From owner-diesel-benz-digest-at-digest.net Tue Jan 3 12:08:37 2006 From: diesel-benz-digest diesel-benz-digest Tuesday, January 3 2006 Volume 01 : Number 2065 Forum for Discussion of Diesel Mercedes Benz Automobiles Derick Amburgey Digest Coordinator Contents: RE: [db] 1995 E300D Re: [db] 1995 E300D [db] Sticky steering in 88 190D [db] xj rims=rear bumper damage Re: [db] xj rims=rear bumper damage Re: [db] 1995 E300D [db] Fun with diesels this morning Re: [db] Fun with diesels this morning Re: [db] Fun with diesels this morning Re: [db] 1995 E300D [db] Automatic gearbox problems Re: [db] 1995 E300D Re: [db] 1995 E300D 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, 2 Jan 2006 15:54:55 -0600 From: "Alec Cordova" Subject: RE: [db] 1995 E300D Don't say anything too loud, since it's probably against copyright rules, but I think somebody has most of the CD sets available online at http://mb.braingears.com/ Also, if you get your own copy of the CDs, Steve Nervig from some of the lists has created USABLE indices, available for download to use with your discs at http://homepage.mac.com/dakota/1/index.html Alec Cordova Taylor, Texas 89 300CE, 197K > -----Original Message----- > From: owner-diesel-benz-at-digest.net > [mailto:owner-diesel-benz-at-digest.net]On Behalf Of Jon Filina > Sent: Monday, January 02, 2006 2:17 AM > To: john > Cc: Diesel Benz > Subject: Re: [db] 1995 E300D > > > John answered: > > >>-->1. Oil. The maintenance booklet shows this engine was fed > Mobil 1 (15W40) > >>-->for much of it's life. The last oil change shows that > Castrol 15W40 was > >>-->used. Would Mobil 1 Truck & SUV (5W40) be OK to use? > >> > >> > > > >if it's been running on synethic it's a good idea to keep it there. if > >the suv mobil 1 is rated for Diesel, why not? Why not step up to real > >synthetic and get amsoil? ;) > > > > > > If I lived next door to you, I'd walk up the hill and buy some. From > here, it's a long walk and a lot of hills... ;-) > > I would really like to stay with a synthetic oil. The Mobil 1 is pretty > easy to find. Even Walmart carries it. My daughter can buy it, since > she works at the one in Burleson, and I'd get her employee > discount as well! > > What oil change intervals do you use with your Amsoil? How much of a > pain in the posterior is it to get that belly pan off, or do you have to? > > >>--> > >>-->2. I've only run the A/C on three occasions since I got the > car. It blows > >>-->cold once it gets going. The longest I had it running was > only 20 minutes. > >>-->When it's idling, with the air on, I do not see any water > dripping below the > >>-->car. > >> > >> > > > >my 124 did this as well... however when sitting long enough > you'll see water > >underneath... remember the belly pan... > > > > > > > > I thought the drains came out on either side of the transmission case. > I guess I'll file my concern away until we have a warm enough day for me > to run the A/C for the hour's drive to work. It should be > draining by then. > > >>-->3. I had the hood up while the engine was running today and > noticed a > >>-->slight "squeak" coming from around the serp belt. > >> > >> > > > >could be an idler pulley going... > > > > > > That thought occurred to me, too. The belt appears to be pretty new and > I could see no "wiggle" as it turned. I'll keep an eye on it... > > > > > > >>-->4. The monowiper is not parking all the way down. > >> > >> > > > >I've got some of the pdf's for that part of the 124 on my server... > > > > > > > Could you email those pdf's? Do you have the MB CD's on the W124's? If > so, how helpful were they. The W126 ones don't have an index and it's > very frustrating finding what I'm looking for at times. I'll probably > break down and buy them though... > > Jon ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 02 Jan 2006 17:05:50 -0500 From: "Jim Hoffman" Subject: Re: [db] 1995 E300D > [I think Jim Hoffman just spit his drink all over his keyboard... I > know you'd welcome some warm 30 degree weather up there in Wisconsin. > Come on down to Texas. I think Alec was out on his patio this afternoon > wearing shorts and sandals and drinking his neighbor's wine.] LOL!! Well, the beginning of December was frigid! Single digits to below zero! Now it's almost 40! I hate this silly weather! If it's going to be winter we should have SNOW! ;) I was up at our cabin in northern Wisconsin on Sat. and it was a beautiful winter wonderland. Over 10" of snow on the ground. It was great. When I retire I think I'll move there. Not sure