Mercedes Air Conditioning Reset [How to]

If you’re driving an old Mercedes Benz model, you’ve likely experienced having an air conditioning system that continuously blows warm air. Resetting the air conditioning system might do the trick. What is a Mercedes air conditioning reset?

The Mercedes Air Conditioning Reset is an approach that allows you to reboot your car’s entire air conditioning system. It is expected to clear up issues you experience and prevent you from paying for costly repairs. This approach is also known as the Mercedes Climate Control Reset.

Read on to learn more about the Mercedes Air Conditioning Reset approach. Learn how it is done, when it should be done, and how effective it is.

Mercedes Air Conditioning Reset

mercedes air conditioning reset

The Mercedes Air Conditioning Reset is a method that lets you reboot your car’s entire air conditioning (AC) system. It is expected to clear up issues you experience and prevent you from paying for expensive repairs. This approach is also known as the Mercedes Climate Control Reset.

This method is typically applied to older Mercedes models. For instance, your air conditioning system blows warm air. After recharging the refrigerant, there seems to be no difference, and it continues to blow warm air. In which case, you can apply the Mercedes Air Conditioning Reset method.

However, do not expect that this method will always address your air conditioning issue. In essence, it is only one option to fix the issue. If it doesn’t solve your AC issue, it means that you have to bring your car to your most trusted mechanic. That way, your car will undergo a thorough check-up and proper diagnosis.

When Should I Do the Mercedes Air Conditioning Reset Process?

The Mercedes Air Conditioning Reset process is not something that you should do every so often. In fact, it is possible to drive your Mercedes for so many years without even trying to perform this process at all.

There are, however, some instances when all that your air conditioning system needs is some resetting. You can do this before subjecting it to some costly repairs. It wouldn’t hurt to do so since it may run in its normal condition again once you reset it.

You can apply the Mercedes Air Conditioning Reset process when:

  • The AC service lights located on the dashboard turns on
  • Your Mercedes blows warm air even after recharging the coolant
  • The car seems to be encountering more serious issues with the AC system

With this resetting method, it is possible to restore the normal condition of your Mercedes’ air conditioning system. This is because of the possibility that what causes your AC issue is only a temporary fault.

How to Reset a Mercedes AC System

Resetting a Mercedes Air Conditioning system is not at all difficult. There’s no reason to get intimidated by it or to be hesitant in performing it. You don’t even need to be very knowledgeable about vehicle troubleshooting.

Follow these steps for resetting your Mercedes air conditioning system:

  1. Insert the Key into the Ignition
  2. Press and Hold the Recirculating Air and Defrosting Buttons Simultaneously
  3. Wait until the LED Lights Stop Flashing

1. Insert the Key into the Ignition

The first step is to insert the key into the ignition. Then, gently turn the key to its second position. Don’t turn it any further and cause the engine to start because it will prevent you from resetting the AC system.

In case you accidentally turned on the engine, just shut it back off. It’s best to remove the key from the ignition first and then start the process repeatedly.

2. Press and Hold the Recirculating Air and Defrosting Buttons Simultaneously

Once you have turned the key to its second position in the ignition cylinder, you can start to focus on the AC system buttons located on the dashboard.

Identify the recirculating air and defrost buttons. Then, press and hold both buttons down at the same time. Keep doing so for about 10 seconds.

In essence, you have to keep pressing and holding down the buttons simultaneously until their LED lights start flashing. So, once you notice that the lights start flashing, you can already let go of the buttons.

You will also notice that even after letting go of the buttons, the LED lights will continue flashing.

3. Wait until the LED Lights Stop Flashing

You will notice that even as you stop pressing and holding the buttons, the LED lights will continue flashing. At this point, what you should do is sit back and wait for it to stop. Once it does, completely turn off the car. Remove the key from the ignition and wait for about 60 seconds.

As you sit and wait, your Mercedes is completing its air conditioning reset. Let it do so for about one minute. Then, you can try to start your car engine once again. By this time, your air conditioning system is expected to work normally once again.

Is Mercedes Difficult to Maintain?

Is the Mercedes Air Conditioning Reset Effective?

reset mercedes air conditioning

In most cases, the Mercedes air conditioning reset process does the trick. This is especially true if, after recharging the refrigerant, the AC continues to blow warm air. Resetting the system is expected to return everything to normal. It will make the system up and running once again, just like how it should.

However, it doesn’t mean that resetting the air conditioning system will always do the trick. You only reset it if there is a temporary fault in your system. But you wouldn’t know that there’s a temporary fault unless you try resetting the system.

So, if your air conditioning system continues to blow warm air even after resetting it, then you need to seek professional help. Also, do not hesitate to reset it once again, especially if you think you didn’t do it right the first time.

Other Things You Can Do When You Have a Faulty AC System

Here are other things you can do if you have a faulty air conditioning system:

  • Find Troubleshooting Techniques in the Owner’s Manual
  • Seek Professional Assistance

Find Troubleshooting Techniques in the Owner’s Manual

If the Mercedes air conditioning reset process did not come out effective, check out your Owner’s Manual. There might be instructions written in it about how to troubleshoot the AC system.

Also, your vehicle might have a specific resetting process. If so, it’s best to follow the instructions written in your Owner’s Manual.

