Re: [MBZ] OT: Deadliest cars for drivers
In spite of the conventional wisdom, it is entirely possible to be too thin, and many fad diets are lacking in nutrients. Humans have been omnivores for millions of years, vegan diets are very likely to be lacking in things like vitamin B12, which is only found in a couple plant sources (that most people don't eat). If you do a bit of digging, you will find that the Body Mass Index is quite misleading in terms of health -- the group of people sorted by body mass index that have the highest mortality and morbidity are the ones in the normal range, the healthiest (lowest morbidity and mortality rates) and in the overweight group. A much better measurement is body fat percentage, but even then the sickest people are in the lowest weight class, I suspect because they are underweight due to pre-existing illness, not because being thin makes you sick. Humans in evolutionary terms did not have constant food supplies as we do today, we evolved in a feast or famine situation, which is why many populations in marginal environments for people tend to gain huge amounts of weight on a steady high calorie diet -- the ability to store excess calories efficiently let them survive long periods of inadequate food supply, while those who didn't store up every available calorie died of starvation when the food supply got skimpy. You don't want to be carrying so much excess weight you wreck your knees and can't breath sitting down, but a few extra pounds won't hurt you. Peter ___ http://www.okiebenz.com To search list archives http://www.okiebenz.com/archive/ To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: http://mail.okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com All posts are the result of individual contributors and as such, those individuals are responsible for the content of the post. The list owner has no control over the content of the messages of each contributor.
Re: [MBZ] W140 - 1999 S320 Opinions
Only problem is leaking front seals so far as I know, and the fix requires a head gasket, unlike the M103. Haven't heard of any other issues not related to unreliable computers. A bigger job to change a heater core than a W124 though, my brother is most of the way through doing that right now. Peter ___ http://www.okiebenz.com To search list archives http://www.okiebenz.com/archive/ To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: http://mail.okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com All posts are the result of individual contributors and as such, those individuals are responsible for the content of the post. The list owner has no control over the content of the messages of each contributor.
Re: [MBZ] Fat and Diet. was: Deadliest cars for drivers
Using bones for soup stock (or anything else you use stock in) is as old as cooking. Best to roast the bones to get rid of some of the fat an brown them a bit for more flavor, then simmer overnight (12 hours or longer, no boiling, simmering) to dissolve all the collagen. Very rich tasty broth, I save all my bones from chicken, pork, and beef and when I have a pot full make stock. Soup if you want, but I use stock in stew, braised dishes, and so forth. Waste not want not, and in this case, why throw out all that flavor? Peter ___ http://www.okiebenz.com To search list archives http://www.okiebenz.com/archive/ To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: http://mail.okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com All posts are the result of individual contributors and as such, those individuals are responsible for the content of the post. The list owner has no control over the content of the messages of each contributor.
Re: [MBZ] ML
If it has stability control, be careful to stay below speeds were it actuates (it doesn't necessarily announce that), otherwise you can experience very short brake and tire life and excessive fuel consumption. My buddy Hans has had a couple go through the shop with those complaints, turns out the driver just stuffs his foot down and lets the car slow down for curves Peter ___ http://www.okiebenz.com To search list archives http://www.okiebenz.com/archive/ To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: http://mail.okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com All posts are the result of individual contributors and as such, those individuals are responsible for the content of the post. The list owner has no control over the content of the messages of each contributor.
Re: [MBZ] ML
Hard acceleration in turns seems to be the sort of thing that does the most harm. I'm a poky driver these days, so I'd not have much trouble I don't think, but with all that torque it may be an issue! Peter ___ http://www.okiebenz.com To search list archives http://www.okiebenz.com/archive/ To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: http://mail.okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com All posts are the result of individual contributors and as such, those individuals are responsible for the content of the post. The list owner has no control over the content of the messages of each contributor.
Re: [MBZ] OT Global warming (aka climate change), linked to frigid winter
It was actually above freezing today! One more blast of cold air and low temps below 10F and I think winter is done. I'm ready for spring. Peter ___ http://www.okiebenz.com To search list archives http://www.okiebenz.com/archive/ To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: http://mail.okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com All posts are the result of individual contributors and as such, those individuals are responsible for the content of the post. The list owner has no control over the content of the messages of each contributor.
Re: [MBZ] Fat and Diet. was: Deadliest cars for drivers
Lack of B12 is very serious -- in some cases, called pernicious anemia the body stops making the cofactor necessary for transport out of the small intestine into the blood stream. The result is severe anemia. This can result in permanent nerve damage, mental impairment, muscle weakness. Not good at all, a friend suffers from this and is only doing OK after six or seven years of injected B12. Peter ___ http://www.okiebenz.com To search list archives http://www.okiebenz.com/archive/ To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: http://mail.okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com All posts are the result of individual contributors and as such, those individuals are responsible for the content of the post. The list owner has no control over the content of the messages of each contributor.
Re: [MBZ] Fwd: Overheating 240D more info
I offered to give my old 220D with the pull switch start to several people if they could start it. It was a real hoot to watch them try to find the glow plug lamp (if they knew anything about diesels) and the expression on their face when there was no start position on the keyswitch. Too bad it was so rusty there was no point in fixing the engine. Peter ___ http://www.okiebenz.com To search list archives http://www.okiebenz.com/archive/ To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: http://mail.okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com All posts are the result of individual contributors and as such, those individuals are responsible for the content of the post. The list owner has no control over the content of the messages of each contributor.
Re: [MBZ] One for Wilt
I think the one hanging (!) in the Air Force Museum in Dayton, OH is wrinkled because it's bent. I assume it was well stripped before installation, but the skin has diagonal wrinkles in the front half. Looks as though it made a very hard landing one too many times. I don't remember which version it is, and it's been at least 15 years since I saw it. The B-36 has lots of wrinkles too, but I figure that is from the amazing amount of vibration those R4360 pushers produced while it was flying. Peter ___ http://www.okiebenz.com To search list archives http://www.okiebenz.com/archive/ To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: http://mail.okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com All posts are the result of individual contributors and as such, those individuals are responsible for the content of the post. The list owner has no control over the content of the messages of each contributor.
Re: [MBZ] 124 HVAC blower motor diagnosis
It's under the blower motor in the fan housing, kinda a pain to get out (you have to hold your left hand in the right position as you fish around with your right, etc). Usually dirty, too. Peter ___ http://www.okiebenz.com To search list archives http://www.okiebenz.com/archive/ To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: http://mail.okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com All posts are the result of individual contributors and as such, those individuals are responsible for the content of the post. The list owner has no control over the content of the messages of each contributor.
