From owner-diesel-benz-digest-at-digest.net Tue May 25 08:56:07 2004 From: diesel-benz-digest diesel-benz-digest Tuesday, May 25 2004 Volume 01 : Number 1471 Forum for Discussion of Diesel Mercedes Benz Automobiles Derick Amburgey Digest Coordinator Contents: Re: [db] the jumpstart gone bad... we have lock now... Re: [db] the next frontier... RE: [db] Cheap MBs - results [db] Another Electrical Gremlin dispatched [db] S350D Re: [db] Another Electrical Gremlin dispatched Re: [db] S350D RE: [db] S350D [db] Re: Diesel adventures - 38.76 mpg [db] 123 shifter console on eBay (Zebrano) Re: [db] 123 shifter console on eBay (Zebrano) 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, 24 May 2004 06:11:00 -0700 (PDT) From: john Subject: Re: [db] the jumpstart gone bad... we have lock now... I was thinking of just putting it up under the edge of the speaker cover on the windshield... it's somewhat accessible and would be highly visible... also heard of window tint that changed darkness in light... will follow up on that and hopefully find it before I drive down to "sunny" california. ;) john On Mon, 24 May 2004, Marc Zylka wrote: >-->---- Original Message ----- >-->From: "john" >-->> >-->> I thought about adding a manual override to the antenna... when I put >-->> the JVC MP3 deck in the antenna comes on whenever there is power, not >-->> just when the radio is on... can't listen to a cd in the carwash... >-->sheesh... ;) >-->> >-->> the switch for the locker will NOT go in the dash, and if I get >-->> an alarm system those rascals had better not get any crazy ideas >-->> about putting that stupid flashing red led in their either... only >-->> reason for an alarm system is to have a remote door unlocker. :) >-->> >-->> john >-->> >--> >-->One thought on the flashing red led. I installed an alarm many years ago >-->and >-->drilled a small hole on the black shifter cover, close to the rear edge and >-->centered. Great place for a small one. Then ran wire to under driver's >-->seat where the alarm brain box was installed (used velcro to attach to >-->the top of the heater vent). >--> >-->Marc >-->'83 300D Turbo, 321k+ miles >--> >--> ---- - ------------------------------------------------------------------------- ** http://wagoneers.com ** ** http://freegift.net ** Snohomish, Washington USA - where Jeeps don't rust, they mold. - ------------------------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 24 May 2004 04:51:40 -0700 (PDT) From: Jerome Kaidor Subject: Re: [db] the next frontier... Jon Filina wrote: > > >>-->> teach Linux, will travel... > > I've got 4 or 5 systems in my office... my laptop dual boots, but only > > I've moved over to Slackware from SUSE. SUSE is a great system, but I > prefer the minimalist approach that Slackware presents. Granted, I have > to read more and take a hands on approach to my system, but I have more > control. If I weren't so lazy, Slackware would meet 98% of my computer > needs... *** Amen. I've been using Slackware since it came out. Before that, I used SLS, which was similar. I abhor the Red Hat system, with all the normal config files tucked away in nonstandard places, and you don't dare edit them anyway, cuz it'll mess up their GUI.... Unfortunately, I am pretty well forced to use Windoze on my desktop machine.... - Jerry Kaidor ( jerry-at-tr2.com ) ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 24 May 2004 11:37:57 -0400 From: wblack-at-deltacorp.com Subject: RE: [db] Cheap MBs - results You don't have to go to CA. http://www.texascarsforkids.org/carlist.asp?ID=1&ax=1 I'm going tomorrow and try for: http://www.texascarsforkids.org/details.asp?CarId=12853&vType=car $225 - was a 280 TE ran and drove - I passed as it was a gas model or maybe some bling bling: http://www.texascarsforkids.org/details.asp?CarId=12969&vType=car Went for $200, said it started - 500SEL This one interests me to: http://www.texascarsforkids.org/details.asp?CarId=12878&vType=car Went for $100, said it started - 450SEL Waylon Black Little Elm, Texas ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 24 May 2004 09:41:43 -0700 From: Nick.Eckert-at-theaustin.com Subject: [db] Another Electrical Gremlin dispatched On Saturday I brought my battery into Kragen and they confirmed that my battery is toast. So it is off to Interstate today at lunch to get a new one. On Sunday I tackled the task of finding the electrical short. I knew it was in fuse #2, so I pulled the lower part of the dash out to get to the backside of the fuse box. Unscrewed and removed the 6 wires, going into three connectors for the fuse. Using my Fluke I found the wire leading to the Power Antenna showed continuity to the chassis. MUST BE THE CULPRIT! I disconnected the power plug from the antenna in the trunk and the short went away. I am concluding that the short must be within the antenna lift unit. Any thoughts on this? Does the whole unit need to be replaced or should I try opening it myself and looking for it. Nothing in the Haynes manual on power antennas. I want to make sure I don't have any other shorts (kinda of a waste to put a new battery in, just to have it killed as well). I get the following reading on my Fluke and I would be interested in knowing if these are 'normal' All testing done between