From owner-diesel-benz-digest-at-digest.net Fri Aug 5 18:38:15 2005 From: diesel-benz-digest diesel-benz-digest Saturday, August 6 2005 Volume 01 : Number 1909 Forum for Discussion of Diesel Mercedes Benz Automobiles Derick Amburgey Digest Coordinator Contents: Re: [db] Jeeps... Re: [db] Jeeps... [db] the Cherokee has left the shop... [db] Re: the Cherokee has left the shop... [db] just saw a Maybach... RE: [db] 300D with missing ignition switch RE: [db] 300D with missing ignition switch [db] Re: W201D 2.5L Re: [db] Re: W201D 2.5L [db] heading to the airport... 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: Thu, 4 Aug 2005 17:30:15 -0700 (PDT) From: john Subject: Re: [db] Jeeps... On Thu, 4 Aug 2005, Renaud (Ron) Olgiati wrote: >-->I have by accident got my grubby paws on a catalogue of bits and bobs for >-->Jeeps (4WheelDrive Hardware), and had a good look through. that's a nice catalog... :) >-->One thought: >-->Given the number of things that are offered to improve the Jeep's appearance, >-->comfort, engine power, gear shifting, ground clearance, road holding, >-->carrying capacity, corrosion resistance, braking ability, engine cooling, >-->lighting system, etc. one cannot help thinking that the Jeep, as produced, >-->must be a real P.O.S. ! >-->No ? >-->Ron, running for cover on the banks of the Paraguay River. :) In stock form they are significantly more reliable than any british or french automobile I've ever seen or owned. A stock Jeep is far more capable off road than many modified import or domestic 4x4s. That Jeeps are often subjected to incredible abuse and neglect is one of the reasons that so many modifications are made. Some of the AMC model Jeeps suffered greatly because of the alliance with Renault in the 80's, quality was terrible and some of the Jeeps even have french parts which makes them expensive to repair and somewhat unreliable. One of the things that we often do is upgrade them to get around these design flaws and limitations. When Chrysler took over in the later 80's things did improve a bit, but they messed things up a bit as well. Now we've got this Daimler-Chrysler thing going on where they are making the Jeeps like Mercedes, but only doing the bad things like center controlled windows, terrible seats and so on. ;) Of course they've lost sight of what a Jeep really is as evidenced by their termination of the XJ, the abomination of cancelling the WJ for the WK (not even a J designator, how rude) and going with independent front setup like the KJ. (yeah, sure I know that in 1963 Jeep built an independent front suspension Wagoneer, but that didn't stay in production very long even then. ;) One thing is usually a given, a Jeep will get you there and back, sure you may have to hold it together with duct tape, bailing wire and chewing gum after going over those rocks and all, but I've never been stranded. Most of the quality issues in the Jeeps relate to accessories as well. Of course I do loathe the AMC V8, it is an oil leaking boat anchor that runs hot, is inefficient and quite out of date. That's why my large FSJ had a 258 I-6, which was better, but still not all that great. My XJs and WJs have had superb engines, the 4.0L engine is outstanding providing life comparable to a Mercedes Diesel. It's far from perfect and often suffers from blowby and a leaky rear main seal, but despite those "AMC" issues will go for almost 300,000 miles without a rebuild! I have had far more trouble with accessories and climate controls on any of my mercedes than I've ever had in a Jeep. Jeep engines are incredibly easy to work on, far easier than any of the Mercedes Diesels. Parts are plentiful, cheap and just about anyone can fix them with basic handtools. john ---- - ------------------------------------------------------------------------- ** http://JohnMeister.com **** http://wagoneers.com ** Snohomish, Washington USA - where Jeeps don't rust, they mold ** http://freegift.net *** http://greatcom.org/laws/languages.html ** - ------------------------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 4 Aug 2005 17:41:55 -0700 From: Kevin Subject: Re: [db] Jeeps... On Thu, Aug 04, 2005 at 07:58:38PM +0000, Renaud (Ron) Olgiati wrote: > I have by accident got my grubby paws on a catalogue of bits and bobs for > Jeeps (4WheelDrive