From owner-diesel-benz-digest-at-digest.net Mon Dec 12 20:17:43 2005 From: diesel-benz-digest diesel-benz-digest Tuesday, December 13 2005 Volume 01 : Number 2046 Forum for Discussion of Diesel Mercedes Benz Automobiles Derick Amburgey Digest Coordinator Contents: [db] random pictures: Willys, sunrises... used Jeeps... Re: [db] changing glow plugs sucks! RE: [db] looking for quick sanity check on sudden cooling system repair needs RE: [db] looking for quick sanity check on sudden cooling system repair needs RE: [db] random pictures: Willys, sunrises... used Jeeps... [db] Re: flatties 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: Sun, 11 Dec 2005 22:46:54 -0800 (PST) From: john Subject: [db] random pictures: Willys, sunrises... used Jeeps... just a few recent pictures... http://JohnMeister.com/fotos/2005/Dec-10-Willys-n-misc/ bought one of those 10x20 enclosed carports at schucks today... going to move the willys into it so the 300D can sit in the carport... still haven't decided if I want to get a newer XJ or not... the 300D is a great car and eventually my J10 will be done, or I'll just be forced to buy another stepside and set it up myself. ;) 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: Mon, 12 Dec 2005 08:45:25 -0500 From: "Jim Hoffman" Subject: Re: [db] changing glow plugs sucks! Yeah, I got pretty good at it after replacing all four TWICE! AND a few more THREE times! ;) Remember, if they don't say BERU don't bother putting them in! :) I lost the little nut once too. I can't remember where I got a replacement now... :( At least the Bio-Monster lives again! Jim > Well, you have to remember that I am not a good mechanic and this was my > first time doing the job. So I had two strikes going in. I doubt that taking > off the fuel lines is mandatory, but it makes things a LOT easier. There is > more room to work in there. And since I could only get three of the five > off, a couple were really hard to reach. > > Finally, two of the plugs took a long tim to come all the way out. They had > to be finessed real gently and I wasn't feeling particularly gentle at that > moment... ;) > > Did I mention that I actually dropped a glow plug down, below the block and > had to first find it and then jimmy it out (it was one of the new ones). > > Oh and I did lose the nut holding the wire on for one of the plugs. I > imagine this is pretty easy to replace at the hardware store: an 8mm is all > I need/ask for? > > c > On 12/11/05, Jim Hoffman wrote: > > > > Hmmmm... That's interesting... I replaced numerous glow plugs > > in my '83 240D and never had a problem. Didn't have to remove the > > fuel lines or anything. Just remove the little nut holding the > > wire on, remove the glowplug and reverse the process with the new > > plug. 5 cylinders that much different? > > > > Jim > > > > > > > I hear ya! ;-) Did it on our 201 last year... you need double jointed > > > fingers + rachet extensions ;-) Always happens when it's cold too ;-) > > > Steve > > > > > > On 12/11/05, Charles Redell wrote: > > > > UGH! God that was hard! Granted I don;t have particularly good tools, > > but I > > > > was using a 17mm open-ended wrench to loosen the fuel lines from the > > > > injectors and the pump, and had the right sizes for the plugs > > themselves > > > > too.... and good god those little things were hard to get out.... For > > some > > > > reason, I couldn't loosen the nut on two of my three fuel lines so had > > to > > > > work around that which left very little room to unscrew the plugs > > > > themselves. And did I mention how hard it is to reach them anyway? And > > what > > > > about how easy it is to drop your wrench, ratchet and even new blow > > plug > > > > down below the engine block. repeatedly. > > > > > > > > Hours I tell you. This took me hours. all day actually. > > > > > > > > But, and here's the good part, it worked! BIOMONSTER LIVES AGAIN! > > > > > > > > Now, if someone could just make my poor hands feel better. > > > > c > > > > > > > > -- > > > > Proud owner of an 84 300d turbo running B100 > > > > (if you don't know what this means, just ask!) > > > > > > -- > Proud owner of an 84 300d turbo running B100 > (if you don't know what this means, just ask!) ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 12 Dec 2005 17:40:26 -0700 From: Subject: RE: [db] looking for quick sanity check on sudden cooling system repair needs Hi Alec, I just replaced the radiator and thermostat in my 190D W201, and being an amateur mechanic, it probably took me about 3.5 hours. Some of that time was spent just waiting for the fluid to drain and filling it back up. I would think a professional mechanic could do it in 2 to 2.5 hours, especially if they set up the drain pan and then walk away for 30 minutes and do something else for a while. They shouldn't charge you to watch coolant drain, IMHO. BTW: I disassembled the front of the car (including the windshield wiper) to get to the blower motor this weekend because I had a horribly squeaky bearing....sprayed some lithium lubricant on it and all seems fine. If it gets bad again, I'll probably have to refresh the bearing....probably took me about 2 hours to get it apart, lubricate and put back together. Back to topic...if you have any mechanical abilities at all, replacing a radiator has got to be one of the easiest jobs to tackle for a DIY'er...you may want to just roll up your sleeves and give it a go! I've found working on the car very therapeutic in the last couple of months, as the stresses in other areas of my life have increased. It's very satisfying to see the end result of your labor! Take care, and good luck with the rad, t-stat and H20-pump. Scott Mercedes 190D, 2.2L Non-Turbo, W201 - -----Original Message----- From: owner-diesel-benz-at-digest.net [mailto:owner-diesel-benz-at-digest.net] On Behalf Of Kevin Sent: Friday, December 09, 2005 2:07 PM To: Alec Cordova Cc: Diesel-Benz List Subject: Re: [db] looking for quick sanity check on sudden cooling system repair needs On Fri, Dec 09, 2005 at 03:28:16PM -0600, Alec Cordova wrote: > Well, my 89 300CE didn't survive the freeze we just got in the Austin, > Texas area. She was overheating on this morning's commute, and only > giving me cold air in the cabin, even on defrost. Upper and lower rad > hoses were warm. Heater hose coming off the back of the head was warm > near the head, but not warm on the other end. > > Mercedes of Georgetown, which isn't my favorite but does give free > loaner cars, claims my radiator is leaking and my thermostat needs to > be replaced. They also say my water pump has some extra play in the > shaft and is probably on its way out, although it's not leaking yet. It has been a while since I had to pretend to work on gassers, but I'd blame your water pump over the radiator and thermostat IF there was still enough water in the radiator to limp you somewhere. If the radiator hoses are warm, the thermostat is not stuck closed, so unless it is easy to replace when the water pump is replaced, it's not catastrophic. > They want almost $700 to replace the rad and thermostat, plus another > $700-ish to do the water pump. Not yet clear if that includes the > couple hours of labor saved by replacing the water pump while they're > in there for the rad and thermostat. Given the rates of the dealership here, the radiator and thermostat don't seem too out of line given the parts price (3-3.5 hours for the radiator and thermostat doesn't seem bad), but the same for the water pump seems a bit excessive, especially if the radiator is out of the car. > The car has almost 197K miles, and she's in reasonably good shape > except for the climate control blower, which I'm pretty sure is not > the blower motor itself. I had shocks, struts, and front suspension > rubber replaced a year or so ago, so that's all good. Some of the > wife's recent expenses leave me in a position where I probably > shouldn't replace the car (which kinda stinks, since John M on the > diesel list is selling his 91 300D 2.5, and I'm sure he's got it in > great shape), so I'm basically committed to repairing this one. Those cars are good for as long as the diesels, with the exception that you'll need top end work somewhere between 200-250k miles. The bottom ends can last upwards of 400k. My 87 300D is still extremely tight feeling, and its suspension was rebuilt two years ago. It also hit a deer and was repaired. > Do those numbers sound like the right ballpark for these repairs at a > stealership? I know the radiator and thermostat retail for $250 - > $300, and the water pump retails for about $230. If it was my car, I'd consider getting all three done, but probably wouldn't be too interested in doing them at that dealership if they fail to acknowledge that it takes easily under an hour to swap a water pump if you have removed the radiator already. I would certainly be on the phone with my indy to see what they'd want for those jobs. If the dealer isn't too far off, the dealer gets the job, otherwise the dealer gets to pound sand. That is, if it was my car. > Why oh why must I be so addicted to these cars? ;-) Because 124s are more fun than a barrel of monkeys :) K ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 13 Dec 2005 01:19:28 +0000 From: john-at-wagoneers.com Subject: RE: [db] looking for quick sanity check on sudden