Re: [MBZ] 124 HVAC blower motor diagnosis
You can get replacement electronics. Chinese, so who knows how long they will last, but the cheap replacement I put in the wagon works fine with the new blower.\ You cannot replace the controller with a resistor, it's a duty cycle controller, controls fan speed by switching the ground in and out. Blower will probably burn up if you use a resistor instead, it's meant to run full power or none, not by controlling current to the blower. Peter ___ http://www.okiebenz.com To search list archives http://www.okiebenz.com/archive/ To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: http://mail.okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com All posts are the result of individual contributors and as such, those individuals are responsible for the content of the post. The list owner has no control over the content of the messages of each contributor.
Re: [MBZ] Overheating 240D more info
Faulty temperature gauge won't make it pressurize and spill coolant! Peter ___ http://www.okiebenz.com To search list archives http://www.okiebenz.com/archive/ To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: http://mail.okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com All posts are the result of individual contributors and as such, those individuals are responsible for the content of the post. The list owner has no control over the content of the messages of each contributor.
Re: [MBZ] OT: US oil train safety report from The Associated Press
And you also have to maintain and repair your pipeline. Most of the resistance to the Keystone XL comes from the history (rather bad, actually) of the owners. They are notorious for large leaks and poor maintenance along with slow and inadequate response to problems in their existing lines, and I think are responsible for the failure due to poor maintenance of the last two very large spills from pipelines. Even with that pipelines are better than derailing trains with exploding tanker cars. It appears that the new design is just as prone to failure as the old inadequate one when you start tossing them around. Tar sands crude requires significant thinning with volatile solvents to move in any way, it is much MORE viscous when extracted than road tar. This makes it worse than ordinary crude. Peter ___ http://www.okiebenz.com To search list archives http://www.okiebenz.com/archive/ To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: http://mail.okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com All posts are the result of individual contributors and as such, those individuals are responsible for the content of the post. The list owner has no control over the content of the messages of each contributor.
Re: [MBZ] OT Global warming (aka climate change), linked to frigid winter
R-12 was banned due to the destruction of the ozone layer, which is in much better shape now that it was 20 years ago. No recent stories of pigs in Australia with skin cancers on their ears. There was no global cooling, and as far as I remember, no one I was around in those days paid any attention to the notion. Peter ___ http://www.okiebenz.com To search list archives http://www.okiebenz.com/archive/ To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: http://mail.okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com All posts are the result of individual contributors and as such, those individuals are responsible for the content of the post. The list owner has no control over the content of the messages of each contributor.
Re: [MBZ] OT Global warming (aka climate change), linked to frigid winter
Craig: I also have a PhD, I'm not an ignorant yahoo from under a rock. Over the four decades I've been paying attention to this subject, I've had the opportunity to work with people directly involved in the discussion at several universities and Forestry Canada, where I did a Post-Doc. I have not heard serious debate about either the fact nor the consequences of global warming for a very long time from climatologists or ecologists. I have heard considerable discussion of magnitude of effects and timing and self-correcting mechanisms, but amongst the academics outside the fossil fuel industry, global climate change to a much warmer planet and wilder weather is a done deal, and has been for a couple decades. The only debate comes from outside academic research facilities, primarily from organizations funded by the fossil fuel industry. Climate change is indeed cyclical, but there is a significant difference between this warming cycle and the last one, specifically that the CO2 content of the atmosphere is very much higher than it has been as far back as the ice data from Greenland and Antarctica goes. I have heard some speculation that the CO2 level in the atmosphere has not been this high since the last massive species die-off, although I suspect that would be somewhat hard to clearly demonstrate. The last time we had very warm and dry conditions in the US, the tall grass grasslands (think Kansas) extended into eastern Ohio. Most of what is now short grass grasslands was desert, and the desert areas in the southwest were as dry as the Sahara. What would it be like with even more heat? Beware material produced by people with a PAID agenda. University scientists are, by and large, independent. People who work for foundations funded by sources wishing to perpetuate a highly profitable business are highly suspect. A PhD does not make one immune to corruption, as the sludge produced by any number of think tanks demonstrates quite nicely. I don't know if you are old enough to have grown up in the 60's, or missed that decade of insanity, but I personally learned to sift through the propaganda generated by organizations dedicated to enriching themselves at other people's expense and to verify data and conclusions from a rational rather than emotional viewpoint. Saves endless trouble. In this day and age when everything is reversed you make me laugh when you accuse university scientist of faking data to get grants by quoting people being paid by the Koch brothers to muddy the water. Mirrors everywhere, and more than enough smoke being blown. Even published scientific papers have to be evaluated carefully, particularly when they are not based on precise data (and no climate data is precise, climate is a chaotic system). One must always consider the source, the source of funding, and the known or possible agenda of anything that smacks of politics or social behavior, they cannot be neatly quantified in the way physical measurements are. Peter ___ http://www.okiebenz.com To search list archives http://www.okiebenz.com/archive/ To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: http://mail.okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com All posts are the result of individual contributors and as such, those individuals are responsible for the content of the post. The list owner has no control over the content of the messages of each contributor.
Re: [MBZ] Klunking in the Rear
W123 or W124? W124 the axles bolt to a cup on the side of the diff, you don't have to open it up. Hexhead bolts, though. Not a bad job except that the exhaust has to be dropped on the driver's side to get the half shaft out. Just changed one on my brother's 300E a couple weeks ago. Peter ___ http://www.okiebenz.com To search list archives http://www.okiebenz.com/archive/ To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: http://mail.okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com All posts are the result of individual contributors and as such, those individuals are responsible for the content of the post. The list owner has no control over the content of the messages of each contributor.
Re: [MBZ] OT Global warming (aka climate change), linked to frigid winter
There has been indeed a great deal of money spent and fake data generated in the climate debate, but it's all from the fossil fuel industry aimed at convincing the general public that climate change is a hoax. None of the anti climate change people are climatologists, and the vast majority of them do not have any real qualifications in science. They do produce very high quality deliverables for their clients -- Mobil, the Koch Brothers, and the coal industry. Very expensive deliverables, too -- couple billion dollars worth. Of the 19,464 peer reviewed scientific articles concerning climate change published since about 1975, about 26 do not support rapidly accelerating human caused climate change. Lean some science, do some real science reading, and turn off Fox news. Peter ___ http://www.okiebenz.com To search list archives http://www.okiebenz.com/archive/ To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: http://mail.okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com All posts are the result of individual contributors and as such, those individuals are responsible for the content of the post. The list owner has no control over the content of the messages of each contributor.