Hardware), and had a good look through. Actually a pretty good catalog, but I rarely buy anything from them - my jeeps are fine as they are for now. > Given the number of things that are offered to improve the Jeep's appearance, > comfort, engine power, gear shifting, ground clearance, road holding, > carrying capacity, corrosion resistance, braking ability, engine cooling, > lighting system, etc. one cannot help thinking that the Jeep, as produced, > must be a real P.O.S. ! Not really. The full size jeeps John and I have were quite solid out of the box, and you rarely see much in the aftermarket for it. The wranglers and CJs have gotten to the point where they are pretty much kit vehicles now, and they can be built up from catalogs from a bare frame pretty much any way you like it. None of the stuff in those catalogs is really required to take a jeep off road. In fact, a boring little cherokee can run the rubicon dead stock, as can John's grand cherokee. Sure, a lift and bigger tires makes things easier, but you can really go overboard. Unfortunately, in the states, there is a crowd, arguably as big as the crowd that four-wheel as a hobby, that build up 'street jeeps' and what not - they load up their poor jeep/pickup/blazer/etc with so many accessories that it merely LOOKS like it could go anywhere, when really the only times it spends off road are paved parking lots, its driveway, and the car wash. The powerchoke (a 96 F250 extended cab 4x4) has no lift, just bigger tires and a locker in the rear axle keeps up with an amazing number of "built" jeeps, four runners, pickups, and what not on rocky trails. And I have spent nothing compared to these guys with street jeeps that don't even go to paved camping spots. K ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 4 Aug 2005 18:25:57 -0700 (PDT) From: john Subject: [db] the Cherokee has left the shop... the japanese cherokee is no longer at the Off-Road Center in Tokyo. I may still go over and visit this shop... have to work on some server logistics yet this morning... :) john ---- - ------------------------------------------------------------------------- ** http://JohnMeister.com **** http://wagoneers.com ** Snohomish, Washington USA - where Jeeps don't rust, they mold ** http://freegift.net *** http://greatcom.org/laws/languages.html ** - ------------------------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 4 Aug 2005 21:21:15 -0700 (PDT) From: john Subject: [db] Re: the Cherokee has left the shop... Actually, from what I've been told by folks that live and work here, that the Japanese are not big on Diesels at all. Only trucks seem to have them. I was talking to a couple of the Japanese guests and they estimated that less than 1% of the passenger vehicles had Diesels. They're worse than NYC or the CA! ;) john On Thu, 4 Aug 2005, Jim Blair wrote: >-->Any Bejing Jeeps with diesel over there for you to look at? >--> >--> >-->the japanese cherokee is no longer at the Off-Road Center in Tokyo. >-->I may still go over and visit this shop... have to work on >-->some server logistics yet this morning... :) >--> >-->john >--> ---- >--> >-->------------------------------------------------------------------------- >--> ** http://JohnMeister.com **** http://wagoneers.com ** >--> Snohomish, Washington USA - where Jeeps don't rust, they mold >--> ** http://freegift.net *** http://greatcom.org/laws/languages.html ** >-->------------------------------------------------------------------------- ---- - ------------------------------------------------------------------------- ** http://JohnMeister.com **** http://wagoneers.com ** Snohomish, Washington USA - where Jeeps don't rust, they mold ** http://freegift.net *** http://greatcom.org/laws/languages.html ** - ------------------------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 4 Aug 2005 21:27:59 -0700 (PDT) From: john Subject: [db] just saw a Maybach... was sitting on a planter talking to my wife and daughter on the cell phone and noticed a white car next to me... looked at the hood and saw that it was a Maybach... driver had white gloves on... caught a glimpse of a young lady getting in the back... some sort of university was across the way. Guess this must be the high rent district or something. Still haven't spotted any Mercedes