From owner-diesel-benz-digest-at-digest.net Tue Aug 3 15:31:51 2004 From: diesel-benz-digest diesel-benz-digest Tuesday, August 3 2004 Volume 01 : Number 1518 Forum for Discussion of Diesel Mercedes Benz Automobiles Derick Amburgey Digest Coordinator Contents: [db] 100 to 80 in seconds... freak windstorm... Re: [db] More options from Daimler-Chrysler [db] replacing rear brakes 190D - not always straight forward Re: [db] replacing rear brakes 190D - not always straight forward Re: [db] Oil/Compression/filter/chronicles of ............? Re: [db] Oil/Compression/filter/chronicles of ............? Re: [db] More options from Daimler-Chrysler [db] Request for help diagnosing non-starting 240D [db] Re: fuel mileage RE: [db] Re: fuel mileage Re: [db] Oil/Compression/filter/chronicles of ............? Re: [db] Request for help diagnosing non-starting 240D [db] Re: Mercedes service in Snohomish County 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, 02 Aug 2004 19:08:32 -0700 From: john meister Subject: [db] 100 to 80 in seconds... freak windstorm... over here in Spokane, Washington... it was about 100 degrees, then I looked out the window and I saw brown... trees sideways... seagulls flying but going backwards... temperature dropped to 80 degrees quite quickly... wondering if funnel clouds would follow at any moment... but no rain... just gritty dust. moved the car out of the direct path, parked it next to some minivan. :) just looked out, now it's raining, big drops, but not a lot of 'em... interesting, we don't see stuff like this in Seattle. :) When I came out of class this afternoon, got in the Benz, noticed the temperature was 104 degrees... then I looked at the temp gauge... the car had reached full operating temperature by the time I backed out of the parking space! :) anyway, this thing is heading towards Idaho... heads up back east... :) john ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 02 Aug 2004 20:00:49 -0700 From: john meister Subject: Re: [db] More options from Daimler-Chrysler yeah, the problem is though it'll be in that ugly new durango looking thing..... :( john Jim Hoffman wrote: > Not only the Jeep Liberty but also a Dodge Dakota pickup and possibly > a Grand Cherokee! > > Wake up John!! > > ;) > > Jim/ > > http://wardsauto.com/ar/auto_dakota_launch_ahead/ ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 3 Aug 2004 00:01:50 -0400 From: "wmpless" Subject: [db] replacing rear brakes 190D - not always straight forward Hello, The rear rotors on my car started to wear unevenly and I, therefore, decided it's time for a brake job which should not take too much time to do. When changing the rotors I noticed that it took to much force to move the pistons in the calipers. As I could not get the pistons out with pressed air I had a rebuilt job done by a prof. rebuilder. After I installed new hoses, rotors, pads I went for a ride. After a couple of miles I noticed a strong brake smell and pulled over to the side. Sure enough, on one side a rim was very hot. Whenever I applied the brakes the caliper on this wheel did not release. Took the caliper off, placed a screw driver shaft between the brake pad, taped it a bit and did hang the caliper up on the frame and limped home. After some lengthy searching found out that one piston of the caliper was sticking and wa releasing very slowly. A simple job became nearly a nightmare. Never suspected the caliper, blamed it on oversize rotor, pads and/or faulty brake hose. Just thought somebody might be interested in my experience. Cheers Wiard Pless. ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 03 Aug 2004 00:26:24 -0400 From: Mike Frank Subject: Re: [db] replacing rear brakes 190D - not always straight forward Careful...there ARE some oversized pads out there. I ordered a set from I don't remember who. They were a bear to install, and my nice new rotors were burning hot after a very short test drive. I ordered another set of pads from Rusty, and they dropped right in. Don't know what the mistake was, but Rusty's pads were exactly the same shape, just a hair thinner. Made all the difference. Both were Pagid, I unfortunately didn't save the part numbers. Mike Frank At 12:01 AM 8/3/2004, wmpless wrote: >Whenever I applied the brakes the caliper on this wheel did not release. >Took the caliper off, placed a screw driver shaft between the brake pad, taped >it a bit and did hang the caliper up on the frame and limped home. After some >lengthy searching found out that one piston of the caliper was sticking and wa >releasing very slowly. ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 02 Aug 2004 21:49:57 -0700 From: john meister Subject: Re: [db] Oil/Compression/filter/chronicles of ............? my dear young lad... never, ever, ever name a car (or Jeep) after a female... it will only lead to snide remarks, jealousy, insults and possibly abusive behavior toward the object of your passion by the true passion of your life... ;) fritz, shadowfax, superdawg, old blue, clyde, ludwig, and so on have yet to get me in trouble... you see, it's hard for the better half to get too upset towards something called "old blue" or fritz... on the other hand, the emotions can run quite high (in the wrong direction) when you tell tales of "Katie"... You could find yourself sleeping with "Katie"... not recommended... so, live long and prosper... (This November will be 29 years... and never, ever, have I named a vehicle a female name... :) john jasonbassett-at-juno.com wrote: > ............? is her name. I have called her "Katie" in the past, but this proved to be offensive to my fiancee. Don't remember what I was supposed to call her now. Anyhow, I have some questions. As usual, though I have been gone for some time (no access at my house.) > > Oil. She leaks it (and probably also burns some, but you can never prove it with a diesel.) Do I need to change it still, or just change the filter and keep pouring the Delo in? I suppose I should, just less often, right? She loses about a quart every 300 miles or so, which makes me think that with that much oil flowing through, I should be able to let the change intervals get quite long. Maybe. > > Filter. Where can I get "the good one"? I have an STP in it now, and am not worried about it, but I want the motor to last, so I want to "get the good stuff." As long as it isn't enough for a down payment on a new car. :-) > > Compression. Now here's why I want to "get the good stuff." I ran the motor with the crankcase vent disconnected and was horrified to realize just how much blowby I have. I must have low compression on at least one cylinder (I can feel it at an idle with the auto tranny in gear) and probably none of them are quite right. I have no idea how much use the car has seen (odo is semi-kaput) or what care it has had (seemed to have gasser oil in it when I bought it) but I know they are tough, and with some pampering now, I should be able to keep it going for a long time still.........please tell me I'm right. Otherwise, she will go until she won't go anymore and then probably become a parts car. (There are some body issues from a deer accident that make it iffy as to whether she would warrant a new engine. Unless of course, I could get a good used one from a wrecked car. The one that got rear-ended by the drunk femme comes to mind.....) Anyhow, I would like feedback. As far as I ca n tell, nothing is coming loose inside, so I am not too worried.....but this Michigan winter could make starting interesting. Thankfully, it has the block heater. > > Chronicles.....they are weird and too long to tell now I guess.....time is up. Have fun, and I should be able to get back into this thing soon; I have a cable coming so I can do this through my cel-fone. Hee hee. Always wanted that anyhow..... > > Bye for now y'all > > Jason > '81 240D guessing ~325K MI (and still she rolls on....) > > ________________________________________________________________ > 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, 3 Aug 2004 01:28:47 -0700 From: Kevin Pekarek Subject: Re: [db] Oil/Compression/filter/chronicles of ............? On Mon, Aug 02, 2004 at 09:49:57PM -0700, john meister wrote: > (This November will be 29 years... and never, ever, have I named a vehicle a > female name... :) Hrm. The GF never minded cars having female names because she thought they were more fussy than she was :) Then again, we haven't been together for some time. 29 years. Sheesh. I am not even that old yet. :) K - -- Kevin Pekarek Redwood City, CA (near San Francisco) and Los Osos, CA (near San Luis Obispo) ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 3 Aug 2004 08:24:29 -0400 From: "Jim Hoffman" Subject: Re: [db] More options from Daimler-Chrysler This is true :( But probably NOT the Grand Cherokee! ;) Jim/ > yeah, the problem is though it'll be in that ugly new durango looking thing..... :( > > john > > Jim Hoffman wrote: > > Not only the Jeep Liberty but also a Dodge Dakota pickup and possibly > > a Grand Cherokee! > > > > Wake up John!! > > > > ;) > > > > Jim/ > > > > http://wardsauto.com/ar/auto_dakota_launch_ahead/ ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 03 Aug 2004 07:39:09 -0500 From: "Richard F Dillon" Subject: [db] Request for help diagnosing non-starting 240D Friends, I have a 1979 240D and a 1983 300D, and neither of them will start. I'm pretty sure that the 300D needs a new ignition switch, so I've concentrated my attention on my non-starting 240D. It ran perfectly until my daughter parked it in our driveway ~7 weeks ago, after purchasing a newer car. It had been her daily driver for the last 3 years, and, as it had not exhibited any problems prior to that, I thought that perhaps I just needed to charge up the battery, and that the diesel had evaporated, so I loosened the large nut (17mm)on the fuel injection lines going to the fuel injectors, and manually pumped as well as cranked until I saw fuel coming out of each of the injector lines. I tightened them up, and continued the glow plug/cranking cycle many times, but I couldn't get the car to start. I had replaced the manual fuel push pump ~ 7 years ago, and I was surprised when I found that it leaked when I was pumping it. I was wondering