From: owner-diesel-benz-digest-at-digest.net (diesel-benz-digest) To: diesel-benz-digest-at-digest.net Subject: diesel-benz-digest V1 #870 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 Wednesday, January 29 2003 Volume 01 : Number 870 Forum for Discussion of Diesel Mercedes Benz Automobiles Derick Amburgey Digest Coordinator Contents: Re: Headlight Switch Re: fwiw... the '84 300CD Re: fwiw... the '84 300CD Re: fwiw... the '84 300CD RE: Headlight Switch and late night ramblings SF east bay area assistance needed... Re: MB 300 CD FS and the Saab that replaced it Re: MB 300CD FS and the Saab that replaced it Re: Headlight Switch Re: fyi... the '84 300CD Re: fyi... the '84 300CD Re: fwiw... the '84 300CD 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: Tue, 28 Jan 2003 23:53:45 -0500 From: Robert Chase Subject: Re: Headlight Switch LOL, Ironically the headlight switch failure in the middle of the night was the kiss of death for my S70. Hmm... Would be nice if the orange button lit up or did anything..... In the dark its just as black as everything else on the dash... R. scott_haaland-at-agilent.com wrote: >Hi All, > >What's up with all the Volvo and Saab talk? I thought I was on a Mercedes list. Guess some guys got confused out there....oh well....interesting reading anyway. > >I was wondering about my headlight switch. A couple of months ago, someone suggested I change it to fix my charging problem. I guess the alternator wire runs through the headlight switch on the way to the battery (if memory serves). So, how can I troubleshoot if it is really the headlight switch before buying the part. Looks like it's $88 or so (ouch!). > >Current symptoms: > - Battery does not get charged from alternator > - Low Battery light used to work when battery was charging - now it never comes on, even when I know the battery is completely dead. > - There is a little orange center light in the head light switch - I don't think it ever comes on, but I'll check this tonight on the way home. I have the dash lights dimmed to the lowest possible setting to conserve electricity until I can get home on and hook up to the trusty battery charger. Don't know if this little light is affected by the dimmer. At any rate, if the light is out, does that mean the switch is bad? > - The headlights work fine....they come on and go off just like they are supposed to. > >Thanks for any suggestions. > >R, >Scott >-- >Scott Haaland >Middleware Architect >IT | Information Technology >Agilent Technologies > >email: scott_haaland-at-agilent.com >phone: (916) 788-5233 >fax : (916) 788-5933 ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 28 Jan 2003 20:56:57 -0800 From: john Subject: Re: fwiw... the '84 300CD At 11:46 PM 1/28/2003 -0500, Robert Chase wrote: >Hmmm, >SGI IRIX Sysadmin here Gladly trade high end Supercomputer Knowledge >for Diesel Benz Knowledge cool IRIX is a sweet system... not very secure, but a pleasant set of admin tools... ;) are they still making it or has it gone the way of our 3.0L TD's. :) john >R. > > >Guy Carpenter wrote: > >>At 03:37 PM 28/01/2003 -0800, john wrote: >> >>>necessity is the mother of contentment. ;) >>> >>>when your annual salary is expected to be >>> cut by 20% you gotta do something... Diesels are >>>a very viable "equalizer". ;) >> >> >>I seem to recall your training sessions are on Solaris sysadmin, >>but maybe you could offer a new one to teach us how to explain to our >>wives that we are buying an MB to *save* money. I'd like that a lot. ;-) >> >>Guy. - ------------------------------------------------------------------ http://www.WAGONEERS.com/ Snohomish, WA - where Jeeps don't rust, they mold... jesus, don't leave life without him, please! - ------------------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 29 Jan 2003 00:06:38 -0500 From: Robert Chase Subject: Re: fwiw... the '84 300CD Stock IRIX no Trusted IRIX is where some of the most clasified data in the free world lives. Most of the security risks in stock IRIX are there for user access. R. john wrote: > At 11:46 PM 1/28/2003 -0500, Robert Chase wrote: > >> Hmmm, >> SGI IRIX Sysadmin here Gladly trade high end Supercomputer >> Knowledge for Diesel Benz Knowledge > > > cool IRIX is a sweet system... not very secure, but a pleasant > set of admin tools... ;) > > are they still making it or has it gone the way of our 3.0L TD's. :) > > john > > > >> R. >> >> >> Guy Carpenter wrote: >> >>> At 03:37 PM 28/01/2003 -0800, john wrote: >>> >>>> necessity is the mother of contentment. ;) >>>> >>>> when your annual salary is expected to be >>>> cut by 20% you gotta do something... Diesels are >>>> a very viable "equalizer". ;) >>> >>> >>> >>> I seem to recall your training sessions are on Solaris sysadmin, >>> but maybe you could offer a new one to teach us how to explain to our >>> wives that we are buying an MB to *save* money. I'd like that a >>> lot. ;-) >>> >>> Guy. >> > > ------------------------------------------------------------------ > http://www.WAGONEERS.com/ > Snohomish, WA - where Jeeps don't rust, they mold... > jesus, don't leave life without him, please! > ------------------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 29 Jan 2003 00:09:08 -0500 From: Robert Chase Subject: Re: fwiw... the '84 300CD oh.... Yes they still produce IRIX although it may go the way of the dodo with this new "altix" machine... (it runs linux :( __) 6.5.19 I believe is the lastest version of IRIX. john wrote: > At 11:46 PM 1/28/2003 -0500, Robert Chase wrote: > >> Hmmm, >> SGI IRIX Sysadmin here Gladly trade high end Supercomputer >> Knowledge for Diesel Benz Knowledge > > > cool IRIX is a sweet system... not very secure, but a pleasant > set of admin tools... ;) > > are they still making it or has it gone the way of our 3.0L TD's. :) > > john > > > >> R. >> >> >> Guy Carpenter wrote: >> >>> At 03:37 PM 28/01/2003 -0800, john wrote: >>> >>>> necessity is the mother of contentment. ;) >>>> >>>> when your annual salary is expected to be >>>> cut by 20% you gotta do something... Diesels are >>>> a very viable "equalizer". ;) >>> >>> >>> >>> I seem to recall your training sessions are on Solaris sysadmin, >>> but maybe you could offer a new one to teach us how to explain to our >>> wives that we are buying an MB to *save* money. I'd like that a >>> lot. ;-) >>> >>> Guy. >> > > ------------------------------------------------------------------ > http://www.WAGONEERS.com/ > Snohomish, WA - where Jeeps don't rust, they mold... > jesus, don't leave life without him, please! > ------------------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 29 Jan 2003 00:29:10 -0600 From: "Alec Cordova" Subject: RE: Headlight Switch and late night ramblings In case I missed it in one of the replies, the little orange thing is supposed to light up with the REAR fog lights. You turn them on by pulling the switch out one stop past the front fogs. Oh, and you have to have a Euro model. In the US, that's what those empty spots in the tail light assemblies would have been for. They even take out all the contacts from those spots so you can't just add bulbs. As to your charging issues, have you checked your charging system? The most common cause of charging problems is the regulator/brush assembly on the alternator. The brushes wear down too far, so the alternator can't consistently make enough power. It's about a twenty dollar small box that easily screws on the side of the alternator. Maybe run by AutoZone/Pep Boys type shop that advertises a free charging system checkup. A pretty quick and straightforward process could point to a bad alternator. With our cars, the bad alternator symptom is most often cured by the nice, cheap regulator/brush assembly available through Rusty, et al. And on Volvos, we had a brand new 1971 Volvo 145 wagon. My strongest memories of that one are the incredibly comfortable seats, and the three point belts for the back seat, even back then. And my mom learned more than she ever wanted to about brakes from that car. The 100's and 200's were generally well built, long lasting cars. The 760 was crap. The 900's were better. The 850 was their first front wheel drive, and it was iffy even without Ford money. It was later renamed the S70, but it was still one of their worst cars. I still have a soft spot in my heart for the old bricks. My dad had unique taste in cars. Aside from picking the Volvo (when my mother wanted a Toyota Corona), his most loved car was his 72 Peugeot 504, gas engine, four speed on the column. I didn't see another shifter like that until our 63 MB 190c sedan that we bought for $2K in 1984. It's good to see some action on this list. Alec Cordova Taylor, Texas 89 300CE, 152K, new brake pads going on tomorrow 00 Expedition, hers, I saw the digital display show 16mpg once > -----Original Message----- > From: owner-diesel-benz-at-digest.net > [mailto:owner-diesel-benz-at-digest.net]On Behalf Of > scott_haaland-at-agilent.com > Sent: Tuesday, January 28, 2003 7:20 PM > To: diesel-benz-at-digest.net > Subject: Headlight Switch > > > Hi All, > > What's up with all the Volvo and Saab talk? I thought I was on a > Mercedes list. Guess some guys got confused out there....oh > well....interesting reading anyway. > > I was wondering about my headlight switch. A couple of months > ago, someone suggested I change it to fix my charging problem. I > guess the alternator wire runs through the headlight switch on > the way to the battery (if memory serves). So, how can I > troubleshoot if it is really the headlight switch before buying > the part. Looks like it's $88 or so (ouch!). > > Current symptoms: > - Battery does not get charged from alternator > - Low Battery light used to work when battery was