W209 Mercedes CLK (also W203 w211) HVAC stepper motor linkage DIY. Fix that clicking dashboard!

2003 W209 Mercedes CLK55 AMG HVAC system stepper motor locations. This handy video will show you the locations of every stepper motor behind the dash and also give lots of good advice about how to install the motors and replace the broken linkages. If your W209 CLK, or w203 C class, or W211 E class are making strange clicking noises behind the dash, these are the parts you need to inspect and replace. I think this also applies to the R230 SL. There are anywhere from 9-12 of these in your dashboard depending on which Mercedes you own.
Mercedes Stepper motor part number : 203 820 16 42
Mercedes HVAC stepper motor blend door lever kit : 203 830 00 33
Mercedes HVAC heater blend door linkage kit : 203 830 00 32

[@Leonardo555ZZZ]

Sometimes , selecting the charcoal filter / recirculation mode will prevent the clicking just after start up.

[@rickyzgu]

Do you have to remove the top dash? A lot of w203 tutorials only removed the bottom dash to replace the 4 motors in the center.

[@revinot]

Did you guys film the stripping down of the Dash to get to this point?

[@ZiadAunallah]

You might end up getting your wish. We may have to remove the dash again soon, and this time we will make a video of that process :)

[@rickyzgu]

​@@ZiadAunallah this will be very helpful! My w209 stepper is clicking and I could only find w203 tutorials. By the way, why do you need to remove the dash again?

[@pauldavid359]

How do you remove all the stuff first, that's REAL important right?

[@bobbionehero278]

This is not fully correct for W203, because w203 have only one stepper motor in the center (look at this video kzbin.info/www/bejne/m6mQdoF3hLxjp7csi=Gs8GDq0AAwBoF9GN ). Maybe before the facelift there is a single motor in the center and after the facelift there are two motors, not sure, but maybe. On my w203 before the facelift, there is only one motor. When you teardown the dashboard, chech how many center motors you have on your cars and check all of them. Only then you will be sure.

[@rafaellop6332]

Be nice to see how to dismantle the whales dashboard 😊😊

[@syedpervez7009]

You guys are awesome 😎

[@Monkeycbr1]

Finally. I replaced the stepper motor behind the radio to stop the clicking but it doesnt open the flaps to the windshield. So I presume. This is the fix. Thank you.

[@danieldartelsoft]

Same question as Oliver, did you 🎥 the dash strip? I have hard time doing it

[@ZiadAunallah]

You might end up getting your wish. We may have to remove the dash again soon, and this time we will make a video of that process :)

[@liborlepka]

@@ZiadAunallah pls do that:)

[@davidlex8900]

Great work and video guys. Fixed many things on my '05 CLK55; this one I'm not doing. I'll buy a C63 before that and still keep the 55 - give to my boy. Not a litigious guy but that should be class action and force MB to fix such a horrible choice of material; much like the power steering wheel adjustment failures for the same thing - a .50 plastic part. Still love this car though, the boys gonna have to wait.

[@MarcoRibeiroPlus]

Hi! Where did you get the metal arms? Thanks

[@ZiadAunallah]

I got the metal arms from www.autohausaz.com/ , the part numbers for everything are in the video description

[@DanielRaic]

Hi, I was hearing some weird sound of tightening each time when I was directing air toward up/windscreen on my w203. After about 1 year I got this clicking noise which I couldnt ignore ofcourse. I saw on youtube how to change HVAC stepper motor, I did same and problem was solved, however I can hear again tightening. I removed parts again to see what is happening, stepper motor is doing job, little arm is also ok, but little part which arm is pushing toward up to open air toward windscreen is going really hard and slow, thats why my stepper motor went bed, it could not endure effort...What I should do here to solve issue? I am thinking maybe this flaps,doors.. I dont know how they are called on english, which are oppening air flow toward windscreen got dusty or some dirt so they are going hard... what I should do, my new stepper motor wil go bad again if I dont solve this..?

[@yeahnoway111]

How much more would it cost them to make shit like this out of metal instead of the weak plastic... maybe like 5 bucks per car.

[@UMAmherst1]

Fabulous explanation, thank you. Can you please tell me what the distinction is between the white and green gear/plugs that are included in the repair kit PN 2038300032? Also it looks like there are 6 white gear/plug/socket pieces in the repair kit. Is that enough to replace all the gear socket attachments if you have 10 stepper motors like I have in my c320 or do I have to order two 2038300032 kits? Thank you so much for your help!

[@vwkingla619]

Excellent video guy doing the same thing to my car. Even as a 40 year mechanic. You can learn stuff about these cars. I just bought A C32.

[@allanriches9381]

great video, gives me some comfort to know if mine fail I can fix them.

[@squigglymunchkinmechanic]

😂 agree throw the whole thing away 😂

[@mobitechaz]

Part number for these kit from Mercedes? thanks

[@ZiadAunallah]

The part numbers for everything are in the video description but if you missed it, here it is : Mercedes Stepper motor part number : 203 820 16 42

[@brianmcginn9237]

@@ZiadAunallah Hi, thanks for video - the part number comes up as part number for a motor - not the kit you have. Have you the kit number please?

[@ZiadAunallah]

@@brianmcginn9237 all of the part numbers are in the description of the video. Please read the video description. There are 3 different part numbers there. Thanks !

[@brianmcginn9237]

@@ZiadAunallah Thank you!