Seek Professional Assistance

There are two reasons why you should seek assistance from a professional mechanic. First, you want the mechanic to perform the resetting process once again. This is because you are hesitant with how you performed it, and you want a professional to conduct it instead.

Second, you want the mechanic to check all other issues involving your car’s AC system. This is after confirming that resetting the system will not fix the issue.

Again, you can use the Mercedes Air Conditioning Reset or the Mercedes Climate Control Reset to reboot your car’s air conditioning system. This reset is capable of clearing up issues you currently have with your AC. Thereby saving you lots of money.

Why My Mercedes AC Blows Warm Air?

It is definitely frustrating if your Mercedes air conditioning system doesn’t blow cool air. What’s even worse is that it continues to blow warm air after applying the reset method. There are several reasons why this happens. They are the following:

  1. Defective Damper
  2. Broken Blower Motor
  3. Leak Coming from the AC Refrigerant

Let’s briefly discuss each of these points:

1. Defective Damper

The damper forms part of the Mercedes air conditioning system. It is responsible for directing air into the cabin. If there’s an issue with the damper, it hinders cool air from entering the cabin.

Your car’s computer should be able to detect if there’s something wrong with the damper. However, no matter how slight it is, there’s also a chance that the computer fails to provide you with accurate information.

It is possible that the sensor doesn’t get to send the correct information that you need. In which case, you need the assistance of a professional mechanic to confirm this issue.

2. Broken Blower Motor

The blower motor also forms part of the Mercedes air conditioning system. It plays an important role in the distribution of cool air in the car.

Its main responsibility is to keep the fan blades turning so that the cool air will evenly distribute inside the car. It also prevents warm air from entering the cabin to make space for cool air.

In other words, a broken blower motor means warm air will continuously come inside the car.

3. Leak Coming from the AC Refrigerant

Another reason why a Mercedes air conditioning system becomes faulty is because of a refrigerant leak. This is, in fact, one of the most common AC issues experienced by Mercedes owners.

If there’s an AC refrigerant leak, the system will not be able to produce cool air. Unfortunately, this issue can’t be resolved by a Mercedes air conditioning reset. Instead, this issue needs serious professional attention.

How to Fix a Mercedes Air Conditioning System

mercedes air conditioning fix

What if you have done everything to fix the air conditioning system yourself, and it is still broken? If that’s the case, then it’s about time to bring it to your most trusted Mercedes car care shop.

When you bring your Mercedes to a car care shop, you have to make sure that it has expertise on Mercedes cars. Mercedes vehicles have features that are different from the features of vehicles from other manufacturers. That’s why it’s best to bring your car to a shop that specializes in Mercedes vehicles.

To give you an idea, the common air conditioning issues encountered in Mercedes vehicles are the following:

  1. Faulty Cooling Fan Control Unit
  2. Leaky AC Condenser
  3. AC Refrigerant Leak
  4. Electrical Issues Involving the Climate Control System
  5. Bad AC Compressor

These Mercedes AC issues can’t be addressed with a Mercedes Air Conditioning Reset. Again, you need a mechanic that can check your Mercedes thoroughly. That way, it will be correctly diagnosed, and appropriate solutions will be provided.

What Is AC Rest on Mercedes?

Not everyone knows what the Rest button on their Mercedes is. If you have noticed it, it allows the cabin to keep warm for roughly 30 minutes from when the engine has been turned off.

Cost to Fix the Mercedes AC System

The cost of repairing a Mercedes air conditioning system depends on how mild or serious the issue is. If the issue is only a simple AC recharge, the cost may be between $100 and $200. However, if your Mercedes seriously needs a brand new AC compressor, you might have to spend roughly $1,000 for that.

AC repair costs for Mercedes vehicles are expensive. That’s why when the AC system breaks down, bringing the vehicle to the repair shop is not always the first option of Mercedes owners. They first find a way to troubleshoot it on their own. If it seems irreparable, that’s the time they bring it to a professional.

Also, it is best to consider different factors before deciding whether or not you should spend money on AC repairs. For instance, if your Mercedes is still relatively new, it probably is worth having its AC repaired. You can still maximize its use, especially if you drive it every day.

On the contrary, if your vintage Mercedes is not in good condition anymore, think thoroughly about whether you still should have the AC fixed or not. If you don’t use it every day, there probably is no reason to have it repaired anymore.

Conclusion – Mercedes Air Conditioning Reset

The Mercedes Air Conditioning Reset is a method that lets you reboot your car’s entire air conditioning (AC) system. It is expected to clear up issues you experience and prevent you from paying for expensive repairs. This approach is also known as the Mercedes Climate Control Reset.

However, resetting your AC doesn’t guarantee that it will get fixed all the time. It is simply one of the options for troubleshooting your Mercedes AC. After all, the cost of having it repaired is quite expensive. That’s why it’s best to exhaust all troubleshooting techniques that you can perform before deciding to bring it to a repair shop.

Suffice to say that resetting the air conditioning system of your Mercedes can be your first course of action.

Related reading:

R12 to R134a Conversion [How to, Chart, and Conversion Kits]

Car AC Stopped Working Suddenly [Not Blowing Cold Air]

Car AC Blowing Hot Air Suddenly [How to Fix]

Mercedes-Benz Reliability Guide