charging - now > it never comes on, even when I know the battery is completely dead. > - There is a little orange center light in the head light switch > - I don't think it ever comes on, but I'll check this tonight on > the way home. I have the dash lights dimmed to the lowest > possible setting to conserve electricity until I can get home on > and hook up to the trusty battery charger. Don't know if this > little light is affected by the dimmer. At any rate, if the > light is out, does that mean the switch is bad? > - The headlights work fine....they come on and go off just like > they are supposed to. > > Thanks for any suggestions. > > R, > Scott > -- > Scott Haaland > Middleware Architect > IT | Information Technology > Agilent Technologies > > email: scott_haaland-at-agilent.com > phone: (916) 788-5233 > fax : (916) 788-5933 ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 28 Jan 2003 23:58:23 -0800 From: john Subject: SF east bay area assistance needed... I need the help of someone in the bay area familiar with Mercedes Benz Diesels. I'm trying to work out a trade with someone in the east bay area and his Mercedes has a few issues. What we need to do is figure out if the car will make it to Medford, Oregon so we can meet to trade. :) We suspect it has some bad injectors, at least that's the hope. Contact me off list at john-at-wagoneers.com if you know the 3.0L TD 5cyl, circa '84. :) Would help if you could take a few digital pictures of the car too... You'd be able to look at it this weekend, probably sunday... thanx, john - ------------------------------------------------------------------ http://www.WAGONEERS.com/ Snohomish, WA - where Jeeps don't rust, they mold... jesus, don't leave life without him, please! - ------------------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 29 Jan 2003 03:35:34 EST From: JoErnest-at-aol.com Subject: Re: MB 300 CD FS and the Saab that replaced it The MB 300 CD is in Fremont, CA, again commuting daily between Fremont and Pleasanton, over the Sunol Grade. I hope some of you who are reasonably near will check it out for John. I would rather sell for cold hard cash, but I have a history of undertaking endeavours better described as follies. OTOH John could come to his senses and run away screaming. John has sort of secured a right of first refusal, but he appreciates that money talks louder than trades. This trade may be a way for each of us to obtain the greener grass over the other's septic tank..........unless someone is offering real green. JoE ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 29 Jan 2003 00:47:51 -0800 From: john Subject: Re: MB 300CD FS and the Saab that replaced it At 03:35 AM 1/29/2003 -0500, JoErnest-at-aol.com wrote: >The MB 300 CD is in Fremont, CA, again commuting daily between Fremont and >Pleasanton, over the Sunol Grade. >I hope some of you who are reasonably near will check it out for John. I >would rather sell for cold hard cash, but I have a history of undertaking >endeavours better described as follies. OTOH John could come to his senses >and run away screaming. > >John has sort of secured a right of first refusal, but he appreciates that >money talks louder than trades. This trade may be a way for each of us to >obtain the greener grass over the other's septic tank..........unless someone >is offering real green. > >JoE :) well put joe... Need to have someone look at an '84 300CD in Fremont to see what it would take for it to drive to Medford, then Seattle... :) just another excuse to drive to Medford to meet up with another Californian, hopefully this time, if it happens, it won't be raining. ;) Like Joe said, cash wins over trades... same goes if anyone comes along to snag the '76 280Z. :) http://wagoneers.com/tmp/280Z Joe and I have talked about the vehicles, but the biggest challenges are twofold: 1) making sure the 300CD can make it to Medford, or figure out what's wrong and fix it well enough to make it to Medford so I can finish fixing it... and drive it the other 7 hours home. 2) if my wife's back will survive 7 hours in the 280Z... (swollen disk) just another one of those adventures that gear heads find themselves on... so we figured we'd get the help of a few of our closest internet friends to diagnose the Benz and patch it together to make the road trip to Seattle... any volunteers (that know MB Diesels in the bay area? ;) thanx, john - ------------------------------------------------------------------ http://www.WAGONEERS.com/ Snohomish, WA - where Jeeps don't rust, they mold... jesus, don't leave life without him, please! - ------------------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 29 Jan 2003 03:04:02 -0600 From: Jon Filina Subject: Re: Headlight Switch Scott wrote: >I was wondering about my headlight switch. A couple of months ago, someone suggested I change it to fix