From: owner-diesel-benz-digest-at-digest.net (diesel-benz-digest) To: diesel-benz-digest-at-digest.net Subject: diesel-benz-digest V1 #672 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 Tuesday, November 27 2001 Volume 01 : Number 672 Forum for Discussion of Diesel Mercedes Benz Automobiles Derick Amburgey Digest Coordinator Contents: 300SD Climate Control Re: 300SD Climate Control Re: 300SD Climate Control Re: 300SD Climate Control Re: 300SD Climate Control Re: 300SD Climate Control Re: 300SD Climate Control RE: Low Oil Pressure (fwd) Re: 300SD Climate Control RE: Low Oil Pressure (fwd) More charging problems with the 240D Re: More charging problems with the 240D 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: Mon, 26 Nov 2001 13:09:33 -0500 From: "Michael Aimino" Subject: 300SD Climate Control Hi. I recently acquired a 1982 300SD. The auto climate control system, with controls identical to my '83 300TD, worked fine when I bought the car. On Saturday, right after I ran the car through the car wash, the whole system stopped. Nothing works, but there is very hot air coming from the vents at highway speed. Can't change temp and can't start the blower at any setting. Checked the fuses, they were fine. Since I just bought the car, and since this is my first 300SD, I don't have any docs, manuals, etc. Any ideas on what might have caused this and how to diagnose the problem? Thank you. Mike '83 300TD '81 300D '82 300SD ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 26 Nov 2001 09:34:48 -0800 From: Robert Crawford Subject: Re: 300SD Climate Control Check and make sure that the alternator is charging. This is one of the symptoms of low voltage. At 01:09 PM 11/26/01 -0500, Michael Aimino wrote: >Hi. I recently acquired a 1982 300SD. The auto climate control >system, with controls identical to my '83 300TD, worked fine when I >bought the car. On Saturday, right after I ran the car through the >car wash, the whole system stopped. Nothing works, but there is very >hot air coming from the vents at highway speed. Can't change temp and >can't start the blower at any setting. Checked the fuses, they were >fine. Since I just bought the car, and since this is my first 300SD, >I don't have any docs, manuals, etc. > >Any ideas on what might have caused this and how to diagnose the >problem? Thank you. > >Mike >'83 300TD >'81 300D >'82 300SD ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 26 Nov 2001 14:15:26 -0500 From: "Michael Aimino" Subject: Re: 300SD Climate Control Thanks! On 26 Nov 01, at 9:34, Robert Crawford wrote: > Check and make sure that the alternator is charging. This is one of > the symptoms of low voltage. > > At 01:09 PM 11/26/01 -0500, Michael Aimino wrote: > >Hi. I recently acquired a 1982 300SD. The auto climate control > >system, with controls identical to my '83 300TD, worked fine when I > >bought the car. On Saturday, right after I ran the car through the > >car wash, the whole system stopped. Nothing works, but there is very > >hot air coming from the vents at highway speed. Can't change temp and > >can't start the blower at any setting. Checked the fuses, they were > >fine. Since I just bought the car, and since this is my first 300SD, > >I don't have any docs, manuals, etc. > > > >Any ideas on what might have caused this and how to diagnose the > >problem? Thank you. > > > >Mike > >'83 300TD > >'81 300D > >'82 300SD ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 26 Nov 2001 14:21:37 -0500 From: "Michael Aimino" Subject: Re: 300SD Climate Control OK. Here are my results: Battery voltage, engine off: 12.38 Voltage, key on, engine off: 11.63 Voltage, engine -at- fast idle: 13.84 Voltage, fast idle, lights on: 13.79 Battery voltage, engine off: 12.8 and falling It seems that the alternator is getting a little weak, but is still charging. Can the alternator still be the cause? On 26 Nov 01, at 9:34, Robert Crawford wrote: > Check and make sure that the alternator is charging. This is one of > the symptoms of low voltage. > > At 01:09 PM 11/26/01 -0500, Michael Aimino wrote: > >Hi. I recently acquired a 1982 300SD. The auto climate control > >system, with controls identical to my '83 300TD, worked fine when I > >bought the car. On Saturday, right after I ran the car through the > >car wash, the whole system stopped. Nothing works, but there