Re: [MBZ] Klunking in the Rear
The outer joint on a half shaft is bad. Replace with a good used one or new -- new is expensive. rebuilt is usually junk. Peter ___ http://www.okiebenz.com To search list archives http://www.okiebenz.com/archive/ To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: http://mail.okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com All posts are the result of individual contributors and as such, those individuals are responsible for the content of the post. The list owner has no control over the content of the messages of each contributor.
Re: [MBZ] Overheating 240D more info
If the flap on the bottom of the thermostat isn't correct, it won't work properly and will cause overheating if it doesn't close off the short circuit around the block it is supposed to seal off. This is designed to heat the engine up more quickly, and in spite of the very simple design, I'm always amazed at how many variations there are from the factory spec. After all, to make one you would only need measure a factory thermostat and make sure the diameter of the flap is the same and the locations hot and cold match. I've had this issue many times (radiator caps are also a problem, many don't seal well and often are rated for 14 psi rather than 20) My parts supplier only uses Behr or Whaler thermostats if he cannot get genuine Mercedes, and even then occasionally you get a bad one. Behr and Whaler are OEM suppliers, so they always fit, have the correct bleed valves in the proper places, etc. Other sources are usually correct only in the diameter of the main housing, quite often that is the only thing identical. Peter ___ http://www.okiebenz.com To search list archives http://www.okiebenz.com/archive/ To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: http://mail.okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com All posts are the result of individual contributors and as such, those individuals are responsible for the content of the post. The list owner has no control over the content of the messages of each contributor.
Re: [MBZ] 124 Steering Wheels
If you are looking for very sharp knives that hold an edge well, you should be looking at Japanese knives, or the copies now made by Henkels and Wustoff. You will have to use waterstones to sharpen them though, a knife steel isn't a good choice for touching them up -- they are usually harder than the steel. Tojiro DP or Fujiwara FKM knives are about the least expensive, and are great values. Peter ___ http://www.okiebenz.com To search list archives http://www.okiebenz.com/archive/ To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: http://mail.okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com All posts are the result of individual contributors and as such, those individuals are responsible for the content of the post. The list owner has no control over the content of the messages of each contributor.
Re: [MBZ] 124 Steering Wheels
To reply to my own post, Shuns are not a great value in that you can easily get a better knife for less money, not that there is something wrong with them. They do have a reputation for being chippy, partially because they are quite brittle at least until the steel at the edge is removed by sharpening a couple times and because all Rockwell C 62 and harder knives are significantly more brittle than the usual run of stainless steel or carbon steel knives, which are usually around RC 56. Use great care with them not to rock chop while walking the blade, if you twist it in contact with a cutting board they are VERY likely to chip out along the edge. This is true of most Japanese knives. You may need to pay attention to your knife handling for a bit to adapt -- they are better at push cutting than rocking, and have a flatter profile, too. As far as ceramic knives go, they will stay sharp for a long time, but are brittle and can shatter if you drop them on hard flooring, and home sharpening isn't really possible, in general wet diamond power tools are necessary to avoid crumbling the edge. I know people who love them and people who won't have them in the house, suit yourself. Chicago Cutlery with the style numbers stamped in the handles are US made, probably 440 Stainless if not carbon steel, and pretty decent knives. I have been having to sharpen them more than I would like, but that may be due to their condition when I got them used -- the edge was beaten pretty flat. Might hold an edge better with the battered steel ground off after a few more times on the stones. Another knife to keep an eye out for is Forgecraft, long out of manufacture. These are unremarkable looking carbon steel -- watch out for rust! -- but run quite hard, RC 60 or 61 isn't uncommon. They take and hold an incredible edge with minimal work. Peter ___ http://www.okiebenz.com To search list archives http://www.okiebenz.com/archive/ To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: http://mail.okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com All posts are the result of individual contributors and as such, those individuals are responsible for the content of the post. The list owner has no control over the content of the messages of each contributor.
Re: [MBZ] Overheating 240D more info
What is the outside temp? Around here I'd be shocked if the lower radiator hose was warm at all even driving around in town, it's 17 at the moment, and the coolant will lose all the heat in the radiator long before it goes back into the engine. T-Stat is probably just cracked open, unlike when it's warm out. Idle it for a while protected from the wind and see if the radiator warms up. If not, and the temp climbs, you still have a problem. If it warms up, the thermostat is at least partially opening. Peter ___ http://www.okiebenz.com To search list archives http://www.okiebenz.com/archive/ To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: http://mail.okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com All posts are the result of individual contributors and as such, those individuals are responsible for the content of the post. The list owner has no control over the content of the messages of each contributor.
Re: [MBZ] Overheating 240D more info
Now that you have a forced open thermostat, it's time to do a citric acid flush. You will need a kilogram of food grade citric acid (should be able to find that fairly easily without spending the money for analytical grade). Dissolve in a gallon of water. Empty cooling system, including draining the block through the drain valve or plug. Close drain valve on block and radiator (or put drain plug back in), pour in the gallon of citric acid solution and bring the cooling system up to volume with water. If there is evidence of oil in the cooling system, don't put the citric acid in, put in a half pound or so of dishwasher detergent (without chlorine) or a couple pounds of sodium carbonate -- washing soda, available at the grocery store. Fill with water. Drive the car with the heater set on full heat. Might need to block part of the radiator in this weather to get it warm, don't overheat it. You want either the detergent or the citric acid to get warm and circulate for a while. Let it cool if it got warm, then drain, flush, fill with water, drive it a while, and then let it cool and drain it. Keep filling and emptying the detergent rinse until it's not slippery feeling, the citric acid mixture until it's not acid (use litmus paper if you can find it, or pH papers from the home-brew store). You don't need the detergent flush if there isn't oil in the overflow tank. Chances are you fill have a ton of crud come out when you drain the block, since I suspect you have a lot of carbonate scale in there that cracked loose from the block when it got hot and dry. And verify that you do not indeed have a flapin the hose! It happens with brake lines too. A one-way valve in the wrong direction isn't very helpful. Peter ___ http://www.okiebenz.com To search list archives http://www.okiebenz.com/archive/ To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: http://mail.okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com All posts are the result of individual contributors and as such, those individuals are responsible for the content of the post. The list owner has no control over the content of the messages of each contributor.
