From: owner-diesel-benz-digest-at-digest.net (diesel-benz-digest) To: diesel-benz-digest-at-digest.net Subject: diesel-benz-digest V1 #569 Reply-To: diesel-benz-at-digest.net Sender: owner-diesel-benz-digest-at-digest.net Errors-To: owner-diesel-benz-digest-at-digest.net Precedence: bulk diesel-benz-digest Friday, June 8 2001 Volume 01 : Number 569 Forum for Discussion of Diesel Mercedes Benz Automobiles John Meister Digest Coordinator Contents: Re: the latest. :) WJ axle problems??? Re: Finally - the auto parts web site we've been waiting for! Re: the latest. :) Re: WJ axle problems??? a V8 Diesel??? Re: Polar remote Key Fob? extended factory warranty? Re: extended factory warranty? Re: Electrical System Problems Fixed - 82 300D Diesel Benz Digest Home Page: http://www.digest.net/diesel-benz/ Send submissions to diesel-benz-digest-at-digest.net Send administrative requests to diesel-benz-digest-request-at-digest.net To unsubscribe, include the word unsubscribe by itself in the body of the message, unless you are sending the request from a different address than the one that appears on the list. Include the word help in a message to stag-digest-request to get a list of other majordomo commands. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Thu, 07 Jun 2001 10:28:11 -0400 From: "John Heflin" Subject: Re: the latest. :) Wow. I don't think I can go back now. Got benz #3 the other day, an '82 300D, a.k.a. "the brown bomb." A friend of mine is letting me have it while my 240 goes in for repairs, but after this, I dont think I'm going to want the 240 back! Only problem is, tags expire on July 31 and then the car is getting donated (badly rusting). Im hoping I can get the car transferred to me and then put the engine into the 240, since its body is sound but the engine is lacking somewhat... I love this engine! (and all 309,000 miles that are on it) All the fun of a diesel AND it can still get out of its own way! Oh, and John, the previous owner of it seemed to be interested in your 300SD. I'll talk to him more about it this weekend and see what the deal is. thanks, John Heflin Damascus, Md '69 280SE 4.5 "U-boat" http://www.crosswinds.net/~ttdmc/dieselbenz/280SE '78 240D "Green Hornet" (more like green turtle) '82 300D "Brown Bomb" (I didnt come up with these names... all work of the previous owners...) >>still need to sell the '87 Cherokee and the '83 300SD. Although my wife >has been driving the 300SD and "suggested" that I sell my J10 and keep the >300SD because it gets better mileage. I don't think so. Not an option. :) > >later, >john _________________________________________________________________ Get your FREE download of MSN Explorer at http://explorer.msn.com ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 07 Jun 2001 08:51:11 -0700 From: john Subject: WJ axle problems??? What goes wrong with the Dana Vari-Lock axles? I did some testing last night, impressive the way this system works. :) My son was starting to laugh at me for attempting our hill climb test with street tires, the tires started to slip as I slowly climbed the hill... and then it stopped spinning and we crawled up the hill that kept all the rental SUV's at standstill... (except the other Jeep. ;) Hey, axles aren't that hard to deal with... it's just the parts and setup that's the problem. ;) let me know if there are any service bulletins on this, I'm going to attempt to get an extended warranty on this thing. :) later, john > > Hey John: > > > > Nice purchase on the WJ Grand Cherokee (they're nice trucks)... but good > > luck :( The first year of the WJ's with Quadra-Drive... you'll be going > > through axles every 20,000 miles... :( > > > > Mike M. > > > >Date: Wed, 06 Jun 2001 12:11:10 -0500 > > > > > >That's no problem for John. He LOVES working on his Jeeps. ;) > > >This way he has something to look forward to every 20k miles or so. > > >He'll only have a few cars so he'll need something to do > periodically! :) > > > > > >Jim/ >Well, probably true but I doubt he has Dana Vari-Lock axles sitting >around his yard!! :) :) >Mike M. - ------------------------------------------------------ http://www.WAGONEERS.com/ Snohomish, WA - where Jeeps don't rust, they mold... jesus, don't leave life without him, please! - ------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 