Diesels... plenty of Mercedes... john ---- - ------------------------------------------------------------------------- ** http://JohnMeister.com **** http://wagoneers.com ** Snohomish, Washington USA - where Jeeps don't rust, they mold ** http://freegift.net *** http://greatcom.org/laws/languages.html ** - ------------------------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 5 Aug 2005 05:54:56 -0700 (PDT) From: bree kna Subject: RE: [db] 300D with missing ignition switch this reminded me all of a sudden. after purchase i ran thru the owner's manual of my '84 300SD. In it, there was actually a section on how to push start it. if i remember correctly (no, i didn't memorize the exact details because i'd never attempt it!) you put it in neutral, have it towed by another car up to 20mph or so, then throw it down into drive. does that sound right? anybody tried this? treating my 213k miles tranny gingerly till she dies a natural death... brian Stay connected, organized, and protected. Take the tour: http://tour.mail.yahoo.com/mailtour.html ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 5 Aug 2005 06:26:04 -0700 (PDT) From: john Subject: RE: [db] 300D with missing ignition switch yes, this should work, haven't done it on any of my cars because they all work, but the Benz AT has a rear pump, so it is able to build up pressure and actually turn the engine over. Kind of like dropping the clutch with a manual trans in gear. john On Fri, 5 Aug 2005, bree kna wrote: >-->this reminded me all of a sudden. after purchase i >-->ran thru the owner's manual of my '84 300SD. In it, >-->there was actually a section on how to push start it. >-->if i remember correctly (no, i didn't memorize the >-->exact details because i'd never attempt it!) you put >-->it in neutral, have it towed by another car up to >-->20mph or so, then throw it down into drive. does that >-->sound right? anybody tried this? >--> >-->treating my 213k miles tranny gingerly till she dies a >-->natural death... >--> >-->brian >-->Stay connected, organized, and protected. Take the tour: >-->http://tour.mail.yahoo.com/mailtour.html >--> ---- - ------------------------------------------------------------------------- ** http://JohnMeister.com **** http://wagoneers.com ** Snohomish, Washington USA - where Jeeps don't rust, they mold ** http://freegift.net *** http://greatcom.org/laws/languages.html ** - ------------------------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 5 Aug 2005 12:16:20 -0400 From: "wmpless" Subject: [db] Re: W201D 2.5L Hi, As the car has a non-venting tank lid wondering how air is entering the tank when fuel is consumed. Sometimes I can feel a vacuum when I remove the tank lid at a gas station. Understand the fuel pump has only about 7 psi and if there is a blocked hose it could starve engine of fuel, at least that's what I think. Any advice would be much appreciated. Wiard ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 5 Aug 2005 12:55:31 -0500 From: acordova-at-texas.net Subject: Re: [db] Re: W201D 2.5L Quoting wmpless : > Hi, > As the car has a non-venting tank lid wondering how air is entering the > tank > when fuel is consumed. Sometimes I can feel a vacuum when I remove the > tank > lid at a gas station. Understand the fuel pump has only about 7 psi and if > there is a blocked hose it could starve engine of fuel, at least that's > what I > think. Any advice would be much appreciated. Wiard > > I've never heard of the non-venting MB fuel filler cap creating any problems with gas or diesel models, so I would guess that the engineers took that into account properly. I say there's absolutely no need to worry about it. Alec ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 5 Aug 2005 18:35:14 -0700 (PDT) From: john Subject: [db] heading to the airport... pictures of the adventure are on line at: http://wagoneers.com/fotos/Tokyo-2005 john ---- - ------------------------------------------------------------------------- ** http://JohnMeister.com **** http://wagoneers.com ** Snohomish, Washington USA - where Jeeps don't rust, they mold ** http://freegift.net *** http://greatcom.org/laws/languages.html ** - ------------------------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------ End of diesel-benz-digest V1 #1909 **********************************