Hi all,

My heater in my 2000 S320 CDI has packed up altogether.

I took it to my merc service centre, and it came up with no fault diagnosis codes, suggesting a problem with the heater blower and/or the blower regulator. The guy in the garage told me that he would have to replace both parts to recify the fault (cost (with labour) - about 900 GBP).

I since found out that the car hadn't been in for a recall regarding a problem with water leaking through the air inlet into the area where the motor and regulator are situated (I am the second owner of this car).

I took the car to the Merc dealer to have this mod done, free of charge, and no questions asked. The service manager however is adamant that the recall had nothing to do with the problem I suffered with.

I would appreciate any help in either locating the spares at a more reasonable price than the Merc dealer, or advice on where I stand regarding the recall issue.

Many thanks in advance, and the very best to you all

 

Quote.......merc service centre, and it came up with no fault diagnosis codes, suggesting a problem with the heater blower and/or the blower regulator. The guy in the garage told me that he would have to replace both parts to recify the fault (cost (with labour) - about 900 GBP).

I since found out that the car hadn't been in for a recall regarding a problem with water leaking through the air inlet into the area where the motor and regulator are situated (I am the second owner of this car).

1.......merc service centre, and it came up with no fault diagnosis codes, suggesting a problem with the heater blower and/or the blower regulator.
How do you come to this conclusion?
merc service centre. Is this the same as a MB main dealer or some independent "Merc Specialist"?

2....... The guy in the garage told me that he would have to replace both parts to recify the fault (cost (with labour) - about 900 GBP).
What two parts and why?
The hot water valves can be repaired dependent upon what is wrong with them. Likewise the blower motor. However if damage is severe / corrosion then your best bet is eBay, a salvage yard (lots of places do second hand parts. Just enter search into Google) or pay full MB price.

3.......I since found out that the car hadn't been in for a recall regarding a problem with water leaking through the air inlet into the area where the motor and regulator are situated
Didn't realise there was a recall for this issue?
Presumably you are referring to the potential for a blocked plenum (air inlet) drain.
Do you have the Recall/TSB number?
or are the garage just referring to making sure that the drain is clear. Poke a stick / air line thru the drain valve?

You say "packed up". No blower, no heat, no A/C or what? Please elaborate? definition of the problem is EVERYTHING.

Stuart

 

Sorry Stuart,

There is no air at all blowing out, even on windscreen demist, although the dash control unit appears to be ok.

Thanks again

 

Hi Stuart,

Thanks for the quick response.

I'll try to be a little more specific.

1: The garage is a Merc specialist service centre, and it was they who said that this was the problem.

2: The two parts were the heater blower and the heater regulator.

3: I have owned the car for two years, and was unaware of the recall
The recall number given to me by the dealer was "4012 - Cover air inlet in engine"

I hope that this will suffice.

Thanks for your patience,

Roy

 

Hi,

Heater blower regulator is a known weak point and MAY require replacement.
This COULD be due to a seized blower motor.

Are you sure it is not as simple as the fuse??
Although quite possible WHY do the garage conclude that it is the blower + the regulator.

Personally I would start by applying a supply direct to the blower motor. It works or it doesn't. If not then I would remove to determine why. If there was no prior warning of a problem it coul;d be just a problem with the bushes. So many garages nowadays just "fit" new bits. They don't attempt to determine what or why something is wrong. When you have to pay something like 60 to 100 per hour I would want more than somebody with a screwdriver!!

I guess this is all about trust. There is no reason to believe that there diagnosis is incorrect (subjecvt to knowing WHY they arrive at such a conclusion) but the opportunity for changing EXPENSIVE parts needlessly is open to them.

Suggest you ask a main dealer to quote for repair. See what they say. No doubt they will charge a similar amount but I would only part with this sort of money if i had two "experts" telling me the same story.

WHY DO THEY CONCLUDE IT NEEDS A NEW MOTOR AND REGULATOR?

You say they are adamant that there isn't a connection between the drain becoming blocked (have I got this correct?) and the blower motor potential failure. WHY NOT?

The drain becoming BLOCKED is a major problem but I am still surprised that there is a recall! I will follow this up. I suspect its just a routine item that they look at when (IF) the car is serviced.

Stuart.

 

"You say they are adamant that there isn't a connection between the drain becoming blocked (have I got this correct?) and the blower motor potential failure. WHY NOT? "

I presume because they would then be admitting liability in that it was a design fault that led to my problems.