where my wife will go though! :0 ;) Jim ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 2 Jan 2006 20:02:13 -0500 From: "wmpless" Subject: [db] Sticky steering in 88 190D Hi Stephen, not sure whether you received my previous msg. For details go to www.mb.braingear.com W201 service manual. Don't think you will be able to hammer ball joint out. I would remove the wish arm and take it to an automotive machine shop or somebody with a press. Cheers Wiard ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 2 Jan 2006 17:35:37 -0800 (PST) From: john Subject: [db] xj rims=rear bumper damage was meeting up with jim blair to get an xj rim for my son's xj... just sitting in the parking lot in bothell minding my own business and CRUNCH... someone in a Toyota backs into the rear of my WJ. haven't crawled underneath yet, it popped one of the buttons off the plastic valence, tore the plastic a bit... the toyota actually hit the tailgate handle... I'm guessing about $2,000 damage to the toyota, probably around $200 to mine... will get it looked at to make sure the bumper support didn't get tweaked... the plastic valence might be repairable... if it's just the plastic piece it'll only cost the guy just under $200 to fix my WJ. I'm not going to charge him for labor or anything... the guy was from Oregon (about 200 miles or so from home) and seemed a bit flakey, so I may end up seeing nothing out of this... will post pictures in a bit at: http://wagoneers.com/fotos/2006/crunch-Jan-2 dave on the xj/wj list, what's the link to a "REAL" bumper for a WJ again? ;) of course had this been an XJ the bumper would have been destroyed... I'm sure an FSJ with an aluminum bumper would have been tweaked too... (post '80). If I'd been in shadowfax it would have ridden up over the bumper and done massive damage to my benz... not sure why the guy didn't impale himself on my hitch... rats... need more iron back there... 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, 02 Jan 2006 21:17:01 -0600 From: Jon Filina Subject: Re: [db] xj rims=rear bumper damage Bumpercar John wrote: >was meeting up with jim blair to get an xj rim for my son's xj... >just sitting in the parking lot in bothell minding my own business >and CRUNCH... someone in a Toyota backs into the rear of my WJ. > > Sheesh!! As if you don't have enough projects going.... On the other hand, that's how I got my 240D. A utility pickup backed into my '90 Jetta diesel and fled the scene in August of '97. The following Feb. I took the insurance money, the Jetta and additional cash and traded it for my 240D. Hang in there! Jon ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 02 Jan 2006 21:23:23 -0600 From: Jon Filina Subject: Re: [db] 1995 E300D Alec whispered: >Don't say anything too loud, since it's probably against copyright rules, >but I think somebody has most of the CD sets available online at >http://mb.braingears.com/ > > > Cool! And probably illegal. Frustrating, too, as it took about 3 tries before the E300D menu came up. I'd hit the right button, but it thought I wanted to see a different model. Thanks for the link. >Also, if you get your own copy of the CDs, Steve Nervig from some of the >lists has created USABLE indices, available for download to use with your >discs at http://homepage.mac.com/dakota/1/index.html > I keep meaning to download the latest index for my 300SD from him, but keep getting sidetracked. The W124 discs on the website you pointed me to look identical to the W126. I'll probably break down and buy them, but not just yet. Jon ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 03 Jan 2006 12:34:34 -0500 From: "Jim Hoffman" Subject: [db] Fun with diesels this morning Well folks... Jason Bassett should be past Chicago by now on his way back home with his new aquisition. In turn, my days of MB diesels are probably over. My 240D left the driveway today and Jason seemed to be a very happy camper. I'm praying for safe travels back to Ohio for him and his cohort in crime, Jeff. We used two diesel pickups to load the diesel car so that was very cool. I hope Jason has fun canibalizing that beast. Pics at: http://my.execpc.com/E1/FC/jslash/240D/ (I'm the "old" guy!) ;) Jim ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 03 Jan 2006 12:31:59 -0600 From: Jon Filina Subject: Re: [db] Fun with diesels this morning Jim reported: >Well folks... > > Jason Bassett should be past Chicago by now on his way back home >with his new aquisition. In turn, my days of MB diesels are probably >over. My 240D left the