Re: [MBZ] OT faucets
Don't buy plumbing stuff at the box stores, it's invariably the worst possible grade available. Go to a standard pluming supply company, the one your local plumbers use. Slightly higher prices, but vastly better stuff. I need to do this myself, I grabbed a Delta from the box store last year because the old one was leaking into the basement and it's a pain to get to the plumber's supply from work (they close at 5). I'm sorry I did, it's flimsy and the temperature control is pretty much full hot or full cold, the range where there is mixing is about 10% of the travel of the tap. Peter ___ http://www.okiebenz.com To search list archives http://www.okiebenz.com/archive/ To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: https://server.secureplusplusfour.net:2083/cpsess595060604/3rdparty/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com
[MBZ] [ SPAM ] Re: [ SPAM ] Re: Park your 2005 Toyota Camry
Computer control does not need 11,000 process running to set throttle position. A dumb servo system can do that with a few transistors. The system is grossly overcomplicated for a very simple task, and engines run VERY slowly (and the feedback loop is even slower than the engine, O2 sensors take seconds to respond, not milliseconds) in terms of computer controls. Things are way out of hand with this stuff. Massive operating systems are absolutely uneccessary to run a fairly simple system, and it can be done just as easily with a pure analog system, as Benz did for a couple decades before the EPA required digital multipoint systems that could theoretically shut off a bad cylinder. They don't, of course, because it's almost impossible to tell which one is bad, but the EPA required it. They did NOT require running Windows 8 to control the throttle position. Peter ___ http://www.okiebenz.com To search list archives http://www.okiebenz.com/archive/ To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: http://mail.okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com
[MBZ] [ SPAM ] Re: Park your Toyota Pious
Blind people hate Piouses -- in fact, I believe the Feds made Toyota do something to make them audible. Blind people were stepping out in front of them because they could not hear them. And just driving one does NOT make a person a better driver. Peter ___ http://www.okiebenz.com To search list archives http://www.okiebenz.com/archive/ To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: http://mail.okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com
[MBZ] [ SPAM ] Re: Park your 2005 Toyota Camry
It raises other questions, for instance, why do we have untestable overly complex software replacing a three dollar throttle cable? Peter ___ http://www.okiebenz.com To search list archives http://www.okiebenz.com/archive/ To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: http://mail.okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com
Re: [MBZ] Rear wiper
Switch on the dash, also a switch for the washer. Intermittent and regular wipe on one switch, wash on the other. Peter ___ http://www.okiebenz.com To search list archives http://www.okiebenz.com/archive/ To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: http://mail.okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com
Re: [MBZ] 123 vacuum pods
There is a place that still sells diaphragms for those, Performance Products in Tennessee. Don't have the contact information at hand, and I don't know if they are in the catalog on line any more, but they have them, plus the ones for the W124. Peter ___ http://www.okiebenz.com To search list archives http://www.okiebenz.com/archive/ To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: http://mail.okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com
Re: [MBZ] List Mail
I think I am seeing all the emails. But then I use Earthlink, which is very unusual these days. Peter ___ http://www.okiebenz.com To search list archives http://www.okiebenz.com/archive/ To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: http://mail.okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com
Re: [MBZ] 123 300td AC
I wish you'd said something earlier -- you need to have a filter installed in the suction line to keep crap from the locked up compressor out of the new one -- this is likely what killed the last one. Peter ___ http://www.okiebenz.com To search list archives http://www.okiebenz.com/archive/ To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: http://mail.okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com
Re: [MBZ] Changes at VW
I'm firmly entrenched in the Millenial world (after 45 years, everyone is catching up to me). I'm quite satisfied with my 2004 VW Golf -- 45 plus mpg on my routine commute, very low emissions for a diesel, and running strong at 125,000 miles. The very last thing I want is a car that does 0-60 mph in 2 seconds -- it inevitably will be a fuel hog and I hate spending money on fuel, to say nothing of dumping huge amounts of carbon into the air. I had my fun car, the 280 SE 4.5, and don't regret retiring it. Peter ___ http://www.okiebenz.com To search list archives http://www.okiebenz.com/archive/ To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: http://mail.okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com
Re: [MBZ] Rear sub frame.
I agree with you 100% on getting old. Having viral cardiomyopathy that put me in the hospital with congestive heart failure over Easter isn't helping any, either! I'm more or less back up to speed, still get dizzy from the beta blocker, but able to walk full speed and get the lawn mowed. Peter ___ http://www.okiebenz.com To search list archives http://www.okiebenz.com/archive/ To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: http://mail.okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com
Re: [MBZ] Rear sub frame.
