300SE 1989 Problems...TIA

I have a 89 300SE with a few problems:

1. The HIGH button on the AC has stopped working, only AUTO and LOW work, i.e. if you have the AC on AUTO or LOW and press the HIGH button nothing happens it stays on LOW or AUTO. Local mech. says to live with it because it's too expensive to fix.

1. Hard to start, you really have to hold the key in the ignition position and give it some gas to get the engine turned over. I put in new plugs but they did nothing to help. Once started runs perfectly.

Thanks in advance for any help you can give.

Ty