07 Jun 2001 08:57:13 -0700 From: john Subject: Re: Finally - the auto parts web site we've been waiting for! At 08:36 AM 6/7/01 -0700, Steve wrote: >Check this site out. It has all the hard to find parts and supplies that >you've been looking for!!! > www.kalecoauto.com/ hey, I could use some of those muffler bearings... I heard that K&N is upset about these guys for that -Air Filter Bypass Kit-, seems it filters better than theirs, adds more horsepower and costs less... I'm thinking about those cross drilled brake lines for my Benz, I hear it really reduces brake fade in high speed stops... ;) john - ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- john-at-wagoneers.com http://www.wagoneers.com/UNIX from Snohomish, Washington reminding you not to leave life without Jesus. need a choice of tools? try: http://www.sun.com/staroffice/ ============================================================================= Microsoft Certified Professionals are to the computing industry what McDonald Certified Food Specialists are to gourmet restaurants. Michael Bacarella 3/15/2000 (as seen on http://www.slashdot.com/ ) ============================================================================= ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 07 Jun 2001 16:15:56 From: "Mike Mehringer" Subject: Re: the latest. :) Well, I must admit it's a beautiful truck... I've always loved ZJ and WJ Grand Cherokees.... have fun John!! :) :) Congrats! Mike M. '83 300SD W126 >From: john >To: Undisclosed recipients: ; >Subject: the latest. :) >Date: Wed, 6 Jun 2001 12:34:27 -0700 (PDT) > >I drove the wife's "new" jeep home this morning. :) It's a bit nicer >than her old one (or mine)... State Police will retitle it next week. >Going to get a trip permit for it and "test" it out for a few days before >I let my wife drive it... Got to make sure it's ok doncha know? ;) > > the "new" Jeep is a 1999 Jeep Grand Cherokee Limited... even has seat >heaters!!! >I couldn't figure out why I was getting so warm... ;) separate temp >controls even!!! > > http://wagoneers.com/fotos/WJ-June6-2001/ > >still need to sell the '87 Cherokee and the '83 300SD. Although my wife >has been driving the 300SD and "suggested" that I sell my J10 and keep the >300SD because it gets better mileage. I don't think so. Not an option. :) > >later, >john > > ---- > >------------------------------------------------------------------------- > ** john-at-wagoneers.com via PINE on Linux **** http://wagoneers.com ** >** http://junkscience.com ** http://snopes.com ** http://freegift.net ** > Snohomish, Washington USA ...don't leave life without Jesus, please... >------------------------------------------------------------------------- _________________________________________________________________ Get your FREE download of MSN Explorer at http://explorer.msn.com ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 07 Jun 2001 16:26:04 From: "Mike Mehringer" Subject: Re: WJ axle problems??? When it comes to how the Quadra-Drive system works, there's nothing better on the market... DaimlerChrysler did a superb job... what it does is for example if you have 3 of your tires on ice, and the last tire on solid ground, the VariLock axles and Quadra-Drive will send ALL power to that tire on solid ground... which will definately get you out of almost any situation... Unfortuantely the axles cannot handle 100% power to one wheel and the axle blows up. I talked with 2 different service managers (one a friend of mine) at Chrysler/Jeep dealers and they both explained this to me. I also read this somewhere, I forget where. I believe there are several service bulletins on this. They also mentioned many customers complain on the level of noise those axles produce as well, but I tend to think it's a truck and the customers are expecting the same noise as a car with independent suspension would give. Good thinking in getting the extended warranty. I'll try to come up with more info... Mike M. '83 300SD W126 >From: john >To: (Recipient list suppressed) >Subject: WJ axle problems??? >Date: Thu, 07 Jun 2001 08:51:11 -0700 > >What goes wrong with the Dana Vari-Lock axles? > > I did some testing last night, impressive the way this system works. :) > My >son was starting to laugh at me for attempting our hill climb test with >street