Re: [MBZ] 124 evaporator R&R [was: 124 cooling (A/C) system]
> The reason for the location of the heater box is the same as it was > in the W115 (changing the fan in that one would kill ya!) > I did that job twice - once the right way, took two full days, and once through what the surgeons are now calling "a natural orifice" - through the dash speaker hole. That one only took one full day. Then I vowed not to get another 115. The 124 evaporator job looks like there's a LOT more stuff to remove/disconnect than there was in the 115. I now have 124's, so I guess the job is inevitable at some time in the future --- > With the box dead center in the car, you get perfect air distribution > with an absolute minimum of ductwork. It's also cheaper to install, > and as I said, getting it out is only fiddlesome, not really hard > work. It's quite rare in most cars to EVER replace an evaporator, > and heater cores last quite a long time if you use good coolant and > change it regularly as you are supposed to. > > At least the blower motor isn't too bad. > -- OK Don, KD5NRO Norman, OK "There are three kinds of lies: lies, damn lies, and statistics." -Benjamin Disraeli and/or Mark Twain '90 300D (Rattled), '92 300D (Saber), ' '81 240D (Gramps), '97 Ply Grand Voyager (Vincent van-go) ___ http://www.okiebenz.com For new parts see official list sponsor: http://www.buymbparts.com/ For used parts email [EMAIL PROTECTED] To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: http://okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com
Re: [MBZ] 124 evaporator R&R [was: 124 cooling (A/C) system]
The reason for the location of the heater box is the same as it was in the W115 (changing the fan in that one would kill ya!) With the box dead center in the car, you get perfect air distribution with an absolute minimum of ductwork. It's also cheaper to install, and as I said, getting it out is only fiddlesome, not really hard work. It's quite rare in most cars to EVER replace an evaporator, and heater cores last quite a long time if you use good coolant and change it regularly as you are supposed to. At least the blower motor isn't too bad. Peter ___ http://www.okiebenz.com For new parts see official list sponsor: http://www.buymbparts.com/ For used parts email [EMAIL PROTECTED] To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: http://okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com
Re: [MBZ] 124 evaporator R&R [was: 124 cooling (A/C) system]
Not 6 hours. You can cut it down to 10 or so, I tihnk, with practice, but if you want everything put back properly, it takes a while. My mechanic buddy still takes two working days, but he's semi- retired. Peter ___ http://www.okiebenz.com For new parts see official list sponsor: http://www.buymbparts.com/ For used parts email [EMAIL PROTECTED] To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: http://okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com
Re: [MBZ] 124 evaporator R&R [was: 124 cooling (A/C) system]
R A Bennell wrote: > I truly believe that anyone who can come up with a complicated mess like that > can find a way to do it better. Certainly, but the engineers were given design requirements that weren't 100% in their control. Ie, it has to fit under this dashboard, and you can't cut any holes in the firewall (safety and sound problems?). There are compromises in every design decision in that car, and putting the evaporator in the middle of the dash is a result of that. Besides, SOMETHING is going to be buried deep in the dash, what else would you rather put there? Personally, the fact that you can remove all that stuff and put it back together in 10 hours (if you're an experienced mechanic) shows that a lot of good engineering went into putting all those parts together. John ___ http://www.okiebenz.com For new parts see official list sponsor: http://www.buymbparts.com/ For used parts email [EMAIL PROTECTED] To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: http://okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com
Re: [MBZ] 124 evaporator R&R [was: 124 cooling (A/C) system]
Cars are built for assembly, not repair. Benzes are a bit of an exception, but even there you have some horrendous jobs that really make you wonder. The antenna on my wife's Suburban broke off at the stud of the fitting on the end of the antenna cable, where the antenna attaches, by the fender. I order a new one, which comes with a cable, but the old antenna does not fit the stud (the studs kept breaking, so they made the stud bigger, duh.), which only the dealer has for $30 (v. the ones you buy at the auto parts for like $5). I ask about how to get the cable to the radio. That was like a $700 job, the whole dash had to come out to get at where the cable went through the firewall right by the antenna stud, thence to the radio back along the inside of the firewall behind the dash, somewhere, and into the radio which is stuffed up in the top somewhere above the center console so you can't reach up to the back of it . No way possible to get it to the radio without doing all that. How f'n stupid is that for a part you know is going to break, or a really simple antenna cable? I spliced the cable together but it does not work well. --R John Robbins wrote: > R A Bennell wrote: > >> That is truly ridiculous. The engineers who design these things should be >> sent into the field to perform repairs on >> some of their designs. It might result in better design. Unfortunately, MB >> is not alone. I have done a Taurus >> heater core that required almost that level of dismantling and I understand >> the F150 trucks that I currently have >> are no fun to do either. There should be a little door that requires the >> removal of 4 screws and the offending part >> should slide on out. >> > > If there was a way to do that don't you think they would have done it > that way? What is your plan to put all that together and only need an > access panel? > > > > ___ > http://www.okiebenz.com > For new parts see official list sponsor: http://www.buymbparts.com/ > For used parts email [EMAIL PROTECTED] > > To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: > http://okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com > > > ___ http://www.okiebenz.com For new parts see official list sponsor: http://www.buymbparts.com/ For used parts email [EMAIL PROTECTED] To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: http://okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com
Re: [MBZ] 124 evaporator R&R [was: 124 cooling (A/C) system]
I truly believe that anyone who can come up with a complicated mess like that can find a way to do it better. There should be some means of providing a panel on the firewall under the hood. Alternatively, move the thing forward into the console at the base of the dash. Minds that can build space ships and super sonic aircraft and nuclear submarines and . . . and . . . (surely I need not go on ) should be capable of making mechanical things repairable in the field. Too often this garbage is driven solely by money. If it is good enough to survive the warranty period in most cases, then that is all the builder cares about. That is just not good enough - especially as we move towards a world where we are expected to re-cycle. Folks used to do that - they repaired things or they got things repaired. Today it is getting to the point where a whole lot of things cannot be repaired and one of the deterrents to repair is the cost of labor. If things were designed to ease repair, then there would be less obsolescence and things would last longer and we wouldn't need to worry about what happens when we put it out with the trash. Randy -Original Message- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Behalf Of John Robbins Sent: Thursday, May 08, 2008 3:44 PM To: Mercedes Discussion List Subject: Re: [MBZ] 124 evaporator R&R [was: 124 cooling (A/C) system] R A Bennell wrote: > That is truly ridiculous. The engineers who design these things should be > sent into the field to perform repairs on > some of their designs. It might result in better design. Unfortunately, MB > is not alone. I have done a Taurus > heater core that required almost that level of dismantling and I understand > the F150 trucks that I currently have > are no fun to do either. There should be a little door that requires the > removal of 4 screws and the offending part > should slide on out. If there was a way to do that don't you think they would have done it that way? What is your plan to put all that together and only need an access panel? ___ http://www.okiebenz.com For new parts see official list sponsor: http://www.buymbparts.com/ For used parts email [EMAIL PROTECTED] To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: http://okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com ___ http://www.okiebenz.com For new parts see official list sponsor: http://www.buymbparts.com/ For used parts email [EMAIL PROTECTED] To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: http://okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com
Re: [MBZ] 124 evaporator R&R [was: 124 cooling (A/C) system]
R A Bennell wrote: > That is truly ridiculous. The engineers who design these things should be > sent into the field to perform repairs on > some of their designs. It might result in better design. Unfortunately, MB > is not alone. I have done a Taurus > heater core that required almost that level of dismantling and I understand > the F150 trucks that I currently have > are no fun to do either. There should be a little door that requires the > removal of 4 screws and the offending part > should slide on out. If there was a way to do that don't you think they would have done it that way? What is your plan to put all that together and only need an access panel? ___ http://www.okiebenz.com For new parts see official list sponsor: http://www.buymbparts.com/ For used parts email [EMAIL PROTECTED] To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: http://okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com
