I know this is the process for diagnosing early w202 climate control issues:
SELF-DIAGNOSTICS
DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODE READOUT
Entering Diagnostic Trouble Code (DTC) Display Mode
1) Turn ignition on. Press down arrow push button until "LO" is shown in A/C-heater control panel temperature display window.
2) Within 20 seconds, simultaneously press REST and defrost push buttons for more than 2 seconds. The Light Emitting Diode (LED) in the recirculated air push button will blink and the display window will show "di R".3) Press AUTO push button repeatedly, recording each DTC,until all DTCs are displayed. Permanent malfunctions are displayed first. See DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODE (DTC) IDENTIFICATION tables.
4) If no permanent malfunctions are stored, the display window shows "En d". Press AUTO push button again. Intermittent DTCs will be displayed. Intermittent malfunctions are recognizable by the degree (°) symbol displayed along with the DTC (example: "04 °").
5) If no intermittent malfunctions are stored, the display window shows "En° d". Proceed to ERASING DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODES.
Erasing Diagnostic Trouble Codes
1) After display window shows "En° d", press AUTO push button once again. Display window should show "dE L" (delete).
2) To erase DTCs, simultaneously press down and up arrow push buttons for more than 5 seconds. The display window should show "- --". If not erasing DTCs, press the AUTO push button. The permanent DTCs will again be displayed. Proceed to EXITING DTC DISPLAY MODE.
Exiting DTC Display Mode
Simultaneously press down and up arrow push buttons until the pre-selected temperature setting of "72 °F" is displayed. Turn ignition off.
DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODE (DTC) IDENTIFICATION TABLE
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Code(s) (1) Cause
01 ......................Normal
02 ......................A/C-Heater Control Panel
03 & 04 ..............In-Car Temp. Sensor/Blower Short Circuit
05 & 06 ..............In-Car Temp. Sensor/Blower Short/Open Circuit
07 & 08 ..............Outside Temp. Sensor Short Circuit
09 & 10 ..............Outside Temp. Sensor Short/Open Circuit
11 & 12 ..............Heater Core Temp. Sensor Short Circuit
13 & 14 ..............Heater Core Temp. Sensor Short/Open Circuit
19 & 20 ..............Evaporator Temp. Sensor Short Circuit
21 & 22 ..............Evaporator Temp. Sensor Short/Open Circuit
23 & 24 ..............Engine Coolant Temp. Sensor Short Circuit
25 & 26 ............. Engine Coolant Temp. Sensor Short/Open Circuit
27 & 28 ..............Refrigerant Pressure Sensor Short Circuit
29 & 30 ............. Refrigerant Pressure Sensor Short/Open Circuit
31 ......................A/C Compressor RPM Sensor Circuit
32 ......................Drive Belt Slip Recognition Circuit
47 & 48 ...............Auxiliary Coolant Pump Short Circuit
49 & 50 ...............Auxiliary Coolant Pump Short/Open Circuit
51 & 52 ...............Duovalve Short/Open Circuit
53 & 54 ...............Duovalve Short/Open Circuit
59 & 60 ...............A/C Compressor Clutch Circuit
61 & 62 ...............A/C Compressor Clutch Short/Open Circuit
63 & 64 ...............(2) Auxiliary Fan Activation Short Circuit
65 & 66 ...............(2) Auxiliary Fan Activation Short/Open Circuit
67 & 68 ...............(3) Auxiliary Fan Activation Short Circuit
69 & 70 ...............(3) Auxiliary Fan Activation Short/Open Circuit
(1) - Other than codes 01 and 02, the even numbered codes indicate an intermittent malfunction.
(2) - Auxiliary (condenser) fan stage 1 (low speed).
(3) - Auxiliary (condenser) fan stage 2 (high speed).
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DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODE (DTC) IDENTIFICATION TABLE
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Code(s) (1) Cause
71 & 72 ....Closed Throttle Speed Increase Short/Open Circuit
73 & 74 ....Closed Throttle Speed Increase Short Circuit
75 & 76 ....Diverter Flap Switchover Valve
77 & 78 ....Diverter Flap Switchover Valve Short/Open Circuit
79 & 80 ....Tempering Flap Switchover Valve
81 & 82 ....Tempering Flap Switchover Valve Short/Open Circuit
83 & 84 ....(2) Fresh/Recirculated Air Flap Switchover Valve
85 & 86 ....(2) Fresh/Recirculated Air Flap Switchover Valve Short/Open Circuit
87 & 88 ....(3) Fresh/Recirculated Air Flap Switchover Valve
89 & 90 ....(3) Fresh/Recirculated Air Flap Switchover Valve Short/Open Circuit
91 & 92 ....(2) Defroster Flap Switchover Valve
93 & 94 ....(2) Defroster Flap Switchover Valve Short/Open Circuit
95 & 96 ....(3) Defroster Flap Switchover Valve
97 & 98 ....(3) Defroster Flap Switchover Valve Short/Open Circuit
99 & 100 ...(2) Footwell Flap Switchover Valve
101 & 102 ..(2) Footwell Flap Switchover Valve Short/Open Circuit
103 & 104 ..(3) Footwell Flap Switchover Valve
105 & 106 ..(3) Footwell Flap Switchover Valve Short/Open Circuit
(1) - Even numbered codes indicate an intermittent malfunction.
(2) - Long (80 percent movement) stroke.
(3) - Short (20 percent movement) stroke.
