Mercedes-Benz launched the 1st generation of their CL-Class (W140) in 1992, after a decade of preparation and tweaking. This Mercedes flagship was fixed with numerous innovations such as power-assisted door closing and double-pane window glazing, and she remained a popular model until her discontinuation in 2000. One thing that owners frequently complain about are leaking evaporators.
It would be almost unbearable to drive a car in the hotter, more humid months if it weren’t for the air conditioning system. More than just blowing cold air into the cabin, the AC actually removes the humidity from the air around you, making the entire climate more inhabitable. But what if the air conditioning stops working? Many W140 owners turn on the air conditioning and find that only warm, humid air comes blowing back in their faces. The most likely problem is that the car is leaking Freon—the chemical that cools down and dries up the air.
The car’s evaporators take in warm air from the car and run it around the evaporator coils, which are full of Freon. The Freon sucks the moisture and heat from that air, absorbing them both into itself. If there is a leak inside of the evaporator—usually due to a bad seal or a cracked weld—then the Freon will drain from the car, the air will remain warm, and you will experience some serious discomfort inside your vehicle.
Because the evaporators are usually located behind the entire dashboard, making their removal and repair a gigantic hassle, and something that the general car enthusiast shouldn’t attempt to do. Instead, contact a local Mercedes-Benz repair garage, tell them about the leaking Freon, and let them handle the hard work. After all, that’s what professionals are for.
Search for a local, independent Mercedes-Benz repair shop with Mercedes-Benz mechanics that have dealer-level expertise at a fraction of the expense.