[SocalSam]

Thanks for replies. I decided to run an errand while waiting for replies. On next engine on, EC light went off and confirmed that compressor is spinning and on. Added second can. Gauges read low side 30 (varies) and high side 200. Air is ice cold.

Not being familiar with W210, I watched Aux (front) radiator fan to see if it comes on with compressor. It did not. Coolant reading went up to 100C which is the highest I have seen but Aux fan is still off. Did some research and found a post that aux fan kicks on at 106C. Is this correct? Does Aux fan operate independently of compressor?

Refrigerant pressure is too low. Needs to be more than 2 bars.

Also reset the fault codes in the climate controller.

I ran the two routines in the above posts and changed nothing. EC light went off next engine run. Did software reset itself?

Looks like it is cool outside. Put second can in hot water then continue charging. Watch total weight going in. 1000 grams.

Temp is in the sixties F now. Second 12 oz can went in fine. High side reads 200 psi and air feels cold. Do I need third can?

 

[Witek_M]

Total charge is 1000 grams, 35.274 oz. Use accurate kitchen scale to top it off.
To test aux fan operation press and hold both Auto buttons for over 30 seconds. Fans should go full tilt.

 

[mrboca]

The aux fan turns on if the refrigerant pressure as read by the climate controller at around 17 bars. You can look at the ECU live data to check whether the aux fan is turned on by the coolant temp, or the climate controller or both (in percentages).

Yes the spec calls for 1000 grams which is 3 12-ounce cans, taking into account residual refrigerant amounts in the cans and the hoses.

 

[SocalSam]

Thank you. Will report back.

 

[cloudcomputing726]

Bumping forward to keep clutter down. Replaced compressor. Pulled vacuum 45 minutes, good. Filled with one 12 oz can. Compressor will not switch on. Readings taken with key on engine off. Values are: 1 = 53, 2 = 51, 3 = 82, 4 = 78, 5 = 76, 6 = 98, 7 = 02, 8 = 57, 9 = 27, 10 = 0.8, 11 = 2.7, 12 = 4.1 P1 = 08, P2 = 136. Have not changed values. Please advise, thanks.

bypass the pressure switch

 

[cloudcomputing726]

Looks like it is cool outside. Put second can in hot water then continue charging. Watch total weight going in. 1000 grams.

bypass the pressure switch first

 

[SocalSam]

bypass the pressure switch

Thanks for reply. Compressor came on with reset and was able to add two more 12 oz. cans.

 

[SocalSam]

Drove the car. Coolant temp reached 95C with a/c on and outside temp 76F. A/C was ice cold so satisfied with that. I don't know service history of coolant system so will change fan clutch and perform coolant flush. I found a bottle of blue coolant in the trunk so hopefully the radiator is not fouled with non-blue coolant. I think coolant system is going to be a separate issue. Thanks again to our resident techs.

 

[SocalSam]

Changed fan clutch. The old one was original to the car. Drove with a/c compressor on in stop and go traffic. Temp never rose above 85C. I'm thinking problem solved. Anyways, this concludes my portion of this thread. Thanks to all for your help.