SVTGT350
CEG'er
Originally Posted by blindside. AMG
My Private War: Operation SLR Evaporator (56k)
So I thought I’d share a little SLR project with you AF guys since you’ve known me before I even went to SLR training. I think I mentioned in that other thread that I was going to be a “back-up” to the original SLR technician…turns out I was wrong. He didn’t want to work on the car anymore so I’m pretty much the only one who works on it. It has its ups and downs. I love the experience but the hours can be long and very unrewarding (pay wise) at times.
So about two weeks ago we had 4, yes 4, SLR’s come in at around the same time. One was an early ’05 model that had 900 miles on it. Whoever owns it never drives it, in fact it didn’t even have up to date registration on it. The car sat in a garage for pretty much the entire time so when I came in to the shop it had 14 recall/service campaigns. So that took a fair bit of time but campaigns are campaigns, I have most of them down to a science. Another came in with a “fuel malfunction” lamp indication on the instrument cluster…turned out to just be a simple A/C hose since it had almost no refrigerant in it. The fuel is cooled by the A/C system so when the fuel sensors saw the fuel getting too hot it throws up the malfunction light. The third came in for like 2 campaigns and a rattle from the engine compartment, nothing big, just a heat shield hitting an intercooler.
Then there’s THIS car. Came in with a “fuel malfunction” light on like the other. I figured it was another A/C leak before I even looked at the car and ended up being right. The only difference is that as soon as I turned the A/C on a strong refrigerant/oil smell came shooting out of the A/C vents. My immediate reaction was “oh ****!”. That smell coming through the vents can only mean one thing….evaporator. So I did the usual pressure checks and leak detection tests and came to the conclusion that it was the evaporator which requires removal of….well, you’ll see. I tell my foreman and he agrees with the diagnosis. So he gets on the horn to MBUSA and calls for a technical assistance rep to come out and verify it, a job this big needs the MB The rep spent another 6 hours with me and the car and finally gave me the ok to do the job. So I now present to you how to replace an A/C evaporator on the SLR :
Day 1:
First off, remove the left side fender:
That’ll give you room to remove the left muffler and heat shields:
(exhaust already removed in this photo)
Now dig your hands into that tiny hole to remove the heater hoses to the heater core and then to the A/C expansion valve on the fire wall…yeah, it’ll hurt like hell:
Good, now remove the steering wheel and center console assembly:
Don’t forget the left seat, carpet, and trim:
My Private War: Operation SLR Evaporator (56k)
So I thought I’d share a little SLR project with you AF guys since you’ve known me before I even went to SLR training. I think I mentioned in that other thread that I was going to be a “back-up” to the original SLR technician…turns out I was wrong. He didn’t want to work on the car anymore so I’m pretty much the only one who works on it. It has its ups and downs. I love the experience but the hours can be long and very unrewarding (pay wise) at times.
So about two weeks ago we had 4, yes 4, SLR’s come in at around the same time. One was an early ’05 model that had 900 miles on it. Whoever owns it never drives it, in fact it didn’t even have up to date registration on it. The car sat in a garage for pretty much the entire time so when I came in to the shop it had 14 recall/service campaigns. So that took a fair bit of time but campaigns are campaigns, I have most of them down to a science. Another came in with a “fuel malfunction” lamp indication on the instrument cluster…turned out to just be a simple A/C hose since it had almost no refrigerant in it. The fuel is cooled by the A/C system so when the fuel sensors saw the fuel getting too hot it throws up the malfunction light. The third came in for like 2 campaigns and a rattle from the engine compartment, nothing big, just a heat shield hitting an intercooler.
Then there’s THIS car. Came in with a “fuel malfunction” light on like the other. I figured it was another A/C leak before I even looked at the car and ended up being right. The only difference is that as soon as I turned the A/C on a strong refrigerant/oil smell came shooting out of the A/C vents. My immediate reaction was “oh ****!”. That smell coming through the vents can only mean one thing….evaporator. So I did the usual pressure checks and leak detection tests and came to the conclusion that it was the evaporator which requires removal of….well, you’ll see. I tell my foreman and he agrees with the diagnosis. So he gets on the horn to MBUSA and calls for a technical assistance rep to come out and verify it, a job this big needs the MB The rep spent another 6 hours with me and the car and finally gave me the ok to do the job. So I now present to you how to replace an A/C evaporator on the SLR :
Day 1:
First off, remove the left side fender:
That’ll give you room to remove the left muffler and heat shields:
(exhaust already removed in this photo)
Now dig your hands into that tiny hole to remove the heater hoses to the heater core and then to the A/C expansion valve on the fire wall…yeah, it’ll hurt like hell:
Good, now remove the steering wheel and center console assembly:
Don’t forget the left seat, carpet, and trim:
:help: