From owner-diesel-benz-digest-at-digest.net Mon Jul 24 23:07:19 2006 From: diesel-benz-digest diesel-benz-digest Tuesday, July 25 2006 Volume 01 : Number 2203 Forum for Discussion of Diesel Mercedes Benz Automobiles Derick Amburgey Digest Coordinator Contents: Re: [db] Oil dripping from under the dash [db] Need to get rid of Fritzy, our 1979 240D Re: [db] Need to get rid of Fritzy, our 1979 240D [db] Stupid purchase Re: [db] Need to get rid of Fritzy, our 1979 240D Re: [db] Stupid purchase Re: [db] Planned Obsolescence Re: [db] Planned Obsolescence Re: [db] Oil dripping from under the dash Re: [db] Stupid purchase Re: [db] Need to get rid of Fritzy, our 1979 240D Re: [db] Stupid purchase Re: [db] 300SD No Longer Gutless 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 Jul 2006 16:05:53 -0400 From: "J.B. Hebert" Subject: Re: [db] Oil dripping from under the dash Only way for oil to get into the cab is via the oil pressure gauge tubing. You'll want to check the fitting at the cluster to make sure it's tight. Sorry about the pants. J.B. At 03:33 PM 7/24/2006, you wrote: >The 83 300D just started dripping oil onto the drivers right leg. Not >good when wearing dress pants. Allen > > > > > >-- >No virus found in this incoming message. >Checked by AVG Anti-Virus. >Version: 7.1.394 / Virus Database: 268.10.4/396 - Release Date: 7/24/2006 - -- No virus found in this outgoing message. Checked by AVG Anti-Virus. Version: 7.1.394 / Virus Database: 268.10.4/396 - Release Date: 7/24/2006 ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 24 Jul 2006 16:07:50 -0500 From: "Richard F Dillon" Subject: [db] Need to get rid of Fritzy, our 1979 240D Folks, I have decided that it is not worth keeping this car any more, and before I call purple heart or someone else, I thought I'd make the offer to those who really appreciate the old Mercedes. This 240D will not start, I had it towed to a mechanic who told me that there wasn't enough compression to start the engine. I found that strange, as I started it ~18 months ago, drove it to get it inspected, then gave my older son the keys. He drove it ~ 4 miles the next day, and it died on him. I then had it towed to the house and there it has set for the last 18 months. The interior is nice, and as far as I know the transmission (automatic) is good, and there are a number of good parts on it useful to other 240D vehicles, and it goes to the first individual who will answer me and take it by the weekend. If I have no takers within 1 or 2 days, I will call some charity and give it to them, but I thought I'd make Fritzy available to you all first. Please reply to rfdillon-at-hal-pc.org, thanks so much, 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: Mon, 24 Jul 2006 14:20:33 -0700 From: "Roger Shoaf" Subject: Re: [db] Need to get rid of Fritzy, our 1979 240D Where are you located? - ----- Original Message ----- From: "Richard F Dillon" To: Sent: Monday, July 24, 2006 2:07 PM Subject: [db] Need to get rid of Fritzy, our 1979 240D > Folks, I have decided that it is not worth keeping this car any more, > and before I call purple heart or someone else, I thought I'd make the > offer to those who really appreciate the old Mercedes. > > This 240D will not start, I had it towed to a mechanic who told me > that there wasn't enough compression to start the engine. I found that > strange, as I started it ~18 months ago, drove it to get it inspected, > then gave my older son the keys. He drove it ~ 4 miles the next day, > and it died on him. I then had it towed to the house and there it has > set for the last 18 months. > > The interior is nice, and as far as I know the transmission > (automatic) is good, and there are a number of good parts on it useful > to other 240D vehicles, and it goes to the first individual who will > answer me and take it by the weekend. > If I have no takers within 1 or 2 days, I will call some charity and > give it to them, but I thought I'd make Fritzy available to you all > first. Please reply to rfdillon-at-hal-pc.org, thanks so much, 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: Mon, 24 Jul 2006 13:52:35 -0700 (PDT) From: Jerome Kaidor Subject: [db] Stupid purchase Hi guys, A little while ago, somebody gave me a $100 Sears gift certificate. I have never really understood the logic of gift certificates, but I guess it's a little more personal than a crisp portrait of Ben Franklin. OK, I could really use some clothes. My shoes are worn, I really need a new belt, and I'm running low on T-shirts. But did I get any of these useful and needed things? Nah, I made a