tires, >the tires started to slip as I slowly climbed the hill... and then it >stopped spinning >and we crawled up the hill that kept all the rental SUV's at standstill... >(except the >other Jeep. ;) > >Hey, axles aren't that hard to deal with... it's just the parts and setup >that's the problem. ;) > >let me know if there are any service bulletins on this, I'm going to >attempt to get >an extended warranty on this thing. :) > >later, >john > >> > Hey John: >> > >> > Nice purchase on the WJ Grand Cherokee (they're nice trucks)... but >>good >> > luck :( The first year of the WJ's with Quadra-Drive... you'll be >>going >> > through axles every 20,000 miles... :( >> > >> > Mike M. >> >> > >Date: Wed, 06 Jun 2001 12:11:10 -0500 >> > > >> > >That's no problem for John. He LOVES working on his Jeeps. ;) >> > >This way he has something to look forward to every 20k miles or so. >> > >He'll only have a few cars so he'll need something to do >>periodically! :) >> > > >> > >Jim/ >>Well, probably true but I doubt he has Dana Vari-Lock axles sitting >>around his yard!! :) :) >>Mike M. > >------------------------------------------------------ > http://www.WAGONEERS.com/ > Snohomish, WA - where Jeeps don't rust, they mold... > jesus, don't leave life without him, please! >------------------------------------------------------- _________________________________________________________________ Get your FREE download of MSN Explorer at http://explorer.msn.com ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 7 Jun 2001 09:32:46 -0700 (PDT) From: john Subject: a V8 Diesel??? http://just-auto.com/news_detail.asp?art=29490&dm=yes is this for the states??? I've been looking at M-class pages and MB's site but haven't spotted it yet... anyone know? john ---- - ------------------------------------------------------------------------- ** john-at-wagoneers.com via PINE on Linux **** http://wagoneers.com ** ** http://junkscience.com ** http://snopes.com ** http://freegift.net ** Snohomish, Washington USA ...don't leave life without Jesus, please... - ------------------------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 7 Jun 2001 10:03:32 -0700 (PDT) From: john Subject: Re: Polar remote Key Fob? On Thu, 7 Jun 2001, R.J. wrote: >-->What happened to the owner? How in the heck did you get a chance to buy a stolen >-->car? how did you find it? since when does cops sell stolen cars? seems quite a >-->racket that the cops have.. >--> >-->very confused and about the ethics.. >--> >-->R.J. it's not the cops. it was the thief... remember this was an INSURANCE AUTO AUCTION. The police seized the vehicle, held it as evidence, notified the insurance company and since the insurance company had no doubt paid the victim off and they had replaced the vehicle they wouldn't want it back. Would you? A new car, not customized, easily replaced for the loan balance no doubt? The "poor victim" probably got a replacement vehicle with few no miles... ;) So, now the "poor" insurance company, who already paid the insured "victim" off, is sitting there with an impounded vehicle waiting for the judicial system to slap the thief's hand, or the unsuspecting fool who may have borrowed the car from a friend and tried to cross the border, meanwhile having paid out some $29,000 for the vehicle... then they have it hauled, at their expense to an auction lot and waits for that process to happen. Months later, the vehicle comes up for auction and they get the best they can for it... And based on what I saw at the auction, they don't do very well on recovery. So, no, it wasn't the cops doing something, it's the entire system. All caused by one low life thief who is probably out on the streets doing it again. And you know who pays for all this? that's right, you and me... >--> >-->john wrote: >-->> >-->> The '99 Grand Cherokee came with a key fob for the >-->> remote starter, door unlocks, hatch release and so on... but >-->> it's not the stock remote... Of course since it was a stolen >-->> car the thief probably had an alarm system installed later... ---- - ------------------------------------------------------------------------- ** john-at-wagoneers.com via PINE on Linux **** http://wagoneers.com ** ** http://junkscience.com ** http://snopes.com ** http://freegift.net ** Snohomish, Washington USA ...don't leave life without Jesus, please... - ------------------------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 7 Jun 2001 10:43:26 -0700 (PDT) From: john Subject: extended factory warranty? I checked on getting an extended factory warranty on the WJ this morning. Not a problem. :) The guy at the jeep dealer just bought a 2000 WJ himself and said he had heard of a few problems with the axles, although it didn't sound like a big problem. So, I'm looking at $1,800 to $3,000 for an extended warranty to 7 years or 100,000 miles... good idea? john ---- - ------------------------------------------------------------------------- ** john-at-wagoneers.com via PINE on Linux **** http://wagoneers.com ** ** http://junkscience.com ** http://snopes.com ** http://freegift.net ** Snohomish, Washington USA ...don't leave life without Jesus, please... - ------------------------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 07 Jun 2001 17:56:52 From: "Mike Mehringer" Subject: Re: extended factory warranty? I would... :) Mike M. '83 300SD W126 >From: john >To: Undisclosed recipients: ; >Subject: extended factory warranty? >Date: Thu, 7 Jun 2001 10:43:26 -0700 (PDT) > >I checked on getting an extended factory warranty on the WJ this morning. >Not a problem. :) > >The guy at the jeep dealer just bought a 2000 WJ himself and said he had >heard of a few problems with the axles, although it didn't sound like a big >problem. > >So, I'm looking at $1,800 to $3,000 for an extended warranty to 7 years or >100,000 miles... > >good idea? > >john > > ---- > >------------------------------------------------------------------------- > ** john-at-wagoneers.com via PINE on Linux **** http://wagoneers.com ** >** http://junkscience.com ** http://snopes.com ** http://freegift.net ** > Snohomish, Washington USA ...don't leave life without Jesus, please... >------------------------------------------------------------------------- _________________________________________________________________ Get your FREE download of MSN Explorer at http://explorer.msn.com ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 08 Jun 2001 21:42:33 -0500 From: Jim & Barb Hoffman Subject: Re: Electrical System Problems Fixed - 82 300D Well Mark... I thank you *very* much!!! For the last eight months or so I've been complaining about the electrical problems with my '83 240D. Well with Mark's symptoms very similar to my own I decided to try taking a *closer* look at my fuses. I had looked at them when the problems first started but didn't *clean* them. Just *spun* them a few times figuring that would clean them. No way. I figured I'd start with the horn fuse 'cause that's easy to test ;) Fuse # 14. The fuse *looked* fine. As I removed it the tip actually stayed in the fuse holder and the little plastic piece came out! Looks *can* be deceiving!!! I took EACH fuse out... used a combination of steel wool, emery paper AND dielectric grease and VOILA! EVERY THING WORKS!!!! Backup lights, horn, annoying buzzer if you don't have your seat belt on (I hadn't missed that!). I thank you VERY much Mark for sharing your experiences or I would still be cursing that damn car! :) Now I'll back off MB a little ;) Jim/ '83 240D Mark Fountain wrote: > I was able to repair the problem with my electrical system last weekend. > The problem was that the turn signals, stoplights, instrument cluster > and window motors were off line. I had assumed it was a problem with the > ignition switch since all fuses "looked" good, but, nevertheless, I was > able to trace the problem to the fuse box with a volt meter. The fuses > were indeed "good", but one end of this particular fuse had gotten > slightly corroded so a little burnishing with some fine sandpaper took > care of the problem. It was a combination of the fuse box being located > under the hood, the car being parked outside during our wet winter and > the fuses themselves made out of highly corrosive aluminum. > If some of you are plagued with continuing and intermittent electrical > problems, you may want to try cleaning your fuse contacts! > BTW, I used the circuit schematic in the Haynes manual which seemed > quite accurate. > > Mark Fountain > 82 300D > 249,000 Mi. ------------------------------ End of diesel-benz-digest V1 #569 *********************************