooling again without any repair. So
maybe it was just a control system screw up and the system fixed itself.
Perhaps a stuck door. I gave my wife the instructions to reset the system
but it actually started cooling before she tried the reset and she never got
the reset to work (no flashing display). So we will let things rest for
now. I guess this is one time I can say "cannot duplicate problem".


"Art" > wrote in message
link.net...
> Last year we gave my in-laws our 300M. My wife is visiting them and
> reports ac has finally failed on the 1999. I assume it is the notorious
> evaporator. Any idea the approximate cost of repair? Thanks.
>

In article >,
says...
|Thanks to everyone for all their help.
|
|End result is that the ac started cooling again without any repair.

I had a similar problem on a K-car body New Yorker that over time
finally failed solid. Turned out to be a temp sensor probe attached to
an A/C pipe near the firewall, it slid into a metal sheath built into
the pipe. Anything with similar function on the 3ooM ?

Steve