beeline straight to the tool department. Scored a set of those combination wrenches with the built-in ratchets at the box ends, and two sets of ignition wrenches, standard & metric. The bill was $99.53. I said "Damn I'm good", and slapped down the card :). - Jerry Kaidor ( jerry-at-tr2.com ) ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 24 Jul 2006 16:25:14 -0700 From: chuck goolsbee Subject: Re: [db] Need to get rid of Fritzy, our 1979 240D >Folks, I have decided that it is not worth keeping this car any >more, and before I call purple heart or someone else, I thought I'd >make the offer to those who really appreciate the old Mercedes. >If I have no takers within 1 or 2 days, I will call some charity and >give it to them, but I thought I'd make Fritzy available to you all >first. I think it was very charitable of you to wait until John Meister was offline prior to offering it. Goodness knows he doesn't need *another* project! =) - -- - --chuck goolsbee 02 Jetta TDi & 06 Liberty CRD arlington, wa, usa ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 24 Jul 2006 16:54:36 -0700 From: Greg Fiorentino Subject: Re: [db] Stupid purchase Jerome Kaidor wrote: Hi guys, A little while ago, somebody gave me a $100 Sears gift certificate. I have never really understood the logic of gift certificates, but I guess it's a little more personal than a crisp portrait of Ben Franklin. OK, I could really use some clothes. My shoes are worn, I really need a new belt, and I'm running low on T-shirts. But did I get any of these useful and needed things? Nah, I made a beeline straight to the tool department. Scored a set of those combination wrenches with the built-in ratchets at the box ends, and two sets of ignition wrenches, standard & metric. The bill was $99.53. I said "Damn I'm good", and slapped down the card :). - Jerry Kaidor ( jerry-at-tr2.com ) I don't think that's such a stupid purchase. I have an old style set of ratcheting wrenches, actually 2, one metric one SAE. One of them, the 10 mm. no longer holds against the ratchet. It's not the best quality tool, but very handy, and I'll replace it free next trip to Sears. I just used a Craftsman breaker bar, made in USA Wright 1/2-3/8 adapter, and a 17 mm. Harbor Freight impact socket (3.99 for the set!) to loosen the wheel studs on the '79 TD. They had obviously been overtorqued. A 2 ft. cheater with me and my son leaning on it broke the adapter. The socket held up fine. I was near a home depot, so bought a Husky brand replacement for the adapter. It is guaranteed for life (made in China), but you have to phone them to get it replaced! (WHO would buy ANYTHING other than tools at Sears?) Greg Fiorentino Vancouver USA '85 300SD Turbo '84 300D Turbo '79 300TD '97 7.3L F250 HD 4WD Crew Cab No virus found in this outgoing message. Checked by AVG Free Edition. Version: 7.1.394 / Virus Database: 268.10.4/396 - Release Date: 7/24/2006 ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 24 Jul 2006 17:09:11 -0700 From: Kevin Subject: Re: [db] Planned Obsolescence On Sat, Jul 22, 2006 at 09:22:25AM -0700, Tom Harais wrote: > The aux fan seems to work appropriately. The fan clutch slips when cold > as it should but I've never been able to tell exactly if it is working > properly when at 105 as it should because I lack the experience to do so > and it isn't often I can get it up to 105 except on highway or freeway > grade. The literature says you will "hear" the fan moving large volumes > of air when it works properly. I've tried this and even shut the engine > off and tried to see if there was resistance in the clutch but was > unsure of my own observations. Right now, I'm leaning towards doing the > silicone fluid replacement on this original fan clutch but it's too darn > hot to pull it while it's sitting in the driveway. Any thoughts from > this group? There is also a setting that is supposed to turn on the aux fan dependent on A/C gas pressure (meaning the compressor is running). You will certainly hear the electric fan running when it is running - it's about as loud as a desk fan. I can hear the one in the wagon if the car comes down to idle. The switch on my sedan is broken. K ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 24 Jul 2006 17:13:23 -0700 From: Kevin Subject: Re: [db] Planned Obsolescence On Sat, Jul 22, 2006 at 09:01:27AM -0700, Tom Harais wrote: > Sadly, you only confirm what I've been hearing myself about MB > reliability on more recent models. A quick check of Consumer Reports > shows that most MBs at worse then average and much worse than average in > the repairs category. > > It's really disappointing! And the upkeep cost......especially if you > take it to a "stealer" makes it only feasible for those with more > dollars than sense. I envy those of you that have a reasonable, > indepdent shop nearby. I found one once, but it is over 200 miles from > my home. The nearest dealer to me is one of those "if you have to ask > the price, you don't belong here types". Although, when I've gone to > the parts department there, I;ve seen cars lined up 25 or 30 deep and 3 > wide at the entrance to thier service facility. But that's over in > Walnut Creek where a lot of corporate execs and future wannabes live. Walnut Creek? Yes, Stead is VERY proud of their work, and charges accordingly ($137.50 an hour, IIRC), *AND* they tend to mark up parts to somewhere between 2-3 times LIST. I work two blocks from stead, and really only go there for alignments. There's a good shop about 50 miles southwest that I have had a lot of success with for stuff I don't feel like dealing with (124 rear wheel bearings?), and supposedly a couple of indies in walnut creek, but I don't have any experience with either of them. > But, I do have to say in considering future auto purchases, I 'd sure > I'd be better off with something Japanese than an MB. Equal or better > quality, accouterments, ride and superior reliability. And that is > truly sad. Be careful. Japanese quality is going downhill now that they have the reputation for being good cars. Look for Japan to follow GM's shoes in the next several years, and for Korea to be the new Japan. K ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 24 Jul 2006 20:44:29 -0500 From: Sam Williams Subject: Re: [db] Oil dripping from under the dash J.B., Allen, The other way is if the diaphragm in the vacuum motor for the fuel shut off is broken and oil is being sucked into the system past the vacuum switch on the back of the 'ignition' switch. You need to fix it before you ruin more pants and the rest of the vacuum system. When you replace the diaphragm, flush out the lines. You may need to clean residual oil from under the switch, too. Sam > Only way for oil to get into the cab is via the oil pressure gauge > tubing. You'll want to check the fitting at the cluster to make sure > it's tight. > > Sorry about the pants. > > J.B. > > At 03:33 PM 7/24/2006, you wrote: > >> The 83 300D just started dripping oil onto the drivers right leg. Not >> good when wearing dress pants. Allen >> >> >> >> >> >> -- >> No virus found in this incoming message. >> Checked by AVG Anti-Virus. >> Version: 7.1.394 / Virus Database: 268.10.4/396 - Release Date: >> 7/24/2006 ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 24 Jul 2006 23:07:20 -0400 From: Marc Z Subject: Re: [db] Stupid purchase My kind of purchases! On the gift cards, some, probably all by now, companies begin to deduct from the balance of the card after 1 year. Marc Z. Jerome Kaidor wrote: > Hi guys, > > A little while ago, somebody gave me a $100 Sears gift certificate. I > have never really understood the logic of gift certificates, but I guess it's > a little more personal than a crisp portrait of Ben Franklin. > > OK, I could really use some clothes. My shoes are worn, I really need a > new belt, and I'm running low on T-shirts. But did I get any of these useful > and needed things? Nah, I made a beeline straight to the tool department. > Scored a set of those combination wrenches with the built-in ratchets at > the box ends, and two sets of ignition wrenches, standard & metric. The > bill was $99.53. I said "Damn I'm good", and slapped down the card :). > > - Jerry Kaidor ( jerry-at-tr2.com ) ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 24 Jul 2006 23:00:57 -0700 (PDT) From: john Subject: Re: [db] Need to get rid of Fritzy, our 1979 240D I was waiting to hear where it was... :) Wading through 254 spams since last night... :) john On Mon, 24 Jul 2006, chuck goolsbee wrote: > -->> Folks, I have decided that it is not worth keeping this car any more, > -->> and before I call purple heart or someone else, I thought I'd make the > -->> offer to those who really appreciate the old Mercedes. > --> > -->> If I have no takers within 1 or 2 days, I will call some charity and > -->> give it to them, but I thought I'd make Fritzy available to you all > -->> first. > --> > -->I think it was very charitable of you to wait until John Meister was offline > -->prior to offering it. Goodness knows he doesn't need *another* project! =) > --> > -->-- > -->--chuck goolsbee > -->02 Jetta TDi & 06 Liberty CRD > -->arlington, wa, usa > --> > --> ---- - ------------------------------------------------------------------------- ** 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, 24 Jul 2006 23:04:10 -0700 (PDT) From: john Subject: Re: [db] Stupid purchase agreed... I have a set of those things too... from sears... good move. :) john On Mon, 24 Jul 2006, Greg Fiorentino wrote: >--> Jerome Kaidor wrote: >--> >--> Hi guys, >--> >--> A little while ago, somebody gave me a $100 Sears gift certificate. I >--> have never really understood the logic of gift certificates, but I guess it's >--> a little more personal than a crisp portrait of Ben Franklin. >--> >--> OK, I could really use some clothes. My shoes are worn, I really need a >--> new belt, and I'm running low on T-shirts. But did I get any of these useful >--> and needed things? Nah, I made a beeline straight to the tool department. >--> Scored a set of those combination wrenches with the built-in ratchets at >--> the box ends, and two sets of ignition wrenches, standard & metric. The >--> bill was $99.53. I said "Damn I'm good", and slapped down the card :). >--> >--> - Jerry Kaidor ( jerry-at-tr2.com ) >--> >-->I don't think that's such a stupid purchase. I have an old style set of >-->ratcheting wrenches, actually 2, one metric one SAE. One of them, the 10 >-->mm. no longer holds against the ratchet. It's not the best quality tool, >-->but very handy, and I'll replace it free next trip to Sears. >--> >-->I just used a Craftsman breaker bar, made in USA Wright 1/2-3/8 adapter, >-->and a 17 mm. Harbor Freight impact socket (3.99 for the set!) to loosen >-->the wheel studs on the '79 TD. They had obviously been overtorqued. A 2 >-->ft. cheater with me and my son leaning on it broke the adapter. The >-->socket held up fine. I was near a home depot, so bought a Husky brand >-->replacement for the adapter. It is guaranteed for life (made in China), >-->but you have to phone them to get it replaced! >--> >-->(WHO would buy ANYTHING other than tools at Sears?) >--> >-->Greg Fiorentino >-->Vancouver USA >-->'85 300SD Turbo >-->'84 300D Turbo >-->'79 300TD >-->'97 7.3L F250 HD 4WD Crew Cab >-->No virus found in this outgoing message. >-->Checked by AVG Free Edition. >-->Version: 7.1.394 / Virus Database: 268.10.4/396 - Release Date: 7/24/2006 >--> ---- - ------------------------------------------------------------------------- ** 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, 24 Jul 2006 23:07:04 -0700 (PDT) From: john Subject: Re: [db] 300SD No Longer Gutless the $399 special in January cost me $800 because they did the inside of the cab and wheelwells... don't feel so bad knowing you spent $2k. :) On Mon, 24 Jul 2006, Jerry Kaidor wrote: >-->> Jerry Kaidor wrote: >-->> >-->>>Maybe I can get a cheap(er) paint job out there in the Valley. >-->>> >-->>> >-->> Jerry: >-->> >-->> Let me know if you find anything. I've got two cars I'd like to get >-->> painted. I just can't beleive what decent paint jobs cost these days. >-->> >-->> One of those cars I'm willing to go cheap with a Miracle or Earl >-->> Schieb. But, even then I have my doubts that I'm going to get it for >-->> the advertised $700 or so price. I'm sure there is a catch. >--> >--> >-->*** We had my wife's jaguar XJ6 painted at MAACO. Cost us $2K. At >-->that price point you get good paint products, but it's a "tape and mask" job. >--> >--> Common wisdom is that you can get a decent paint job out of such places >-->if you do your own prep. That is, you remove all the chrome yourself, >-->have the car towed to the paint shop, then towed home. >--> >--> Another alternative that was offered to us was to have a local >-->body shop take off all the chrome. Then the body shop would tow it to >-->Miracle, have them spray it, and then tow it back and put it together. >-->I think that was about $4000 out the door. >--> >-->> >-->> The MB I'm willing to spend much more on. But, I'd like orginial Wurth >-->> paint and attention to detail. Freinds who've had such jobs are quoting >-->> mentioning $5,000 to $7,000 numbers. Sheesh! >-->*** Wow. $7000 is what I would expect to pay to have my _airplane_ painted, >-->with complete removal of the old paint. Needless to say, it's more >-->then the cars are worth. >--> >--> - Jerry Kaidor ( jerry-at-tr2.com ) >--> >--> >--> >-->> >-->> Tom H., '87 300 SDL >-->> SF Bay Area (about 45 minutes west of Stockton) >--> ---- - ------------------------------------------------------------------------- ** 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 #2203 **********************************