the Negative battery post and the battery ground strap: All fuses removed: 3.320 volts Only number 2 fuse installed: Rapid fluctuations between Approx 8 volts and 5 volts (this is the circuit for the clock, so I THINK this rapid change is the clock ticking) Test against know vehicle, (1979 rabbit diesel): 2.25 volts I would appreciate thoughts and input on the results above. Cheers, Nick I am having fun with this vehicle. :-) ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 24 May 2004 09:34:13 -0700 From: "SEAN FORD" Subject: [db] S350D Any thoughts on the large body S350D. I found a 94? locally for 14k with 185K miles on it. Excelent condition inside and out. What should one know about this engine? Thanks Sean ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 24 May 2004 12:27:28 -0500 From: "Vernon Tuck" Subject: Re: [db] Another Electrical Gremlin dispatched Nick, I can't shed any light on the cause. But my '83 240D power antenna circuit did exactly the same thing. I simply pulled the fuse on that circuit and stopped listening to the radio. VT ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 24 May 2004 12:12:26 -0700 (PDT) From: john Subject: Re: [db] S350D the 3.5L is not a good idea... lots of issues... rods/rings/cylinders... danger, danger, danger... double check but I think it's to be avoided. john On Mon, 24 May 2004, SEAN FORD wrote: >-->Any thoughts on the large body S350D. I found a 94? locally for 14k with 185K >-->miles on it. Excelent condition inside and out. What should one know about >-->this engine? >--> >-->Thanks >--> >-->Sean >--> ---- - ------------------------------------------------------------------------- ** http://wagoneers.com ** ** http://freegift.net ** Snohomish, Washington USA - where Jeeps don't rust, they mold. - ------------------------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 24 May 2004 14:38:31 -0500 From: Subject: RE: [db] S350D While the earlier 3.0 liter version is fine, the 3.5 liter OM603 engine is in fact the one that we fear. Not every one will show the problem, and the number of miles already on that example are encouraging, but many 3.5 OM603s have suffered fairly significant failure of the number one connecting rod, including assorted collateral damage to the number one cylinder area of the block. And since that motor was only available for a year or two in the US, chances of finding good used motors are slim, so replacements are expensive. On the other hand, for those that don't see the problem, it's supposed to be an awfully nice and powerful motor. Alec > -----Original Message----- > From: owner-diesel-benz-at-digest.net > [mailto:owner-diesel-benz-at-digest.net] On Behalf Of john > Sent: Monday, May 24, 2004 2:12 PM > To: SEAN FORD > Cc: diesel-benz-digest > Subject: Re: [db] S350D > > > the 3.5L is not a good idea... lots of issues... > rods/rings/cylinders... danger, danger, danger... > > double check but I think it's to be avoided. > > john > > On Mon, 24 May 2004, SEAN FORD wrote: > > >-->Any thoughts on the large body S350D. I found a 94? > locally for 14k with 185K > >-->miles on it. Excelent condition inside and out. What > should one know about > >-->this engine? > >--> > >-->Thanks > >--> > >-->Sean > >--> > > ---- ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 24 May 2004 20:59:42 -0400 From: "Marc Zylka" Subject: [db] Re: Diesel adventures - 38.76 mpg Interesting, I'm looking for another 300D Turbo. I did see a 240D with standard shift on Autotrader.com which caught my eye but I like the turbo. I also like my '89 XJ with a 4.0. With the Flowmaster it sounds and runs good. Fuel here in central NC: $1.94 for regular unleaded and $1.61 for diesel. Marc '83 300D Turbo '89 XJ, 4.0, Flowmaster, K&N, Michelin LTX ATs. - ----- Original Message ----- From: "john" To: "diesel-benz list" Sent: Monday, May 24, 2004 1:35 AM Subject: xj: Diesel adventures - 38.76 mpg > I love Diesels... I've had 7 Mercedes, 6 of them Diesels. I've had a Jeep > Cherokee (85, 2.1L TD), 2 Olds Cutlass Diesels, 3 VW Diesels, a GMC Jimmy > Diesel and at least two Diesel tractors... of course I've only owned > 90 vehicles at this point... ;) that's only about a dozen Diesels... :) > > I would like to drop a Diesel into my '87 XJ when the 4.0L finally > dies... but with 250,000+ miles it's not looking real promising. :) > I thought about putting one in my '83 J10, but the torque just > wasn't there... > > Anyway, today I decided to see just how good of mileage I could get > out of my '91 300D... 2.5L Turbo Diesel 5 cylinder... 124 series benz... > I drove 300 miles and managed to keep my foot > out of the injection pump... I did the speed limit even... went > from close to sea level only over a couple of small passes... 