From owner-diesel-benz-digest-at-digest.net Sat Oct 11 11:38:30 2003 From: diesel-benz-digest diesel-benz-digest Saturday, October 11 2003 Volume 01 : Number 1244 Forum for Discussion of Diesel Mercedes Benz Automobiles Derick Amburgey Digest Coordinator Contents: Re: [db] electrical Problems in 300td Re: [db] electrical Problems in 300td [db] Topsider Disaster Re: [db] Topsider Disaster [db] 80 300D Headlights and mystery 'dial' Re: [db] 80 300D Headlights and mystery 'dial' Re: [db] 80 300D Headlights and mystery 'dial' Re: [db] 80 300D Headlights and mystery 'dial' [db] Strange electrical problems, update Re: [db] Strange electrical problems, update 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: Fri, 10 Oct 2003 15:37:24 -0400 From: "Jim Hoffman" Subject: Re: [db] electrical Problems in 300td Take each fuse and *spin* it a few times. I had to do this on my 240D *regularly* very frustrating. They get corroded very easily. Jim/ '83 240D > Ya, I had a slight problem with the fuze for the > drivers side headlight about a week ago. The light > kept going out, but the fuse looked good, then one day > I touched it (as opposed to a visual inspection) heard > a little pop and the light works fine now, ( I thnk I > reseated the fuse that had gotten a bit lose int he > mounting with all the deisel vibration the car has) so > I suspect I have somoe "other" corrosion/gunk in there > and was the first place I was going to start tonight. > > The dome light worked, but I'm not sure about the dash > lights. I'll check that tonight when I get home ( On > another note: I love having a backup benz for moments > like these, one goes down, grab the key and off to the > other!!!) > > Thanx for the insight! > -hue- > > --- Kevin Pekarek wrote: > > On Fri, Oct 10, 2003 at 11:26:43AM -0700, hue wong > > wrote: > > > So, driving home yesterday in my 300td my > > electrics go > > > out^E Oh how I hate electrical problems^E.. > > > > > > I^Rm driving along and the blinkers quit working, > > No > > > prob, I say to myself, I^Rll just rock the hazard > > > switch^E. MMMM Nothing, I fiddle with the hazard > > > switch for a moment and the blinkers work, for > > about > > > three seconds, then^E. POP^EFIZZZ the stereo goes > > out. > > > I reach over and hit the power on the stereo, it > > > cycles and comes back on but! The blinkers, all > > four > > > power windows, the gas gauge and temp gauge are > > all > > > out now^E I pull over check the fuses, all look > > good, I > > > then notice my break lights are out as well. > > Errrr^E.. > > > > Hue, > > > > Just because the fuses appear on the surface to be > > good does > > not mean that the car thinks that they are good. I > > don't know > > how the 123 fuses are laid out, but I would > > definately consider > > popping the fuses out and making sure that there > > isn't any > > corrosion on the fuses themselves that may be hiding > > under the > > connection. Especially since you live in a moist > > climate > > like Washington State. Contact cleaner may help, but > > fuses are > > cheap, and I usually just replace them when in > > doubt. > > > > If your dome light or dash lights are out as well as > > your > > taillights, I would definately suspect a fuse, since > > most > > car manufacturers couple the taillights with one of > > those > > two so that the driver knows that the taillights are > > also out. > > > > Good luck... > > > > K > > > > -- > > Kevin Pekarek > > Redwood City, CA (near San Francisco) and > > Los Osos, CA (near San Luis Obispo) > > 85 190D (601, 5spd) > > > __________________________________ > Do you Yahoo!? > The New Yahoo! Shopping - with improved product search > http://shopping.yahoo.com > - -- Jim Hoffman Oconomowoc WI '39 Allis Model B '53 Ford Golden Jubilee '?? Bolens Huskie Gardener ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 10 Oct 2003 16:02:03 CDT From: acordova-at-texas.net Subject: Re: [db] electrical Problems in 300td Even my W124 89 300CE uses the same VW Beetle-style fuses. I recently spent around ten bucks on several little containers of new fuses, disconnected the battery, pulled all of the fuses out, used little emery boards on all the contacts, and refilled the fuse block with those nice new fuses. I would suggest you do the same. Alec Cordova Taylor, Texas 89 300CE, 162K, no electrical problems, but that doesn't mean no problems ;-) ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 10 Oct 2003 16:01:14 -0500 From: "Black, Waylon" Subject: [db] Topsider Disaster Use the 'mechanical fingers' tool. It's about the thickness of