cooling system repair needs ah yes, the benefits of wrenching... relaxing... or at least distracting enough to relax? :) bought one of those 10x20 carport things with side enclosures so I can work on the willys and put the benz completely in the carport. :) john -------------- Original message ---------------------- From: > Hi Alec, > > I just replaced the radiator and thermostat in my 190D W201, and being an > amateur mechanic, it probably took me about 3.5 hours. Some of that time was > spent just waiting for the fluid to drain and filling it back up. I would > think a professional mechanic could do it in 2 to 2.5 hours, especially if > they set up the drain pan and then walk away for 30 minutes and do something > else for a while. They shouldn't charge you to watch coolant drain, IMHO. > > BTW: I disassembled the front of the car (including the windshield wiper) to > get to the blower motor this weekend because I had a horribly squeaky > bearing....sprayed some lithium lubricant on it and all seems fine. If it > gets bad again, I'll probably have to refresh the bearing....probably took me > about 2 hours to get it apart, lubricate and put back together. > > Back to topic...if you have any mechanical abilities at all, replacing a > radiator has got to be one of the easiest jobs to tackle for a DIY'er...you > may want to just roll up your sleeves and give it a go! I've found working on > the car very therapeutic in the last couple of months, as the stresses in > other areas of my life have increased. It's very satisfying to see the end > result of your labor! > > Take care, and good luck with the rad, t-stat and H20-pump. > > Scott > Mercedes 190D, 2.2L Non-Turbo, W201 > > > > > -----Original Message----- > From: owner-diesel-benz-at-digest.net [mailto:owner-diesel-benz-at-digest.net] On > Behalf Of Kevin > Sent: Friday, December 09, 2005 2:07 PM > To: Alec Cordova > Cc: Diesel-Benz List > Subject: Re: [db] looking for quick sanity check on sudden cooling system > repair needs > > On Fri, Dec 09, 2005 at 03:28:16PM -0600, Alec Cordova wrote: > > Well, my 89 300CE didn't survive the freeze we just got in the Austin, > > Texas area. She was overheating on this morning's commute, and only > > giving me cold air in the cabin, even on defrost. Upper and lower rad > > hoses were warm. Heater hose coming off the back of the head was warm > > near the head, but not warm on the other end. > > > > Mercedes of Georgetown, which isn't my favorite but does give free > > loaner cars, claims my radiator is leaking and my thermostat needs to > > be replaced. They also say my water pump has some extra play in the > > shaft and is probably on its way out, although it's not leaking yet. > > It has been a while since I had to pretend to work on gassers, but I'd > blame your water pump over the radiator and thermostat IF there was still > enough water in the radiator to limp you somewhere. If the radiator hoses > are warm, the thermostat is not stuck closed, so unless it is easy to > replace when the water pump is replaced, it's not catastrophic. > > > They want almost $700 to replace the rad and thermostat, plus another > > $700-ish to do the water pump. Not yet clear if that includes the > > couple hours of labor saved by replacing the water pump while they're > > in there for the rad and thermostat. > > Given the rates of the dealership here, the radiator and thermostat don't > seem too out of line given the parts price (3-3.5 hours for the radiator and > thermostat doesn't seem bad), but the same for the water pump seems a bit > excessive, especially if the radiator is out of the car. > > > The car has almost 197K miles, and she's in reasonably good shape > > except for the climate control blower, which I'm pretty sure is not > > the blower motor itself. I had shocks, struts, and front suspension > > rubber replaced a year or so ago, so that's all good. Some of the > > wife's recent expenses leave me in a position where I probably > > shouldn't replace the car (which kinda stinks, since John M on the > > diesel list is selling his 91 300D 2.5, and I'm sure he's got it in > > great shape), so I'm basically committed to repairing this one. > > Those cars are good for as long as the diesels, with the exception that > you'll need top end work somewhere between 200-250k miles. The bottom ends > can last upwards of 400k. My 87 300D is still extremely tight feeling, and > its suspension was rebuilt two years ago. It also hit a deer and was > repaired. > > > Do those numbers sound like the right ballpark for these repairs at a > > stealership? I know the radiator and thermostat retail for $250 - > > $300, and the water pump