Should work OK, just remember that the wagon and the sedans have different rear axles, the wagon is 49 mm at the axle nut and the sedans are 47 mm I think. It is much easier to replace subframe mounts and do most of the work on links outside the car. However, you must still tighten the link bolts with the wheel at ride height, so in most cases you will need to do this on the car. Also will have to do a four wheel alignment. Peter ___ http://www.okiebenz.com To search list archives http://www.okiebenz.com/archive/ To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: http://mail.okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com
Re: [MBZ] S500 Won't Start
Check to see if the fuel pump(s) run when you flip the key on, and also run when it is cranking. If not, the relay is bad, sadly it's the monster electronic one on that car, I believe. Peter ___ http://www.okiebenz.com To search list archives http://www.okiebenz.com/archive/ To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: http://mail.okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com
Re: [MBZ] S500 Won't Start
Bad crankshaft position sensor will leave the engine inoperative except when cranking, I believe. And they tend to work or not, don't usually go intermittent. Peter ___ http://www.okiebenz.com To search list archives http://www.okiebenz.com/archive/ To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: http://mail.okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com
Re: [MBZ] Cursed 300D
I would call a transmission shop, it's not possible to for the transmission to lock up and stall the engine, it has to be a bad converter. Worst case a locked up tranny would simply never let then engine get much above idle, but it can only stall if the torque converter is locked, not the tranny. The tranny gears are locked by the brakes every single time you stop, there would be zero difference if the transmission was it two gears. If the body is good, a decent transmission shouldn't be that hard to find. Peter ___ http://www.okiebenz.com To search list archives http://www.okiebenz.com/archive/ To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: http://mail.okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com
Re: [MBZ] My shaky front end is FIXED on my 95 E300D
You should check the outer bearings on the spring (bottom) link at the wheel carrier -- they go bad when the boots fail, causing the rear end to wander and knocking noises. Could also be a shock that has leaked enough oil for the pressurizing piston to hit the operating piston on large bumps. I'm in the process of replacing the outer bearings on my cars, along with a lot of other stuff -- taking a long time as I was sick most of the winter and just now getting back into shape to bang on rear suspension stuff. Peter ___ http://www.okiebenz.com To search list archives http://www.okiebenz.com/archive/ To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: http://mail.okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com
Re: [MBZ] what do you guys use to clean/clear plastic headlight lenses
On my Golf I bought glass ones. Whatever system you use, a couple coats of automotive clear coat will protect them much better than the polish in the kits. Peter ___ http://www.okiebenz.com To search list archives http://www.okiebenz.com/archive/ To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: http://mail.okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com
Re: [MBZ] American policy
I have always understood that what ended the Cold War had nothing at all to do with Reagan, but instead Chernobyl convinced Gorbachov that nuclear war was an invitation to the end of civilization -- no one would survive with a functioning economy or decent standard of living, even non-combatants. And then the Russians stopped playing Cold War. Game's over when one side quits playing. It wasn't like the Soviet economy collapsed since it didn't function anyway, it was that it wasn't ever going to recover from WWII as long as Russia played Cold War. Cracking their teeth on Afganistan didn't help much either -- sound familiar? Peter ___ http://www.okiebenz.com To search list archives http://www.okiebenz.com/archive/ To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: http://mail.okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com
Re: [MBZ] M119 oil
A number of people have reported via oil analysis that Truck and Turbo is fine for VW PD engines. Mine is a 2004 and does not have the particulate burner that older oils will fill with ash, so I think it's OK. It is the only oil on the list at tdiclub that I can find around here, short of going to the dealer. I've used it for years in Mercedes diesels, I think it will be far better than the Speedy Oiler stuff my nephew was having put in. Peter ___ http://www.okiebenz.com To search list archives http://www.okiebenz.com/archive/ To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: http://mail.okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com
Re: [MBZ] 109
There is no relationship between a W109 and the Gullwing other than they used a mechanical injection pump for fuel delivery, I don't think even the pump is the same. The Gullwing engine wasn't used all that much, it was very expensive to manufacture, and difficult to maintain (the injection nozzles were in the block, aimed at the spark plugs) and Benz added the fuel injection to more normal engines intended for road use, not a sliced down aircraft engine. Not that the original engine wasn't a marvel, it was just not a great production engine. No suspension parts, either, to the best of my knowledge. I believe, although I could easily be wrong, that the SL had a fully independent rear end (I will see my buddy Hans tomorrow, I can ask, he worked on them) rather than a swing axle. Front end on the SL I don't know about. The W109 had kingpins and a two control arms, but so did everything Benz made at that time, at least until the W115 replaced the kingpin with ball joints. Geometry was improved in 1962 to change the kingpin axis and reduce scrub while increasing caster, some minor changes in the W115 on those lines as well. Nothing exciting except in comparison to US road iron of the day, all of which drove like log wagons. The SL had a space frame, with body panels attached, and working on it was pure hell -- a good deal of the rear frame had to be removed to get to the rear axle. Every Benz designed after 1950 has a unibody. I don't see all that much Gullwing in the W108/9 -- it was an old design by 1968, dating from the 1950s. Nice cars, but I like the W126 MUCH more. Peter ___ http://www.okiebenz.com To search list archives http://www.okiebenz.com/archive/ To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: http://mail.okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com
Re: [MBZ] Pumping diesel
My brother's SDL has a 30 gallon tank, and will go nearly 900 miles on a full one. He filled up once on the way from home to Alexandria, VA. My 87 300D holds 20, and in good weather I can easily to 500 miles before stopping to re-fuel. The Golf will hold quite a bit more (at least 1.5 gal) if you let the foam subside, and that gets me around 600 before a fillup. Peter ___ http://www.okiebenz.com To search list archives http://www.okiebenz.com/archive/ To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: http://mail.okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com
Re: [MBZ] Pumping diesel
The way to get accurate milage calculations is to do them over several tanks. this will average out the differences in fill, although it won't help much with pump variations unless you always use the same pump -- I can to and from work, but on the road, no. Otherwise fill the same way at as close to the same rate as you can every time you fill up, whether it be stop when the foam shuts off the pump or until you cannot get more fuel in, doesn't matter. The only way to get really accurate milage numbers is to weigh the fuel, though. And don't forget that the only place in the supply chain the variation in volume with temperature is NOT calculated is at the dispensing pump -- as the summer tails off the fuel will be warmer than earlier by a few degrees and you will get less fuel (by weight) than in Spring when the ground is colder. Peter ___ http://www.okiebenz.com To search list archives http://www.okiebenz.com/archive/ To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: http://mail.okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com
Re: [MBZ] Pumping diesel
Lol, that 26 gallon tank with the filler six inches higher than the top doesn't give you much room for expansion! That is why, in fact, the instructions always say not to top off the tank. Not a problem for me, as I'm half a gallon away from home most of the time I fill up, and likely a gallon or more, but something to consider if you are going to park the car on a hot day immediately after filling it up. The ground temperature is usually in the 50's, so half a gallon more in the tank wouldn't be a surprise on a 26 gallon tank... Peter ___ http://www.okiebenz.com To search list archives http://www.okiebenz.com/archive/ To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: http://mail.okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com
Re: [MBZ] M119 oil
Truck and turbo only, it's the only on of them you mention that I KNOW has the necessary lubricants for high friction flat surfaces -- I don't know the design of the M119 all that well, but if it uses cams running on rocker arms, it needs the high friction flat surface lubricants. This is becoming quite an issue with older engines. All new designs appear to use roller tappets, and the racing/mud bog guys, using old Detroit iron with flat tappets running directly on the camshaft are reporting serious wear problems. Since most newer engines don't need the phenyl phosphate additives, they are NOT in most engine oils anymore, they cause issues with catalytic converters. For three dollars an oil change I'd stick with the Truck and Turbo -- it is also acceptable for VW tdi engines, which also use flat tappets. Peter ___ http://www.okiebenz.com To search list archives http://www.okiebenz.com/archive/ To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: http://mail.okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com
[MBZ] W115 and W123 for sale
Hey folks, my brother has decided to part with his older Mercs -- one is a 1976 300D in running condition, recently rebuilt engine and working transmission, but very rusty (no floor pans, again). Home made seat covers up front, worn factory in the rear. Restorable if you want to put the time and money in, runs great. He's asking $600 for it, I think. The other is a 1985 300D, big hit on the front, crushed grill, hood bad, radiator and condenser gone, right headlight and fender gone. Nephew ran into a Jeep with it. Bumper looks OK, but we've not measured. Restorable, probably, if you want to do the work. Good engine and transmission, was running great when the nephew wrecked it. Good interior, very nice car. He wants $800 for this one. No parts, he want's the cars gone. Let me know if you are interested. Peter ___ http://www.okiebenz.com To search list archives http://www.okiebenz.com/archive/ To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: http://mail.okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com
Re: [MBZ] I killed it Jim! Then, fix it Bones!