driveway today and Jason seemed to be a very >happy camper. I'm praying for safe travels back to Ohio for him and >his cohort in crime, Jeff. > > > Cool! If I didn't know any better, I'd think you were out in John's neck of the woods. Does it look like the 240D is molding or are my eyes going bad??? >We used two diesel pickups to load the diesel car so that was very >cool. I hope Jason has fun canibalizing that beast. > > An all diesel job! That's kinda sorta fitting. Does Jason have a diesel powered rattle gun to use? That would seem to be the perfect fit.... Jon ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 03 Jan 2006 13:35:17 -0500 From: "Jim Hoffman" Subject: Re: [db] Fun with diesels this morning > Cool! If I didn't know any better, I'd think you were out in John's > neck of the woods. Does it look like the 240D is molding or are my eyes > going bad??? Your eyes are NOT going bad! ;) It started molding about 8 months ago. I was going to e-mail John and ask if it wanted it (it would be fitting) but never got the chance. ;) Jim ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 03 Jan 2006 13:42:25 -0500 From: "J.B. Hebert" Subject: Re: [db] 1995 E300D Comments below: At 02:31 AM 1/2/2006, you wrote: >Ok, I've owned this W124 for about a month and have driven it almost >2000 miles. I have yet to find any strange quirks. My mechanic's >initial comments are still ringing in my ears..."It's the biggest >piece of junk they ever made!". I know he's wrong, but I have been >paying very close attention to the way this car runs... He doesn't know what he's talking about. Might want to find another mechanic. >I have a couple of questions for those in the know: > >1. Oil. The maintenance booklet shows this engine was fed Mobil 1 >(15W40) for much of it's life. The last oil change shows that >Castrol 15W40 was used. Would Mobil 1 Truck & SUV (5W40) be OK to >use? If so, when should it be changed. I'm thinking 5000 >miles. If that type of Mobil 1 is not acceptable, what >is? According to Mobil's website, their Truck & SUV is the >recommended oil for this model. At the worst, I'll stay with Delo >400. I've used it for years and think it's the best dino oil you >can put in a diesel. I run the Truck & SUV in mine with good results. I go 7500 miles between changes. I'm in the process of doing oil analysis with the idea of pushing it out further. >2. I've only run the A/C on three occasions since I got the >car. It blows cold once it gets going. The longest I had it >running was only 20 minutes. When it's idling, with the air on, I >do not see any water dripping below the car. I don't smell any >odors at the vents and hear no water sloshing in the heater box. Do >the newer A/C's drain as profusely as the old R12 systems? Does the >system need to be running for a longer period before any draining is >noticed? Am I thinking there is a problem when there isn't? Depends on humidity, as my car drips profusely on a humid day. If it's dry, there is less water in the air to condense. This said, my car did have plugged drain holes when I got it. My mechanic cleared them out when I had the windshield replaced (since the wiper assembly and the like had to be removed already, I had him replace the HVAC filters as well). >And, before you say it, this is Texas. I know it's winter, but >we're known for our wacked out weather. The first weekend in >December it hit 90. Yesterday it was pushing 80. We'll get some >bone chilling temps in the 30's soon enough... ;-) >[I think Jim Hoffman just spit his drink all over his keyboard... I >know you'd welcome some warm 30 degree weather up there in Wisconsin. >Come on down to Texas. I think Alec was out on his patio this >afternoon wearing shorts and sandals and drinking his neighbor's wine.] > >3. I had the hood up while the engine was running today and noticed >a slight "squeak" coming from around the serp belt. It looks fine, >but I have no experience with what is normal or not. It could be >noise from one of the accessories, but I didn't have time to check >it out. JB's caution about the vacuum pump popped to mind >though. I replaced the pump on my SD when it was not creating >enough vacuum. It wasn't making any noise, though. JB, what did >you notice before your vacuum pump went south? My pump appears to >be working ok, but that noise coming from the serp belt area has me >a little concerned. I had no warning whatsoever. When mine failed, I didn't know until I was braking for an off-ramp after 2 hours of highway driving. It could have