if anyone else had any ideas as to how I could get it to start? The glow plug relay appears to work right, and the glow plug light comes on as it always has. I suspect these glow plugs to be ~8 years old. Can someone send me a procedure for diagnosing the glow plugs? I know that some of them are getting hot, as I can see smoke coming off of the glow plug ground wire, at the front of the engine (closest to radiator). This car has the older serial type of glow plug. Also, in case I can't get this car going, does anyone have a recommendation of a reliable Mercedes mechanic in NW Houston, TX? My mechanic passed away last year, and I haven't had anyone that I'd trust to see these cars. Thanks so much for all your help, and please reply at your earliest convenience, Richard "Watch your thoughts, for they become words. Choose your words, for they become actions. Understand your actions, for they become habits. Study your habits, they will become your character. Develop your character for it becomes your destiny." ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 03 Aug 2004 07:18:17 -0700 From: john meister Subject: [db] Re: fuel mileage my '91 300d got 38.4 mpg on the trip over to Spokane on Sunday... yes, Diesel only... :) The 3.0L 6 cylinder seems to be a decent motor, not as efficient as the 2.5L though. (found in the '87 and up 124/201 series). The 3.5L TD is to be avoided. The older 3.0L 5 cyl TDs are nice, but 30mpg is about the best you'll normally see there. john J. Easton wrote: > Dear Mr. Meister, > > Thank you so much for this website. I am not yet an MBZ owner, but will be > in the near future. Your list for fuel mileage only goes up to 91. Do you > have any links that would cover after that? > > Also, I've been told the best investment is about 81 to 86 and put your > money into a good/excellent body+interior with a bad engine and buy from MBZ > a factory engine for about $6000. Do you have any other model suggestions. I > really like your 91. Fuel mileage is my criteria, Diesel only? > > Thank you very much. > > Many Blessings, > > Jaymes Easton > --- ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 3 Aug 2004 09:42:08 -0500 From: Subject: RE: [db] Re: fuel mileage Keep in mind that probably no 81 to 86 models are still worth as much as $6,000, even with motors that are still sound, so your idea of buying a shell, even for less than $1,000, then buying a crate motor, would leave you with more invested in the car than it is worth in resale. Additionally, just about any chassis you find may need money invested to replace all the rubber, including suspension parts and weatherstripping, and the climate control system will likely need some money if you want it to perform like new. The 81 to 86 diesel motors (as well as the transmissions of that era) are quite capable of still being in very good shape if they lived with a decent maintenance regimen, even if they have a couple hundred thousand miles on them. I would think you may do better to look for a specimen with good maintenance records. You may still have to refresh the rubber and the climate control, but you should be able to find a well-maintained car for no more than the price of a new engine, possibly even less when you account for installation charges for a new engine. Good luck either way. Alec Cordova Taylor, Texas 89 300CE, 173K > -----Original Message----- > From: owner-diesel-benz-at-digest.net > [mailto:owner-diesel-benz-at-digest.net] On Behalf Of john meister > Sent: Tuesday, August 03, 2004 9:18 AM > To: J. Easton; 'dbl' > Subject: [db] Re: fuel mileage > > > my '91 300d got 38.4 mpg on the trip over to Spokane on Sunday... > > yes, Diesel only... :) > > The 3.0L 6 cylinder seems to be a decent motor, not as efficient > as the 2.5L though. (found in the '87 and up 124/201 series). > The 3.5L TD is to be avoided. > > The older 3.0L 5 cyl TDs are nice, but 30mpg is about the best > you'll normally see there. > > john > > J. Easton wrote: > > Dear Mr. Meister, > > > > Thank you so much for this website. I am not yet an MBZ > owner, but will be > > in the near future. Your list for fuel mileage only goes up > to 91. Do you > > have any links that would cover after that? > > > > Also, I've been told the best investment is about 81 to 86 > and put your > > money into a good/excellent body+interior with a bad engine > and buy from MBZ > > a factory engine for about $6000. Do you have any other > model suggestions. I > > really like your 91. Fuel mileage is my criteria, Diesel only? > > > > Thank you very much. > > > > Many Blessings, > > > > Jaymes Easton > > --- ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 3 Aug 2004 10:25:47 -0700 (PDT) From: john Subject: Re: [db] Oil/Compression/filter/chronicles of ............? On Tue, 3 Aug 2004, Kevin Pekarek wrote: >-->On Mon, Aug 02, 2004 at 09:49:57PM -0700, john meister wrote: >-->> (This November will be 29 years... and never, ever, have I named a vehicle a >-->> female name... :) >--> >-->Hrm. The GF never minded cars having female names because she thought they >-->were more fussy than she was :) >--> >-->Then