a pencil until the grab fingers are extended. About 2.99 at Harbor Freight. WB ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 10 Oct 2003 14:16:45 -0700 From: john meister Subject: Re: [db] Topsider Disaster remember the picture of the monkey with it's hand caught in a jar holding onto a piece of fruit or a bowl? :) or better, those carnival games with the crane and claws... :) the mechanical fingers might work, but they don't have a lot of strength or flexibility. you'll have to come in from the drain plug... fwiw, back in HS I worked in a factory making those things... :) john Black, Waylon wrote: >Use the 'mechanical fingers' tool. It's about the thickness of a pencil >until the grab fingers are extended. About 2.99 at Harbor Freight. > >WB > > > - -- - ----------------------------- Oh well, I'm a man, but I can change, if I have to, I guess -Red Green http://www.redgreen.com/ - ------------------------------ http://www.WAGONEERS.com/ Snohomish, WA - where Jeeps don't rust, they mold... Jesus, don't leave life without him, please! - ---------------------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 10 Oct 2003 22:08:55 -0700 (PDT) From: "R.A. Carfrae" Subject: [db] 80 300D Headlights and mystery 'dial' Hey all, I'm wondering if anyon here can explain the workings of the 5-position headlight switch on my '80 300D. If I turn it to the right two clicks, I get headlights, but nothing when I turn it to the left of 'off', although there are markings which indicate to me that it may be for parking-lights only. Also, when in the far-right position, you can pull the switch out two stops and the clear lights just inboard of the headlights come on; what are these lights? Also, what does the 'dial' thing just below the instrument cluster and to the left of the steering column do? I have a manual from a '76 300D that says this is an idle-speed adjuster. However, on my car, this knob doesn't appear to do anything. Thanks for your time, Alex '80 300D, 276,999 miles __________________________________ Do you Yahoo!? The New Yahoo! Shopping - with improved product search http://shopping.yahoo.com ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 11 Oct 2003 01:12:03 -0400 From: Robert Chase Subject: Re: [db] 80 300D Headlights and mystery 'dial' Does your car have european headlamps? If so turn on your headlamps and watch them go up and down while you turn the dial. Robert Chase R.A. Carfrae wrote: > Hey all, I'm wondering if anyon here can explain the > workings of the 5-position headlight switch on my '80 > 300D. If I turn it to the right two clicks, I get > headlights, but nothing when I turn it to the left of > 'off', although there are markings which indicate to > me that it may be for parking-lights only. Also, when > in the far-right position, you can pull the switch out > two stops and the clear lights just inboard of the > headlights come on; what are these lights? > > Also, what does the 'dial' thing just below the > instrument cluster and to the left of the steering > column do? I have a manual from a '76 300D that says > this is an idle-speed adjuster. However, on my car, > this knob doesn't appear to do anything. > > Thanks for your time, > > Alex > > '80 300D, 276,999 miles > > __________________________________ > Do you Yahoo!? > The New Yahoo! Shopping - with improved product search > http://shopping.yahoo.com ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 10 Oct 2003 22:19:37 -0700 From: john meister Subject: Re: [db] 80 300D Headlights and mystery 'dial' R.A. Carfrae wrote: >Hey all, I'm wondering if anyon here can explain the >workings of the 5-position headlight switch on my '80 >300D. If I turn it to the right two clicks, I get >headlights, but nothing when I turn it to the left of >'off', although there are markings which indicate to >me that it may be for parking-lights only. Also, when >in the far-right position, you can pull the switch out >two stops and the clear lights just inboard of the >headlights come on; what are these lights? > > ok, when you turn the switch to the left there are two positions for single park lamps... one left, one right... turn the key off turn the switch to one of those positions and look... in Europe there are streets that require a parking light, but rather then drain the battery with both sides they just light one side... now, when you turn to the right and pull out the first pull engages the fog lamps, second pull engages the tail fog lamp, a european feature, although my '91 300d has this, very cool... :) >Also, what does the 'dial' thing