retails for about $230. > > If it was my car, I'd consider getting all three done, but probably wouldn't > be too interested in doing them at that dealership if they fail to > acknowledge > that it takes easily under an hour to swap a water pump if you have removed > the radiator already. > > I would certainly be on the phone with my indy to see what they'd want for > those jobs. If the dealer isn't too far off, the dealer gets the job, > otherwise > the dealer gets to pound sand. That is, if it was my car. > > > Why oh why must I be so addicted to these cars? ;-) > > Because 124s are more fun than a barrel of monkeys :) > > K ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 12 Dec 2005 20:16:03 -0800 (PST) From: john Subject: RE: [db] random pictures: Willys, sunrises... used Jeeps... On Mon, 12 Dec 2005, Randy Bennell wrote: >-->Keep the Benz. Every time I get into the list you talk about selling a ok. ;) john >-->diesel MB. Then you buy another one. Just accept the fact that you are >-->supposed to have one drivable MB diesel car around and let the rest sort >-->itself out. Keep whatever Jeeps you feel you need and enjoy life but stop >-->beating yourself up over the Mercedes. You are supposed to have one, >-->obviously. >--> >-->Randy >--> >-->-----Original Message----- >-->From: owner-diesel-benz-at-digest.net >-->[mailto:owner-diesel-benz-at-digest.net]On Behalf Of john >-->Sent: Monday, December 12, 2005 12:47 AM >-->To: undisclosed-recipients: >-->Subject: [db] random pictures: Willys, sunrises... used Jeeps... >--> >--> >-->just a few recent pictures... >-->http://JohnMeister.com/fotos/2005/Dec-10-Willys-n-misc/ >--> >-->bought one of those 10x20 enclosed carports at schucks today... >-->going to move the willys into it so the 300D can sit in the >-->carport... >--> >-->still haven't decided if I want to get a newer XJ or not... the 300D >-->is a great car and eventually my J10 will be done, or I'll just be forced >-->to buy another stepside and set it up myself. ;) >--> >-->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: Mon, 12 Dec 2005 20:15:28 -0800 (PST) From: john Subject: [db] Re: flatties looking at flat fender willys: found this one at: http://willysonline.com/forsale.asp 1948 Willys CJ2A is for sale in the Denver, Colorado Area. It has the original engine and seems to run good. Mileage is unknown. Pre-last owner history unknown. Body in pretty good shape with a bit of rust here and there, but over all a very solid ride. Asking price is $5,000 obo. Prime for a restore or conversion to a good hill climber. More photos available via email. Contact pf... mine looks better... :) this is encouraging... also my son isn't making me keep it... if this rough looking unit is up at $5k, and another one was out there at $9k. I'm thinking frame off the Willys, and keeping it the same color, Luzon Red. Although these things look really sharp in white, especially with a black top and trim... Going to get a new Black Bestop for it, stock rims, stock paint, stock trans/xfr case and seats, only mod will be the pinto engine... seems reasonable plan... any idea what it'll be worth??? no rust... straight... it's pretty amazing, it's in better shape than more than half of my FSJ's have been... Heading out to put the plugs back in and start putting the new "garage" together.... In other news (mlc) I think I am going to keep my '91 300D and the wife's '99 WJ and not update it. I've still got access to that '92 Cherokee Sport, could get it back sans engine/wiring... need to keep my eyes open for a Mercedes 3.0L TD. Superdawg should be done in a couple of months... of course new problems keep surfacing down state, but eventually it'll be done... ;) If that '91 GW ever presents itself I may put the 6.2L in it and return to the 4.0L plan in Superdawg... ;) rofl... wish SuperDawg were here, we wouldn't be having these conversations. ;) If I fix and sell the Willys I could get a nice late model XJ... not sure I'll want to really after Superdawg is done... A Diesel XJ would take care of all the issues if it has enough power to tow a trailer, my '85 with the Renault 2.1L TD didn't. :( so many jeeps, so little money/time/space... :) maybe I'll just sell off everything and go buy a new vehicle with what I want... wait, you say they don't make such a thing... oh yeah... that's right, that's why I'm doing all this swappin' and stuff anyway... :) can't remember, did I post these pix already: http://JohnMeister.com/fotos/2005/Dec-10-Willys-n-misc/ the "after" pictures of my '87 XJ and some random shots of the Willys... 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 #2046 **********************************