again, we haven't been together for some time. 29 years. Sheesh. I am >-->not even that old yet. :) it creeps up on ya I tell ya... I still think I'm 29... ;) (my body disagrees with me though... ;) john >--> >-->K >--> >-->-- >-->Kevin Pekarek >-->Redwood City, CA (near San Francisco) and >-->Los Osos, CA (near San Luis Obispo) >--> ---- - ------------------------------------------------------------------------- ** http://wagoneers.com ** ** http://freegift.net ** Snohomish, Washington USA - where Jeeps don't rust, they mold. - ------------------------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 3 Aug 2004 12:02:33 -0700 From: Kevin Pekarek Subject: Re: [db] Request for help diagnosing non-starting 240D On Tue, Aug 03, 2004 at 07:39:09AM -0500, Richard F Dillon wrote: > Friends, I have a 1979 240D and a 1983 300D, and neither of them will > start. I'm pretty sure that the 300D needs a new ignition switch, so > I've concentrated my attention on my non-starting 240D. It ran perfectly > until my daughter parked it in our driveway ~7 weeks ago, after purchasing a > newer car. It had been her daily driver for the last 3 years, and, as it > had not exhibited any problems prior to that, I thought that perhaps I > just needed to charge up the battery, and that the diesel had evaporated, > so I loosened the large nut (17mm)on the fuel injection lines going to the > fuel injectors, and manually pumped as well as cranked until I saw fuel > coming out of each of the injector lines. I tightened them up, and > continued the glow plug/cranking cycle many times, but I couldn't get the > car to start. I had replaced the manual fuel push pump ~ 7 years ago, > and I was surprised when I found that it leaked when I was pumping it. > I was wondering if anyone else had any ideas as to how I could get it to > start? The glow plug relay appears to work right, and the > glow plug light comes on as it always has. I suspect these glow plugs to > be ~8 years old. Can someone send me a procedure for diagnosing the glow > plugs? I know that some of them are getting hot, as I can see smoke > coming off of the glow plug ground wire, at the front of the engine > (closest to radiator). This car has the older serial type of glow > plug. Well, you have serial glow plugs, so if the light is coming on on the dash, they're all coming on. If you really wanted to test them, you get out an ohm meter and measure the resistance of the glow plug. I don't remember the value offhand, but it's small. I usually go by the theory that I have a less bad ones than good ones, and compare all of them. If you suspect the glow plugs, aim a heat gun down the air intake for a bit to cheat. Don't use starting fluid or either - it has a high risk of cracking prechambers on an indirect injected diesel. A leaky hand pump will make the car hard to start. If you want to cheat greatly (and often this is a good thing to do as part of diagnosis), give the car a pull start. MB actually designed the automatics so that the car could be pull started. Good luck. K - -- Kevin Pekarek Redwood City, CA (near San Francisco) and Los Osos, CA (near San Luis Obispo) 85 190D (601, 5spd) ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 3 Aug 2004 15:30:13 -0700 (PDT) From: john Subject: [db] Re: Mercedes service in Snohomish County Alain, I think you'll find Jim Startup to be the most affordable, honest and reasonable to deal with. There are a couple other shops up in Everett that are ok, but Jim seems to be the best bet as far as I can tell. Jim Startup's in Everett - 425.353.6811 he's up by Target on Everett Mall Way. john On Tue, 3 Aug 2004, A.C. Rhone wrote: >-->Hi John, >--> >-->I found your web site on wagoneers.com and was hoping you might be able to >-->help me. I live in Lynnwood, WA and have been looking at a Mercedes 240D I >-->want to buy (it will be a project!), and have been trying to find a local >-->mechanic (not Phil Smart) that will work on an older vehicle (this one's a >-->'74 W115). I'm really close to Performance Motors but have no experience >-->with them. Benz Friends is too far for me. Wondered if you know of any >-->good private machanics/shops, etc. where I could take this Benz to get >-->checked out and if I buy it, for future "major" service needs if they come >-->up. >--> >-->I don't know if you even operate your mail list or still live in >-->Snohomish...I'm on the diesel Benz yahoo group though and have been for >-->some time. >--> >-->Funny how I find people sometime....my uncle used to have several MB >-->diesels as well as Jeep CJ's (which he still has) and my parents used to >-->own a '73 Wagoneer...the first car I ever drove. >--> >-->Thanks for any help/tips you can provide, >--> >-->-Alain >-->cybrbass-at-speakeasy.org >--> ---- - ------------------------------------------------------------------------- ** http://wagoneers.com ** ** http://freegift.net ** Snohomish, Washington USA - where Jeeps don't rust, they mold. - ------------------------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------ End of diesel-benz-digest V1 #1518 **********************************