my charging problem. I guess the alternator wire runs through the headlight switch on the way to the battery (if memory serves). So, how can I troubleshoot if it is really the headlight switch before buying the part. Looks like it's $88 or so (ouch!). > > The one who suggested checking the headlight switch when you were having charging problems was probably me. I went through that ordeal with my 240D. As for troubleshooting it, if the lights all work correctly, the switch is probably good. Pop it out and remove and clean all the wires. Put them back on with dielectric grease and tighten them all the way. If the red wires were marginally loose, which may not appear to be the case, but was in fact true, your charging problems would be fixed. If not, it's something else such as loose or corroded grounds, cables to the battery or from the alternator. It may then be something as simple as a bad regulator on the alternator ($50 or so) or a bad alternator (much more...). >Current symptoms: > - Battery does not get charged from alternator > - Low Battery light used to work when battery was charging - now it never comes on, even when I know the battery is completely dead. > - There is a little orange center light in the head light switch - I don't think it ever comes on, but I'll check this tonight on the way home. I have the dash lights dimmed to the lowest possible setting to conserve electricity until I can get home on and hook up to the trusty battery charger. Don't know if this little light is affected by the dimmer. At any rate, if the light is out, does that mean the switch is bad? > - The headlights work fine....they come on and go off just like they are supposed to. > Check the headlight switch, then the connections. From there it's either the regulator, alternator or battery. Jon '84 300SD ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 29 Jan 2003 03:05:41 -0600 From: Jon Filina Subject: Re: fyi... the '84 300CD Alec wrote: >>in case any of you are wondering I am very interested in that >>troubled '84 300CD in CA. Working off line with the owner >>to see what can be worked out. :) >> >> >> > >John, remember what we have said countless times. The worst Benz is a cheap >Benz. We know you love to work on cars, but if you select a diesel Benz >that's been maintained and is already in decent condition, you will come out >a lot cheaper and happier down the road. > >I just don't want you to finally buy a CD and then complain about it. ;-) > >Alec > John complain??? Never, but he does whine a lot... ;-P Jon ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 29 Jan 2003 01:09:39 -0800 From: john Subject: Re: fyi... the '84 300CD At 03:05 AM 1/29/2003 -0600, Jon Filina wrote: >Alec wrote: >>>in case any of you are wondering I am very interested in that >>>troubled '84 300CD in CA. Working off line with the owner >>>to see what can be worked out. :) >> >>John, remember what we have said countless times. The worst Benz is a cheap >>Benz. We know you love to work on cars, but if you select a diesel Benz >>that's been maintained and is already in decent condition, you will come out >>a lot cheaper and happier down the road. >> >>I just don't want you to finally buy a CD and then complain about it. ;-) >>Alec > >John complain??? Never, but he does whine a lot... >;-P >Jon suddenly I feel like Charlie Brown. ;) john - ------------------------------------------------------------------ http://www.WAGONEERS.com/ Snohomish, WA - where Jeeps don't rust, they mold... jesus, don't leave life without him, please! - ------------------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 29 Jan 2003 03:35:03 -0600 From: Jon Filina Subject: Re: fwiw... the '84 300CD Kevin wrote: > >Jeez. With all the talk of SWMBO's not appreciating vehicles that aren't boring >like a honda accord or a camry (or otherwise something built within the last >three years), I'm thinking I'm better off staying single :) > WOW! Someone smarter than the rest of us! A guy who thinks staying single is the way to go. Why didn't I think of that over 31 years ago??? On the other hand, my wife doesn't drive and I control the checkbook, so I guess that would make me the HWMBO. ;-) When she comments that my diesel is noisier than my son's late model Accord, I remind her that my diesel , with all the miles on the clock, came to the rescue when he had problems. She has no comeback..... I should have listened to my dad several years ago. After a major argument with my mother he remarked to me that I would be better off being a [male offspring of an unmarried couple] and that all my offspring should be the same... On the other hand, they've been married 55 years, now, and I've only made it to 31.... Life ain't perfect... Jon '84 300SD "Bruno" ------------------------------ End of diesel-benz-digest V1 #870 *********************************