is very > >hot air coming from the vents at highway speed. Can't change temp and > >can't start the blower at any setting. Checked the fuses, they were > >fine. Since I just bought the car, and since this is my first 300SD, > >I don't have any docs, manuals, etc. > > > >Any ideas on what might have caused this and how to diagnose the > >problem? Thank you. > > > >Mike > >'83 300TD > >'81 300D > >'82 300SD ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 26 Nov 2001 10:57:34 -0800 From: Robert Crawford Subject: Re: 300SD Climate Control No, it is charging so that is not it. I don't have any other ideas at the present but with that info I would doubt that it is low voltage. this condition happened closer to 9VDC on me. At 02:21 PM 11/26/01 -0500, Michael Aimino wrote: >OK. Here are my results: > >Battery voltage, engine off: 12.38 >Voltage, key on, engine off: 11.63 >Voltage, engine -at- fast idle: 13.84 >Voltage, fast idle, lights on: 13.79 >Battery voltage, engine off: 12.8 and falling > >It seems that the alternator is getting a little weak, but is still >charging. Can the alternator still be the cause? ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 26 Nov 2001 14:34:40 -0800 From: Guy Carpenter Subject: Re: 300SD Climate Control On my '83 300D the blower circuit is routed through the ignition switch, and the contacts on that switch are worn to the point that the blower is unreliable. Sometimes I can get the blower working by jiggling the key. It has blown the fuse a few times too. I've ordered a new switch, and I'm really hoping bad contacts are the root cause, not a symptom of something deeper. Guy '83 300D '71 Ansaliner At 01:09 PM 11/26/2001 -0500, you wrote: >Hi. I recently acquired a 1982 300SD. The auto climate control >system, with controls identical to my '83 300TD, worked fine when I >bought the car. On Saturday, right after I ran the car through the >car wash, the whole system stopped. Nothing works, but there is very >hot air coming from the vents at highway speed. Can't change temp and >can't start the blower at any setting. Checked the fuses, they were >fine. Since I just bought the car, and since this is my first 300SD, >I don't have any docs, manuals, etc. > >Any ideas on what might have caused this and how to diagnose the >problem? Thank you. > >Mike >'83 300TD >'81 300D >'82 300SD ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 26 Nov 2001 17:48:54 -0500 From: "Michael Aimino" Subject: Re: 300SD Climate Control Is this pump the doohickey that I see below and to the right of the monovalve? With all the copious space in the engine compartment, why would they cram something like that down in there? In my 300TD, the same circulation pump is in front of the left wheel well. Well, time to stop griping and go do some testing... On 26 Nov 01, at 14:10, Phil Scrivano wrote: > Not sure if this helps.... > > On my 82 300SD I had the same situation which was solved by replacing > a small water pump center low on the firewall. It was frozen solid. > > >>> Robert Crawford 11/26/01 10:57AM >>> > No, it is charging so that is not it. I don't have any other ideas at > the present but with that info I would doubt that it is low voltage. > this condition happened closer to 9VDC on me. > > At 02:21 PM 11/26/01 -0500, Michael Aimino wrote: > >OK. Here are my results: > > > >Battery voltage, engine off: 12.38 > >Voltage, key on, engine off: 11.63 > >Voltage, engine -at- fast idle: 13.84 > >Voltage, fast idle, lights on: 13.79 > >Battery voltage, engine off: 12.8 and falling > > > >It seems that the alternator is getting a little weak, but is still > >charging. Can the alternator still be the cause? ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 26 Nov 2001 16:51:45 PST From: Kay Gheen Subject: RE: Low Oil Pressure (fwd) Changed oil with Chevron Delo 400 in 15W-40 and didn't notice any improvement. Added an external pressure gauge under the hood to check and see if it was the gauge. When first started (cold engine) the pressure peaks at about 55 psi. After the engine has warmed up and driving at 50 mph, the pressure sits around 25 psi. After warm up, the pressure at idle is about 5 psi. I am wondering if the main bearings are sloppy or if the oil pump is worn out. Any suggestions would be appreciated. Best Regards, Kay > > Have you checked the oil level? When