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READING SENSOR VALUES
1) Turn ignition on. Simultaneously press down and up arrow push buttons until the pre-selected temperature setting of "72 °F" is displayed. Press the AUTO push button.
2) Press REST push button for more than 6 seconds. The display window will alternately show "01" and an in-car temperature of "72 °F", or "LO" if there is an open circuit, or "HI" if there is a short circuit.
3) By pressing the windshield air distribution push button, the next ascending test step is displayed. By pressing the footwell air distribution push button, the next descending test step is displayed. See SENSOR VALUE DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODE (DTC) IDENTIFICATION table. Press REST push button to exit reading sensor values mode.
SENSOR VALUE DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODE (DTC) IDENTIFICATION
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Code Cause/Value
01 ............................. In-Car Temperature Sensor
02 ............................ Outside Temperature Sensor
03 ........................ Heater Core Temperature Sensor
05 .................... Evaporator Core Temperature Sensor
06 ................. (1) Engine Coolant Temperature Sensor
07 .............................. (2) Refrigerant Pressure
08 ............................ (3) Blower Control Voltage
09 .......... Software Status Of A/C-Heater Control Module
15 ........................... Selected In-Car Temperature
20 ................................. Software Version Code
21 ...................................... (4) Engine Speed
22 .............................. (5) A/C Compressor Speed
23 ......................................... Vehicle Speed
50 ................................ 80.° - 00.° (Not Used)
51 ......... Number Of Actual Drive Belt Slip Recognitions
52 ......... Number Of Actual Drive Belt Slip Recognitions
(1) - A display of "12.°5" corresponds to 125 Celsius (257°F).
(2) - Refrigerant pressure is displayed in bar. One bar equals 14.5037 psi. A display of "12.°8" corresponds to 12.8 bar (185.6 psi).
(3) - A display of "16.°5" corresponds to 1.65 volts.
(4) - A display of "06.°0" to "70.°0" corresponds to 600 RPM to 7000 RPM respectively.
(5) - A display of "00.°0" to "84.°0" corresponds to 0 RPM to 8400 RPM respectively.
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For clarification this is for this model A/C Pushbutton Unit
__________________
Michael
1994 C280
So Cal
Eibach Springs
I tried the procedure yesterday. But I did not see "di R" displayed after I pressed the "reset" and the "defrost" buttons (nor did the LED in recirculate air blink). But the display did alternate between 01 (normal?) and a temperature reading (what's that? reading from inside temperature sensor, since the temp is set at "lo"?). So it is working somewhat. I just don't know why it is different. Is it because I have a different year/model (1995 C220)?
What you got is the sensor readings. The way to cycle those is by pressing "By pressing the windshield air distribution push button (top left button of control unit), the next ascending test step is displayed. By pressing the footwell air distribution push button (bottom right of control unit), the next descending test step is displayed"
To get the trouble codes. Turn key to on (don't start), hit your auto button, set temp to low "lo", press "0" (turn off), press auto (again) and within twenty seconds, press "rest" and defrost button at the same time. Within two to three seconds the fan should shut off and the recirc light should be flashing with the "dlr" in the display. Follow the directions above for cycling and deleting. Michael
To get the trouble codes. Turn key to on (don't start), hit your auto button, set temp to low "lo", press "0" (turn off), press auto (again) and within twenty seconds, press "rest" and defrost button at the same time. Within two to three seconds the fan should shut off and the recirc light should be flashing with the "dlr" in the display. Follow the directions above for cycling and deleting. Michael
I think what I missed was "press "0" (turn off) and press auto (again)." It was not in the first instruction. I will try it again tonoght!
I find by pressing 0 assures the display will come on. Whereas, in the original instructions it only works some of the time - YMMV. Good luck. I have pulled the codes and still can't get my A/C to work. So, it is only part of your diagnosis/fix. Michael
No luck, I tried it again, and I still got the sensor reading. You are right about pressing top left and bottom right buttons of the control unit, it did cycle through a bunch of codes that I don't quite understand (where can I find those info?). But I just could not pull up the DTC.
The codes are posted above and below:
01 ............................. In-Car Temperature Sensor
02 ............................ Outside Temperature Sensor
03 ........................ Heater Core Temperature Sensor
05 .................... Evaporator Core Temperature Sensor
06 ................. (1) Engine Coolant Temperature Sensor
07 .............................. (2) Refrigerant Pressure
08 ............................ (3) Blower Control Voltage
09 .......... Software Status Of A/C-Heater Control Module
15 ........................... Selected In-Car Temperature
20 ................................. Software Version Code
21 ...................................... (4) Engine Speed
22 .............................. (5) A/C Compressor Speed
23 ......................................... Vehicle Speed
50 ................................ 80.° - 00.° (Not Used)
51 ......... Number Of Actual Drive Belt Slip Recognitions
52 ......... Number Of Actual Drive Belt Slip Recognitions
(1) - A display of "12.°5" corresponds to 125 Celsius (257°F).
(2) - Refrigerant pressure is displayed in bar. One bar equals 14.5037 psi. A display of "12.°8" corresponds to 12.8 bar (185.6 psi).
(3) - A display of "16.°5" corresponds to 1.65 volts.
(4) - A display of "06.°0" to "70.°0" corresponds to 600 RPM to 7000 RPM respectively.
(5) - A display of "00.°0" to "84.°0" corresponds to 0 RPM to 8400 RPM respectively.