Re: [MBZ] 124 evaporator R&R [was: 124 cooling (A/C) system]
That is truly ridiculous. The engineers who design these things should be sent into the field to perform repairs on some of their designs. It might result in better design. Unfortunately, MB is not alone. I have done a Taurus heater core that required almost that level of dismantling and I understand the F150 trucks that I currently have are no fun to do either. There should be a little door that requires the removal of 4 screws and the offending part should slide on out. Randy -Original Message- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Behalf Of Alex Chamberlain Sent: Thursday, May 08, 2008 10:00 AM To: Mercedes Discussion List Subject: [MBZ] 124 evaporator R&R [was: 124 cooling (A/C) system] On Wed, May 7, 2008 at 3:51 PM, Wilton Strickland <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > 'Don't know if I can stand the "trauma" of knowing that somebody else has > done/is doing this to my car. I may have to do it myself - 'just need to be > patient. >http://okiebenz.com/pipermail/mercedes_okiebenz.com/attachments/20080507/83513e22/attachment.jpg > Holy dashboard disembowelment, Batman! Looks like a bear was trying to find something to eat in there. Nevertheless, I can believe the claims I've heard that it's not a difficult job, just one that requires patience and the discipline to label and/or take pictures of everything so you can keep track of how it goes back together. Supposed to take a weekend the first time you do it, or 6 hrs if you're Dave Meimann. Alex Chamberlain '87 300D Turbo, '86 300E, et al. ___ http://www.okiebenz.com For new parts see official list sponsor: http://www.buymbparts.com/ For used parts email [EMAIL PROTECTED] To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: http://okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com ___ http://www.okiebenz.com For new parts see official list sponsor: http://www.buymbparts.com/ For used parts email [EMAIL PROTECTED] To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: http://okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com
Re: [MBZ] 124 evaporator R&R [was: 124 cooling (A/C) system]
Even a very good pro who does about one a week has told me it takes HIM 8-10 hours. Of course he charges for 18 book hours... If I use the common acceptable pro-to-me fudge factor, I'd have to plan on about 40 hours of labor, not including beer drinking and head scratching. Gary Thompson 1995 E320 On 5/8/08, Alex Chamberlain <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > Holy dashboard disembowelment, Batman! Looks like a bear was trying > to find something to eat in there. > > Nevertheless, I can believe the claims I've heard that it's not a > difficult job, just one that requires patience and the discipline to > label and/or take pictures of everything so you can keep track of how > it goes back together. Supposed to take a weekend the first time you > do it, or 6 hrs if you're Dave Meimann. > > Alex Chamberlain > '87 300D Turbo, '86 300E, et al. ___ http://www.okiebenz.com For new parts see official list sponsor: http://www.buymbparts.com/ For used parts email [EMAIL PROTECTED] To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: http://okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com
[MBZ] 124 evaporator R&R [was: 124 cooling (A/C) system]
On Wed, May 7, 2008 at 3:51 PM, Wilton Strickland <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > 'Don't know if I can stand the "trauma" of knowing that somebody else has > done/is doing this to my car. I may have to do it myself - 'just need to be > patient. >http://okiebenz.com/pipermail/mercedes_okiebenz.com/attachments/20080507/83513e22/attachment.jpg > Holy dashboard disembowelment, Batman! Looks like a bear was trying to find something to eat in there. Nevertheless, I can believe the claims I've heard that it's not a difficult job, just one that requires patience and the discipline to label and/or take pictures of everything so you can keep track of how it goes back together. Supposed to take a weekend the first time you do it, or 6 hrs if you're Dave Meimann. Alex Chamberlain '87 300D Turbo, '86 300E, et al. ___ http://www.okiebenz.com For new parts see official list sponsor: http://www.buymbparts.com/ For used parts email [EMAIL PROTECTED] To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: http://okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com