was your last oil change? What > type of oil is in it? > > JC Jones http://www.wagoneer.net > 1979 Jeep J-10 "Max" 1984 Grand Wagoneer "Eeyore" > 1978 MB 300D "Fritz" 1986 Jeep XJ Cherokee "Junior" > * * * * * =================== "They that can give up > * * * * =================== essential liberty to > * * * * * =================== obtain a little > ============================= temporary safety > ============================= deserve neither > ============================= liberty nor safety." > ============================= -Benjamin Franklin > > -> -----Original Message----- > -> From: owner-diesel-benz-at-digest.net > -> [mailto:owner-diesel-benz-at-digest.net] On Behalf Of Kay Gheen > -> Sent: Tuesday, November 06, 2001 7:38 PM > -> To: Mercedes e-mail help > -> Subject: Low Oil Pressure > -> > -> > -> Hi All: > -> I have a 1980 300CD that has a bothersom oil pressure > -> problem. When I start the engine the oil pressure gauge > -> comes up from zero to full pegged. After driviving the car > -> for several miles the pressure drops to about 1 on the dial > -> (full-scale is 3). However, when stopped at a red light or > -> stop sign the pressure gage drops to very near zero, but > -> comes back up to 1 when the engine gets up to speed. > -> > -> Is this dangerous to dirve? Have any ideas on the problem > -> > -> Thanks, > -> Kay > -> ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 26 Nov 2001 20:35:42 -0500 From: "Michael Aimino" Subject: Re: 300SD Climate Control Thanks! I tried jiggling the key, to no avail. Here's the status so far: * alternator is OK * blower motor is OK (runs when connected to battery) * circulating pump is OK (runs when connected to battery) * mono-valve is OK (responds when connected to battery * removed and disassembled the climate control switch box, everything looks OK (no cracked solder, etc.) Does anyone know which connection(s) to check to see if the climate control switch box is getting power? If I know it's getting power, and I know all the sub-components (blower, pump, mono-valve, etc) are working, then I'd say it's the switch box. Mike On 26 Nov 01, at 14:34, Guy Carpenter wrote: > On my '83 300D the blower circuit is routed through > the ignition switch, and the contacts on that switch > are worn to the point that the blower is unreliable. > > Sometimes I can get the blower working by jiggling > the key. It has blown the fuse a few times too. > > I've ordered a new switch, and I'm really hoping > bad contacts are the root cause, not a symptom of > something deeper. > > > Guy > '83 300D > '71 Ansaliner > > > At 01:09 PM 11/26/2001 -0500, you wrote: > >Hi. I recently acquired a 1982 300SD. The auto climate control > >system, with controls identical to my '83 300TD, worked fine when I > >bought the car. On Saturday, right after I ran the car through the > >car wash, the whole system stopped. Nothing works, but there is very > >hot air coming from the vents at highway speed. Can't change temp and > >can't start the blower at any setting. Checked the fuses, they were > >fine. Since I just bought the car, and since this is my first 300SD, > >I don't have any docs, manuals, etc. > > > >Any ideas on what might have caused this and how to diagnose the > >problem? Thank you. > > > >Mike > >'83 300TD > >'81 300D > >'82 300SD ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 27 Nov 2001 0:21:35 -0800 From: "Dan Jacobs" Subject: RE: Low Oil Pressure (fwd) Is there some kind of oil filter bypass valve on this engine? If so, is it possible it is stuck open? > > -> -----Original Message----- > > -> From: owner-diesel-benz-at-digest.net > > -> [mailto:owner-diesel-benz-at-digest.net] On Behalf Of Kay Gheen > > -> Sent: Tuesday, November 06, 2001 7:38 PM > > -> To: Mercedes e-mail help > > -> Subject: Low Oil Pressure > > -> > > -> > > -> Hi All: > > -> I have a 1980 300CD that has a bothersom oil pressure > > -> problem. When I start the engine the oil pressure gauge > > -> comes up from zero to full pegged. After driviving the car > > -> for several miles the pressure drops to about 1 on the dial > > -> (full-scale is 3). However, when stopped at a red light or > > -> stop sign the pressure gage drops to very near zero, but > > -> comes back up to 1 when the engine gets up to speed. > > -> > > -> Is this dangerous to dirve? Have any ideas