just below the >instrument cluster and to the left of the steering >column do? I have a manual from a '76 300D that says >this is an idle-speed adjuster. However, on my car, >this knob doesn't appear to do anything. > > It is an advance for the injection pump, it slightly advances the timing on the pump to start when cold. Many early VW Diesels had this as well. Later models had a solenoid on the pump that does it automatically. Not sure how far it advances the timing, but doesn't seem to make any difference if you forget to push it back in and drive it all day... ;) john >Thanks for your time, >Alex >80 300D, 276,999 miles >__________________________________ > > - -- - ----------------------------- Oh well, I'm a man, but I can change, if I have to, I guess -Red Green http://www.redgreen.com/ - ------------------------------ http://www.WAGONEERS.com/ Snohomish, WA - where Jeeps don't rust, they mold... Jesus, don't leave life without him, please! - ---------------------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 11 Oct 2003 10:09:00 -0700 From: john meister Subject: Re: [db] 80 300D Headlights and mystery 'dial' sounds like one of two things... vacuum or the control module... Rube Goldberg was obviously on the design team. :) Do your door locks work properly? Does your car shut off promptly? Does the cruise control work? If yes then your vacuum system controlling the climate system is the only problem, if not then you have larger issues. I've gathered a few diagrams, some are pirated from performance products, a catalog that has a lot of nice stuff for our cars, I've used them to buy high performance slotted rotors for my WJ, their prices vary, sometimes they're a better deal then a local outfit... but good service, good products, anyway, here's the diagrams: http://www.wagoneers.com/DieselBenz/TECH/VACUUM-Diagrams/ john R.A. Carfrae wrote: >John, thanks for the quick reply on the lights and >timing advance switch. > I don't suppose you know much about the climate >control system on these rigs, do you? I have no heat, >and no matter what position the selector switch is in, >I only get air from the center vents. Your help is >appreciated. > >Alex >--- john meister wrote: > > >>R.A. Carfrae wrote: >> >> >> >>>Hey all, I'm wondering if anyon here can explain >>> >>> >>the >> >> >>>workings of the 5-position headlight switch on my >>> >>> >>'80 >> >> >>>300D. If I turn it to the right two clicks, I get >>>headlights, but nothing when I turn it to the left >>> >>> >>of >> >> >>>'off', although there are markings which indicate >>> >>> >>to >> >> >>>me that it may be for parking-lights only. Also, >>> >>> >>when >> >> >>>in the far-right position, you can pull the switch >>> >>> >>out >> >> >>>two stops and the clear lights just inboard of the >>>headlights come on; what are these lights? >>> >>> >>> >>> >>ok, when you turn the switch to the left there are >>two positions for >>single park >>lamps... one left, one right... turn the key off >>turn the switch to one >>of those >>positions and look... in Europe there are streets >>that require a parking >>light, >>but rather then drain the battery with both sides >>they just light one >>side... >> >>now, when you turn to the right and pull out the >>first pull engages the >>fog lamps, >>second pull engages the tail fog lamp, a european >>feature, although my >>'91 300d has >>this, very cool... :) >> >> >> >>>Also, what does the 'dial' thing just below the >>>instrument cluster and to the left of the steering >>>column do? I have a manual from a '76 300D that >>> >>> >>says >> >> >>>this is an idle-speed adjuster. However, on my >>> >>> >>car, >> >> >>>this knob doesn't appear to do anything. >>> >>> >>> >>> >>It is an advance for the injection pump, it slightly >>advances the timing >>on the >>pump to start when cold. Many early VW Diesels had >>this as well. Later >>models >>had a solenoid on the pump that does it >>automatically. >> >>Not sure how far it advances the timing, but doesn't >>seem to make any >>difference >>if you forget to push it back in and drive it all >>day... ;) >> >>john >> >> >> >>>Thanks for your time, >>>Alex >>>80 300D, 276,999 miles >>>__________________________________ >>> >>> >>> >>> >>-- >>----------------------------- >> Oh well, >> I'm a man, >> but I can change, >> if I have to, >> I guess >> -Red Green http://www.redgreen.com/ >>------------------------------ >> http://www.WAGONEERS.com/ >> Snohomish, WA - where Jeeps don't rust, they >>mold... >> Jesus, don't leave life without