The seat belt interlock was 1974 only. Bad idea, as everyone either hot-wired it and still didn't wear seat belts, or people who did often found it necessary to hot-wire the system so they could start their cars when it failed. Peter ___ http://www.okiebenz.com To search list archives http://www.okiebenz.com/archive/ To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: http://mail.okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com
Re: [MBZ] W115 and W123 for sale
Cars are in Evansville, Indiana. Peter ___ http://www.okiebenz.com To search list archives http://www.okiebenz.com/archive/ To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: http://mail.okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com
Re: [MBZ] Maybe I should tackle a floor rust project
KK manufacturing may still make the floor pans, which makes it a fiddly but do-able project. And I have two repairable cars here in Indiana that need a home, along with a W108 with rust worm and a spare '74 SL engine. Peter ___ http://www.okiebenz.com To search list archives http://www.okiebenz.com/archive/ To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: http://mail.okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com
Re: [MBZ] Vacuum Door Lock
There is also a vacuum tank under the left front fender, and the typical failure there is that the rubber connector between the hard line and the tank goes bad, leaving you with a big leak and no door locks. The valve in the door can go bad too, we had to replace my brother's in the 76 300D W115 (same part). You should also verify that the main vacuum line is good and you do indeed have decent vacuum to operate things with... Peter ___ http://www.okiebenz.com To search list archives http://www.okiebenz.com/archive/ To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: http://mail.okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com
Re: [MBZ] Electric transmission pole grounding
Those conductors ground the lightening arrester wire that runs along the top of the poles. If enough of them are missing you can get power surges when lightening hits the main conductors. Peter ___ http://www.okiebenz.com To search list archives http://www.okiebenz.com/archive/ To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: http://mail.okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com
[MBZ] [ SPAM ] Re: [ SPAM ] Re: 124 monovalve testing
Max: Never tried to take one apart, I'll look in the garage tonight and see if I still have an old one around. The real problem is that I don't believe you can get repair parts for them. Peter ___ http://www.okiebenz.com To search list archives http://www.okiebenz.com/archive/ To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: http://mail.okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com
[MBZ] [ SPAM ] Re: [ SPAM ] Re: [ SPAM ] Re: 124 monovalve testing
Probably a good idea. Also check for leaks. Trouble spots are: High pressure line from condenser to receiver/dryer -- this is the first hose to go bad O-rings between compressor and mainfold on top of it, high pressure side erodes O-rings between hose manifold and compressor manifold, ditto Expansion valve o-rings. Occasionally you will find other o-rings in the system leaking, most are fairly easy to replace. Obviously a bad evaporator will not only fail to cool but will let air in -- I have one in the garage I will install in the diesel when I get some time off and feel like it. And I have had a hole appear in a condenser, too, on the wagon. Might have been road damage, but it took a couple years to find it. Now that I have it fixed the compressor won't cycle, so I need to dig around and find out why. Too stinking hot to drive a W124 right now without AC. Peter ___ http://www.okiebenz.com To search list archives http://www.okiebenz.com/archive/ To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: http://mail.okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com
Re: [MBZ] WTB: crankshaft hub
And the seal runs on the crank, not the hub, on those engines. Replacement seals are a few mm deeper so they run on a clean part of the crank. No help is the leaking one is not the original... Peter ___ http://www.okiebenz.com To search list archives http://www.okiebenz.com/archive/ To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: http://mail.okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com
Re: [MBZ] OT: EPA
Don't forget it was a CONTRACTOR to the EPA that made the woops, not an agency employee. Long history of people ripping off the Goverment on contracts. Peter ___ http://www.okiebenz.com To search list archives http://www.okiebenz.com/archive/ To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: http://mail.okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com
Re: [MBZ] heat
Southern Indiana ___ http://www.okiebenz.com To search list archives http://www.okiebenz.com/archive/ To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: http://mail.okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com
Re: [MBZ] heat
I drove through Phoenix in 1980 at night -- 98 F and 60% RH, a real sweatbox. In the old days, before urbanization, Phoenix was dry. Not any more. Flagstaff is still dry, I think. It was when I was there. Probably not so much this summer with all the rain. A friend of mine has his first vegetable garden this year and wanted to know how to make sun-dried tomatoes -- I told him he needed to move to Arizona. The heat and dry air (outside urban areas, anyway) will dehydrate things like peppers and tomatoes in a day or two. Here they will rot instead. We are in that time of year where the RH goes over 100% at night, patchy to dense fogs and the grass is soaking wet until noon so I can't mow when it's cool out. Peter ___ http://www.okiebenz.com To search list archives http://www.okiebenz.com/archive/ To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: http://mail.okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com
Re: [MBZ] Woodpeckers attack!
Probably something in there, look for wood bee holes. Note that male woodpeckers love siding that makes a lot of noise, they mark their territory by hammering on hollow limbs that boom. Siding works really well for that, so do stores bee hive boxes. Peter ___ http://www.okiebenz.com To search list archives http://www.okiebenz.com/archive/ To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: http://mail.okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com
Re: [MBZ] Why is 1968 a watershed year for Mercedes?