gone at any point during this time. In your case it might be the idler pulley or any accessory. If your car has more than 150k miles on it (I'm going to do mine every 100k), change it. Mine went at 169k if I recall. >4. The monowiper is not parking all the way down. Has anyone >adjusted their's and how did you do it. I might have to break down >and buy the MB service manual (CD) for this car. I have the one for >my SD and am a bit disappointed in it. The Haynes manual for my >240D is marginally better and the Bentley manuals for my VW's are far superior. Can't help you here. Haven't had to adjust mine. Good luck! J.B. - -- No virus found in this outgoing message. Checked by AVG Anti-Virus. Version: 7.1.371 / Virus Database: 267.14.11/219 - Release Date: 1/2/2006 ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 3 Jan 2006 21:06:16 +0200 From: "Mike" Subject: [db] Automatic gearbox problems Hi and a happy new year to everybody ! Been on a 10 days 2200 km trip with my W201.126 (190 D 2.5) with automatic gearbox. Starting from day one of the trip the gearbox worked poorer and poorer : the 4th gear doesn't hold (when I accelerate - normally ! - the gear looses grip and the engine starts revving up). At high rpms the engine doesn't pull, and I cannot go past 110 kmph ( 60 mph ). In D, it doesn't change to the 4th gear without some nasty shocks. Also, the level of oil in the gearbox is constantly increasing (!). Last time I checked it was twice the distance between min and max above the maximum sign. I siphoned some out and saw that it has become (very) blackish, as if engine oil would leak into the gear box oil, which when new is dark red. Can this happen !? Any clues ? ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 03 Jan 2006 14:10:33 -0500 From: "J.B. Hebert" Subject: Re: [db] 1995 E300D I get a consistent half quart more oil out of my car through the dipstick vs. draining, and yes I am patient enough to let it stop dripping. Add to this the fact that the 124 was designed to be changed from above, and I'm sticking with that method. J.B. At 02:23 PM 1/2/2006, you wrote: >Paul commented: > >>Why do you want to take the belly pan off? You're 'posed to suck >>oil out from the top, and not let it drain from the bottom. > > >I knew I'd get caught! ;-) > >I've been using a Topsider to suck the oil out since I bought my >240D in '98. I used it with my 300SD until about two years ago when >I started getting lazy and let my mechanic do the honors. > >The biggest problem I've had is getting rid of the old oil. It got >to be a hassle having to put papers in the trunk, blocking in the >Topsider so it wouldn't slide around and dumping it at my local gas >station. Oil out of a gasser is no big problem, but used diesel oil >can make a big mess in a hurry! > >After several years of use, my Topsider tends to leak from the >pump. If I could find a good electric motor powered one, for a >reasonable price, I might go back to doing my own oil >changes. Until then, I'll go to Dennis' and let him do it. He >doesn't think sucking the oil out of the dipstick is a good idea and >really is not fond of the W124's, hence the question about the belly >pan. See my next message to John.... > >Thanks for the virtual dope slap... ;-) > >Jon >'95 E300D "Ernestine" >'84 300SD "Bruno" > > > > > >-- >No virus found in this incoming message. >Checked by AVG Anti-Virus. >Version: 7.1.371 / Virus Database: 267.14.11/219 - Release Date: 1/2/2006 - -- No virus found in this outgoing message. Checked by AVG Anti-Virus. Version: 7.1.371 / Virus Database: 267.14.11/219 - Release Date: 1/2/2006 ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 03 Jan 2006 13:49:35 -0600 From: Jon Filina Subject: Re: [db] 1995 E300D J.B. rushed to the keyboard and wrote: > My mechanic's initial comments are still ringing in my ears..."It's > the biggest piece of junk they ever made!". I know he's wrong, but I > have been paying very close attention to the way this car runs... > > He doesn't know what he's talking about. Might want to find another > mechanic. You'd have to know Dennis. He's only a year older than me (58), but he's old school. In his mind, any MB built after 1983 is of questionable quality. He makes an exception for the W126's, but only considers them good until the mid to late '80's. He hates the W201's , W124's and anything newer. He works on them, and has invested the money for the tools required, but he prefers the older ones. He does adapt, though. When I started going to him in '99, he told me