him, >>please! >> >> >> >---------------------------------------------------------------------- > > >> >> >> > > >__________________________________ >Do you Yahoo!? >The New Yahoo! Shopping - with improved product search >http://shopping.yahoo.com > > > - -- - ----------------------------- Oh well, I'm a man, but I can change, if I have to, I guess -Red Green http://www.redgreen.com/ - ------------------------------ http://www.WAGONEERS.com/ Snohomish, WA - where Jeeps don't rust, they mold... Jesus, don't leave life without him, please! - ---------------------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 11 Oct 2003 10:36:34 -0700 (PDT) From: hue wong Subject: [db] Strange electrical problems, update I'm shocked and amazed.... These cars continue to suprize me... So I awaken this morning, cursing the gods of auto electronics, convinced that I have a SERIOUS electrical problem in my car. All morning I am gloomy with the prospect of going out to the car and walking through some of the suggestions folks posted to me about how to fix the problem knowing that all will come to no avail, i'll have to send it to a shop for diagnosing, the shop won't find the problem and hte car will forever be cursed with a electrical problem, the bane of all cars.... But knowing that I must start with the simplist things first and work up the ladder, in order to properly debug the issue... I reach in and simply twist each fuse in it's socket (I think RobertC mentioned to do this one) and on a lark tried the power systems..... Yup.... you guessed it, everything came right up AND the front side power window works better now then it ever did! Go figure! I'm amazed.... When I twisted the fuses, I noticed about half of them were slightly "stuck" , Like a small drop of glue had been set there. I figure that must have been the bad corrosion starting on those fuses.. Anyway I'm off to get a new fuses kit and some sand paper, gonna clean that out right this afternoon. And I will allways add this fuses twist procedure to a 50K tune up... whheeew.... Thanx guy! __________________________________ Do you Yahoo!? The New Yahoo! Shopping - with improved product search http://shopping.yahoo.com ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 11 Oct 2003 11:23:31 -0700 From: john meister Subject: Re: [db] Strange electrical problems, update make sure you get some spray contact cleaner that deoxidizes as well... :) the window switches in the console do the same thing, I replaced a regulator in the driver's door one time and found out it was the switch... that's why I called my '81 300d "fritz", same kind of issues. :) john hue wong wrote: >I'm shocked and amazed.... These cars continue to >suprize me... > >So I awaken this morning, cursing the gods of auto >electronics, convinced that I have a SERIOUS >electrical problem in my car. >All morning I am gloomy with the prospect of going out >to the car and walking through some of the suggestions >folks posted to me about how to fix the problem >knowing that all will come to no avail, i'll have to >send it to a shop for diagnosing, the shop won't find >the problem and hte car will forever be cursed with a >electrical problem, the bane of all cars.... > >But knowing that I must start with the simplist things >first and work up the ladder, in order to properly >debug the issue... > I reach in and simply twist each fuse in it's socket >(I think RobertC mentioned to do this one) and on a >lark tried the power systems..... Yup.... you guessed >it, everything came right up AND the front side power >window works better now then it ever did! Go figure! >I'm amazed.... >When I twisted the fuses, I noticed about half of them >were slightly "stuck" , Like a small drop of glue had >been set there. I figure that must have been the bad >corrosion starting on those fuses.. > >Anyway I'm off to get a new fuses kit and some sand >paper, gonna clean that out right this afternoon. > >And I will allways add this fuses twist procedure to a >50K tune up... > >whheeew.... >Thanx guy! > > >__________________________________ >Do you Yahoo!? >The New Yahoo! Shopping - with improved product search >http://shopping.yahoo.com > > > - -- - ----------------------------- Oh well, I'm a man, but I can change, if I have to, I guess -Red Green http://www.redgreen.com/ - ------------------------------ http://www.WAGONEERS.com/ Snohomish, WA - where Jeeps don't rust, they mold... Jesus, don't leave life without him, please! - ---------------------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------ End of diesel-benz-digest V1 #1244 **********************************