1968 saw the introduction of the new sedans -- ball joints and double joint rear axles instead of the 1952 king pin front end and swing axles in the back (and they DO jack, just like a Corvair, but they don't flip the car over. Included were anti-dive front end geometry and greatly reduce front pivot axis offset. Greatly improved handling -- I have had both styles and greatly prefer the new one. Only real difficulty is that it's possible to force the outside front tire off the rim in extreme cornering, a habit cured by a lighter rear anti-sway bar the rear in the W123 and W116 chassis. 1968 was also the introduction year for electronic fuel injection, a vast improvement over the mechanical and carbs. Peter ___ http://www.okiebenz.com To search list archives http://www.okiebenz.com/archive/ To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: http://mail.okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com
Re: [MBZ] Why are crappy undesirable cars always in great shape
That 4 barrel Solex is a junker. Even Solex couldn't make it work on a Benz engine, they were dogs from A to Z. Nothing desireable in any way, shape or form. Many were convered to D-jet or K-Jet, vastly easier and much more reliable. Fuel milage was terrible -- the small sedan got 12, the 450 sedan probably got worse milage than the 14 or so the 4.5L did. Peter ___ http://www.okiebenz.com To search list archives http://www.okiebenz.com/archive/ To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: http://mail.okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com
Re: [MBZ] Why are crappy undesirable cars always in great shape
A Holley of any sort would be an improvement. My buddy Hans had to deal with them all the time in Germany, said they were horrible, even the factory tech couldn't get them right. The M110 wasn't bad itself, other than being rather fuel hungry and terribly noisy due to solid lifters. More fiddly that the other single overhead cam Benz engines, but robust. Not a bad engine with fuel injection (either D-Jet or K-jet, depending on year). Terrible mileage in all applications, though, mainly due to the really low rear ends (atypically 4.00:1 for gassers). The M110 spins silly fast, but gearing it for 6600 rpm at 125 mph results in horrible fuel consumption. Low teens is typical with the carb, mid teens with FI. Peter ___ http://www.okiebenz.com To search list archives http://www.okiebenz.com/archive/ To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: http://mail.okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com
Re: [MBZ] Why are crappy undesirable cars always in great shape
Intake manifold and associated FI parts. I'd not bother with the D- Jet, impossible to find parts by now and that one requires the correct distributor, probably like finding hen's teeth forty years after they stopped production. Peter ___ http://www.okiebenz.com To search list archives http://www.okiebenz.com/archive/ To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: http://mail.okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com
Re: [MBZ] Another 108
Nope. The 3.5 was the original one, but in '70 the emissions requirements and American driving habits resulted in the substitution of the 4.5L with different cams. There are some 350 SLs around from 1972, rather uncommon -- skinny bumpers and all. I've seen one here in town a couple times, but since they were only sold for part of that year, they don't show up too often. Same horsepower but a higher rev limit on the 3.5 and higher octane fuel requirement, I think. Peter ___ http://www.okiebenz.com To search list archives http://www.okiebenz.com/archive/ To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: http://mail.okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com
[MBZ] [ SPAM ] Re: NOW 124 shifter bushings
Take the lever off, it's physically impossible to insert the bushing (or get the rod back in!) with the lever on the transmission. I have the scars to prove it. Peter ___ http://www.okiebenz.com To search list archives http://www.okiebenz.com/archive/ To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: http://mail.okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com
[MBZ] [ SPAM ] Re: 124 monovalve testing
Re-heat won't make the side vents warmer as ALL the air goes through both evaporator and heater core. Side vents will be warmer when the car is hot because there is some heat exchange from the ductwork until the under-dash cools off. If the center vent air is warm when full cooling is called for, or the car is warmer than the setting on heat, the valve is not closing. If you get no heat at idle and plenty when you accelerate from a stop, the valve is sticking closed when it should be open. All of my broken ones have either stuck shut intermittantly or failed to turn off when I wanted no heat. Not much to contribute -- I don't have working AC in either W124 at the moment! Peter ___ http://www.okiebenz.com To search list archives http://www.okiebenz.com/archive/ To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: http://mail.okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com
Re: [MBZ] heat
Supposed to be upper 90s here all next week and weekend, so I had to put off treating my bees for mites for a couple weeks. I want to kill the mites, not the bees! I'm ready for fall, but then after living in Canada for three years I'm ALWAYS ready for fall around here Peter ___ http://www.okiebenz.com To search list archives http://www.okiebenz.com/archive/ To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: http://mail.okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com
Re: [MBZ] OT: Golf TDI
Actually, it is, which is why the shifter mechanism has some set up that prevents leaving one fork engaged while moving to another. If one of the three cables is broken, it will stay in whatever gear selected with that cable AND engage another one, causing it to lock up. Constant mesh except for the reverse idler, the shifter just engages dog clutches to select which gears transmit power, the others just free-wheel. Could just as easily be a broken shifter fork, too, doing exactly the same thing. Peter ___ http://www.okiebenz.com To search list archives http://www.okiebenz.com/archive/ To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: http://mail.okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com
Re: [MBZ] 124 monovalve insert?
As far as I know, there is no insert in the W124 monovalve, I've had to replace the entire thing when they fail. Three so far... Peter ___ http://www.okiebenz.com To search list archives http://www.okiebenz.com/archive/ To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: http://mail.okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com
Re: [MBZ] 124 monovalve insert?
I have never found just the valve, I believe you must replace the whole thing. It's not at all like the ones on the W123 and W126. Peter ___ http://www.okiebenz.com To search list archives http://www.okiebenz.com/archive/ To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: http://mail.okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com
Re: [MBZ] OT gold is crashing
Nah, just the logical end of the gold bug hyping. It was grossly over-priced due to speculation and market manipulation, as per usual. Peter ___ http://www.okiebenz.com To search list archives http://www.okiebenz.com/archive/ To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: http://mail.okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com
Re: [MBZ] OT: Golf TDI
Broken shifter cable, leaving tranny in two gears at once? Peter ___ http://www.okiebenz.com To search list archives http://www.okiebenz.com/archive/ To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: http://mail.okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com
Re: [MBZ] Blown fuse
Use the economy mode on the climate control. Works just like it does in normal mode. Or you can unplug the connection for the clutch at the compressor. Peter ___ http://www.okiebenz.com To search list archives http://www.okiebenz.com/archive/ To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: http://mail.okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com
Re: [MBZ] '87 30TD rev counter.