that the Delo 400 oil I was using would ruin the 240D's engine. He said it was made for low revving big trucks and not the type of engine I was using. I'd been using it since the early '90's, with excellent service, so I knew he was wrong. After adjusting the valves the second time on my 240D and the 300SD, and seeing how clean the top end was, he admitted that maybe he was wrong and that Delo 400 was, in fact, a good oil. I had a discussion with him a few years ago concerning synthetic oils. His comment: "They cause leaks". Again, I knew he was wrong. If the engine was leaking oil, a synthetic may just make it worse. If it wasn't, no leaks were likely to start up. After he calmed down the first time he saw my E300D, I told him that I'd probably be using a synthetic oil in it. He agreed that that was probably a good idea. He's learning... Dennis is one of the few mechanics I've run across who "fixes" things. He won't throw parts in hoping to solve the problem. The few times he did throw parts at the problem, and they didn't solve it, he cut me a great deal on the final fix. Before he did, though, we discussed it and both of us agreed to give it a try. Most any other shop would have charged full price each step of the way. If this was my first encounter with him, yes, I'd be looking elsewhere. But, I've gotten to know him over the years and I feel completely comfortable having him work on my cars. He's also become a pretty good friend. He lost his dad about 6 month's before mine passed away. We helped each other over get over our losses. He's a good friend and a top knotch mechanic, but he sure is opinionated! >> 1. Oil. The maintenance booklet shows this engine was fed Mobil 1 >> (15W40) for much of it's life. The last oil change shows that >> Castrol 15W40 was used. Would Mobil 1 Truck & SUV (5W40) be OK to use? > > > I run the Truck & SUV in mine with good results. I go 7500 miles > between changes. I'm in the process of doing oil analysis with the > idea of pushing it out further. Now, that's what I hoped to hear! My research this last week or so has led me to the conclusion that Mobil 1, Truck & SUV, changed every 7500 miles, would be the way to go. Amsoil is a better oil, from what I can tell, but changing the Mobil 1 at 7500 miles pretty much negates the benefits of the more expensive brand. With a diesel, I would feel uncomfortable extending the oil changes much beyond 10K. I can get the Mobil 1 at Wally World and, with my daughter working there, get her discount on top of that. I knew I could count on you for the definitive answer! > 2. I've only run the A/C on three occasions since I got the car. It > blows cold once it gets going. The longest I had it running was only > 20 minutes. When it's idling, with the air on, I do not see any water > dripping below the car. > Depends on humidity, as my car drips profusely on a humid day. If > it's dry, there is less water in the air to condense. That's pretty much the conclusion I'd come to, also. John confirmed it, but what's he know about "no humidity"? ;-) >> [I think Jim Hoffman just spit his drink all over his keyboard... I >> know you'd welcome some warm 30 degree weather up there in Wisconsin. >> Come on down to Texas. I think Alec was out on his patio this >> afternoon wearing shorts and sandals and drinking his neighbor's wine.] >> >> 3. JB, what did you notice before your vacuum pump went south? My >> pump appears to be working ok, but that noise coming from the serp >> belt area has me a little concerned. > > > I had no warning whatsoever. When mine failed, I didn't know until I > was braking for an off-ramp after 2 hours of highway driving. It > could have gone at any point during this time. In your case it might > be the idler pulley or any accessory. If your car has more than 150k > miles on it (I'm going to do mine every 100k), change it. Mine went > at 169k if I recall. J.B., that's not the answer I wanted... ;-) I'll just have to keep an eye on it. I think it may have already been replaced. I'll pay attention to signs of decreased vacuum and noises from the pump. If either situation starts to happen, I'll replace it. > 4. The monowiper is not parking all the way down. Has anyone > adjusted their's and how did you do it. > Can't help you here. Haven't had to adjust mine. Good luck! No problem, you've been a big help. I appreciate your response. Take care, Jon '95 E300D "Ernestine" '84 300SD "Bruno" ------------------------------ End of diesel-benz-digest V1 #2065 **********************************