on the problem > > -> > > -> Thanks, > > -> Kay > > -> Diesel ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 27 Nov 2001 06:23:57 -0600 From: Jim & Barb Hoffman Subject: More charging problems with the 240D Well folks, I'm about ready to take the old machine out back and put a few slugs into it! :( You may recall that I was having charging problems a few months back and took the alternator in for a rebuild. I got it back and re-installed it and right after the re-install it still wasn't charging. Then after "wiggling" the connector that plugs into the alternator it started showing 14+ volts at the battery. Only 12 before. Now I'm back to only 12 all the time. Now I've noticed that the harness goes from the alternator to the *starter* then up to the battery. Why through the starter? Could I have a problem there? Would you suspect the connector that plugs into the alternator? I've tried the "wiggling" trick and it doesn't work any more :( It's getting cold and I can't continue to have this problem. Any thoughts would be GREATLY appreciated!! Thanks! Jim/ Jim Hoffman Oconomowoc WI '83 240D ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 27 Nov 2001 14:50:34 -0600 From: Jon Filina Subject: Re: More charging problems with the 240D Jim was calling for help while trying to find his shotgun and wrote: > Well folks, I'm about ready to take the old machine > out back and put a few slugs into it! :( My mechanic was ready to do the same thing with "Mathilde", my 81 240D, some time back... > You may recall that I was having charging problems > a few months back and took the alternator in for a > rebuild. I got it back and re-installed it and right > after the re-install it still wasn't charging. Then after > "wiggling" the connector that plugs into the alternator > it started showing 14+ volts at the battery. Only 12 > before. Now I'm back to only 12 all the time. BTDT, sorta... Between Dennis(my mechanic) and myself, the electrical system got the proverbial "once over". This process took place over a 3 month period earlier this year and involved the cleaning of 5 of the 6 grounds, and replacing the battery, ignition switch & lock, and alternator (twice). > Now I've noticed that the harness goes from the > alternator to the *starter* then up to the battery. > Why through the starter? Could I have a problem > there? Would you suspect the connector that plugs > into the alternator? I've tried the "wiggling" trick and > it doesn't work any more :( The wiring continues from the starter to the headlight switch then to the ignition switch. In my case, when the battery light came on while the engine was running I would lose power to various accessories, such as the heater/blower motor, turn signals, etc, in addition to the alternator not charging. This became progressively worse. As we'd make a repair, the system would work for a few hundred miles, then go south again. The headlights always worked during this ordeal. In a last ditch effort, Dennis pulled the headlight switch and found out that the screws securing the power wires were loose by about a 1/4 of a turn. When he tightened them, the idiot light went out and everything worked. When loosened a bit, the battery light came back on. He cleaned the connections, applied some dielectric grease and Loctite, and tightened the screws back down. I've had no problems since. This problem drove both of us crazy. I did the majority of the troubleshooting, following Dennis' advice, so most of the expense of chasing down the problem was eliminated. The replacement of the battery was needed anyway, as was the ignition switch. The battery that was in the car when I bought it was the wrong size (41?). It now has an Interstate size 49. The ignition switch was getting sloppy and would have gone out within the next year. Replacing the alternator the second time was probably not needed, but only cost $40 for labor. Check out your light switch. If that doesn't solve the problem, I'll hop in "Mathilde" and bring you the cherry bombs we'd set aside for our "final repair"... ;-) > It's getting cold and I can't continue to have this > problem. It's supposed to get down to the 20's tonite here in Texas. That's cold for us! Jon '81 240D "Mathilde" 290,500 mi. ------------------------------ End of diesel-benz-digest V1 #672 *********************************