3,000 foot > through the Snoqualmie Pass... otherwise mostly level... ;) > only made a couple of stops... I filled up as we were leaving... > burped the tank, wiggled the car... level ground... couldn't get any more in... > > here in spokane I filled it, burped it and wiggled... got in the car and > looked at the initial results and it was over 39 mpg... but the gauge > didn't look right... so my wife said I better go and see if I can put > more in otherwise I'll be bragging about getting 39.52 mpg... ok, ok, > want to be objective about this... so I went back out... and managed > to get all of another 0.152 of a gallon in.... the fuel was just sitting > there at the lip of the tank... :) > > so, squeezing ever last drop in the tank netted: 38.76 mpg > > I think I'm going to keep this one... :) There is a difference > in the newer Mercedes Diesels... The 123/126 series seemed to > peak out around 30mpg... decent nonetheless but the 124 and 201 > models seem to do a lot better. I'm really impressed with the > 124 chassis, prefer it over the 201. If I could get a 123 to > digest a 2.5L TD or the I-6 3.0L out of an '87 300d/124 I might > consider getting another... I think they have a nicer feel to them. > > raw data: > date miles diff trip gallons mpg > 5/23 186831 303 302.6 7.808 38.76 > $cost $/gal location > 16.86 $2.16 spokane > > When I got back to the hotel I decided to slice and dice my spreadsheet > to make sure the overall average was reasonable... > > I ran the numbers on the entire time I've had the car and it came > out to 29.49 mpg overall (mostly dealing with local traffic and steep > local hills) > > I switched over to amsoil series 3000 5w30 almost 5,000 miles ago, > since then my average came up about 1/2 mpg... > > odo miles gals avg mpg > 182276 > 186831 4555 152.154 29.93677 > > http://www.wagoneers.com/DieselBenz/91-300d-2.5L/u-village-7-26-2003.jpg > > So, if you're thinking about getting a Diesel I can't imagine > you going wrong... there is a learning curve, but it's not too bad, > less difficult then switching to Linux, but gives you pretty much > the same benefits... economy, reliability and so on ... ;) > > If you're not a mechanic, have the car checked by one before you buy it... > and if it's a French Diesel... walk away quickly. Not necessarily that > they're of poor design, no, rather they're designed to make you poor... > parts are outrageously expensive... and typical to the French they > are on the bleeding edge of technology... how many international airports > have ceilings collapse? And if you're looking at pre-83 GM > version make sure it's got the TargetMaster replacement and you'll be ok. > > dieseljohn > ---- > > ------------------------------------------------------------------------- > ** http://wagoneers.com ** ** http://freegift.net ** > Snohomish, Washington USA - where Jeeps don't rust, they mold. > ------------------------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 25 May 2004 03:27:55 GMT From: "mjmason-at-juno.com" Subject: [db] 123 shifter console on eBay (Zebrano) I saw this and thought of Jim Steere (how 'bout some more pictures of that 300TD restoration? I'm salivating). Wood looks OK, switches worn per usual. Pretty close to the one I let go on eBay about 3 years ago! ;) http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=33695&item=2479612247&rd=1 Still lurking for now and telling myself it won't be long until I rejoin the Diesel ranks. Maybe I'm deluding myself a little, hoping to find the "perfect" 300TD, 123 or 124, with only "liveable" rust... Anybody in the Chicago area know of any!? Matt in IL (Grayslake, though I'm finding myself in the Crystal Lake area more and more...any messages, John?) ;) ________________________________________________________________ The best thing to hit the Internet in years - Juno SpeedBand! Surf the Web up to FIVE TIMES FASTER! Only $14.95/ month - visit www.juno.com to sign up today! ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 25 May 2004 06:50:08 -0700 (PDT) From: john Subject: Re: [db] 123 shifter console on eBay (Zebrano) noticed that the emergency flasher is in the console... scared the daylights out of myself coming across the Columbia River... set my camera down to negotiate a sharp curve on I-90 and the right rear window partially opened... :) Crystal Lake... well, can't make it to my 30th HS reunion in June, will be down in CA teaching Linux... :( ttyl, john On Tue, 25 May 2004, mjmason-at-juno.com wrote: >-->I saw this and thought of Jim Steere (how 'bout some more pictures of that 300TD restoration? I'm salivating). Wood looks OK, switches worn per usual. Pretty close to the one I let go on eBay about 3 years ago! ;) >--> >-->http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=33695&item=2479612247&rd=1 >--> >-->Still lurking for now and telling myself it won't be long until I rejoin the Diesel ranks. Maybe I'm deluding myself a little, hoping to find the "perfect" 300TD, 123 or 124, with only "liveable" rust... Anybody in the Chicago area know of any!? >--> >-->Matt in IL >-->(Grayslake, though I'm finding myself in the Crystal Lake area more and more...any messages, John?) ;) >--> >--> >-->________________________________________________________________ >-->The best thing to hit the Internet in years - Juno SpeedBand! >-->Surf the Web up to FIVE TIMES FASTER! >-->Only $14.95/ month - visit www.juno.com to sign up today! >--> ---- - ------------------------------------------------------------------------- ** http://wagoneers.com ** ** http://freegift.net ** Snohomish, Washington USA - where Jeeps don't rust, they mold. - ------------------------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------ End of diesel-benz-digest V1 #1471 **********************************