No, that one is for diagnostics, specifically setting the injection timing with the dynamic tool. The one for the idle speed/tach is on the rear of the engine reading off the flywheel. Peter ___ http://www.okiebenz.com To search list archives http://www.okiebenz.com/archive/ To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: http://mail.okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com
Re: [MBZ] 124 aux fan
Low speed switch is on the AC receiver/dryer, I think the ones with the long pigtail (the other is the low pressure switch). With ignition on, shorting the two wires will cause the fan to run at low speed. You can test the fan (sans relays and resistor) by connecting the two leads at the fan bracket after unplugging to a battery -- caution, small leads will get HOT, it draws some amps on high. If it runs from the battery but not the switches, the relay is bad. If the low speed doesn't work, check for a cracked resistor, it's right by the receiver/dryer. Peter ___ http://www.okiebenz.com To search list archives http://www.okiebenz.com/archive/ To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: http://mail.okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com
Re: [MBZ] w124 dash & evapectomy
Don't install an evaporator with copper pipes, those are the ones that fail at the crimp joint between copper and aluminum core! This is a bear of a job, one I've done once and need to do again (not on the same car). Do it right, you do NOT want to do it twice, believe me. Took me three days. Peter ___ http://www.okiebenz.com To search list archives http://www.okiebenz.com/archive/ To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: http://mail.okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com
Re: [MBZ] Cursed Oil Pressure
Replace the fittings on the oil feed lines to the camshafts. They do go bad, and if the rear one on the drive's side blows out you can have seriously low oil pressure at idle. The low oil pressure can also be caused by a scored seat on the relief valve in the oil filter housing that limits oil pressure to around 65 psi. Peter ___ http://www.okiebenz.com To search list archives http://www.okiebenz.com/archive/ To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: http://mail.okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com
Re: [MBZ] 124 blower motor
If it kept blowing the fuse the bearings were bad, and it's likely you have now burnt off the wire supplying power. I believe it's switched at the keyswitch, but will have to dig up the wiring diagrams to see for sure. No fuse in the fusebox, it's direct, although there may be a connection in the fuse box to supply the fuse on the shock tower. You will very likely have to replace the controller as well as the blower motor, they also die from current overload when the blower is bad, a hint to others, when the blower gets flakey replace it pronto! Peter ___ http://www.okiebenz.com To search list archives http://www.okiebenz.com/archive/ To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: http://mail.okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com
Re: [MBZ] 124 blower motor
Should be a wire from fuse 12 input side to the outside fuse box -- prior to 12/86 the 12 position was used for the 30A fuse. Melted the plastic too much, so they changed to the outside fuse. You should be able to check, a pink/gray wire from the fuse box should run the the external fuse holder if the retro-fit kit was installed at the factory after the change over date. Could be a corroded or loose connection on the bottom side of the fuse carrier, it's happened before. Peter ___ http://www.okiebenz.com To search list archives http://www.okiebenz.com/archive/ To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: http://mail.okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com
Re: [MBZ] 124 blower motor
If it's the ignition switch, everything else on fuse 12 supply buss will be dead as well -- if the other things work, it's a loose connection. Peter ___ http://www.okiebenz.com To search list archives http://www.okiebenz.com/archive/ To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: http://mail.okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com
Re: [MBZ] Dune
If you hadn't read the books, the movie was non-sense. Even if you had read the books, the movie was awful. Peter ___ http://www.okiebenz.com To search list archives http://www.okiebenz.com/archive/ To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: http://mail.okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com
Re: [MBZ] Dune
You're a generation late for that movie (which stunk). Books are better, but marginal. They were great when I was 14. The movie was incomprehensible, don't feel bad if it just looks like a bad dream. It pretty much was. Peter ___ http://www.okiebenz.com To search list archives http://www.okiebenz.com/archive/ To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: http://mail.okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com
Re: [MBZ] Dune
I'd forgotten Lynch was the director. That's the main reason it was so bad, watching a movie he directed is like taking a dozen Quaaludes and hour. I don't think the guy has seen sunlight since 1968. Peter ___ http://www.okiebenz.com To search list archives http://www.okiebenz.com/archive/ To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: http://mail.okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com
Re: [MBZ] Suddenly dead cluster lights - 1985 W123
Bad ground or a crack in the trace on the cluster. Don't remember if that's the same rheostat as the W108/W116, in which case it's probably easier to jumper it when it goes bad, no longer available if it's too corroded to work anymore. Peter ___ http://www.okiebenz.com To search list archives http://www.okiebenz.com/archive/ To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: http://mail.okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com
Re: [MBZ] A Mac question
Hmm, that's very interesting, as I have 10.6 on a factory DVD and it's single layer, the drive in my early Intel books is not dual layer. how big is the image? If it will fit on a single layer DVD, try using Disk Utility to burn it. I usually use DragonBurn, it's much faster and less cranky though. ___ http://www.okiebenz.com To search list archives http://www.okiebenz.com/archive/ To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: http://mail.okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com
Re: [MBZ] w124 dash swap evaporectomy
Heater core failure is quite rare, but you should replace the 0-rings on the pipes when you have the heater box out. Blower motor and controller can be changed without taking anything other than some trim and the wiper motor out. I've done all these so far, and need to do the evaporator on the diesel if I intend to keep it. Peter ___ http://www.okiebenz.com To search list archives http://www.okiebenz.com/archive/ To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: http://mail.okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com
Re: [MBZ] single payer health insurance
In my personal experience living in "Socialist" Canada, the very best thing about living there was the knowledge that I didn't have to worry about being bankrupted by getting sick. Unlike here were I have shelled out about 4k in medical expenses this year AFTER my insurance paid. My Federal and Provencial taxes were somewhat lower as well.. Very much the Christian thing to do, by the way, unlike what the Fundamentalists in the US push all the time, which appears to be similar to "I got mine, it sucks to be you". Peter ___ http://www.okiebenz.com To search list archives http://www.okiebenz.com/archive/ To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: http://mail.okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com
Re: [MBZ] single payer health insurance
Canadian health care is run by the Provinces, not the National Government. I lived in Ontario, very few complaints there other than some of the supiditiies in the law due to it being last updated properly in the mid 1950s. Not covering hip replacements after age 65, and putting people in nursing homes with their care there covered by OHIP, for instance. Not a failure in concept, but in implementation. BC's health plan was horrible, worse for actual service than Newfoundland. Of course, BC had been Tory since WWII, go figure. Other than remote areas, the rest of Canada had (and has) far better health systems than BC. ___ http://www.okiebenz.com To search list archives http://www.okiebenz.com/archive/ To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: http://mail.okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com
Re: [MBZ] single payer health insurance
Two things to consider about lack of social security and medicare 80 years ago. First, old people starved to death if they ran out of money and their children couldn't help them. Poverty once people were unable to work six days a week was the norm, and since people made even less in wages (in real dollars) then than now, saving for old age was impossible, it was all the vast majority of people could do to break even. And medical care was very, very primitive -- no antibiotics, no insulin for diabetics, and so forth. Dr. was mostly to usher you out of this world into the next, wasn't much to be done for anyone who got sick. Needless to say, medical care is pretty cheap if you can't do anything much to make someone well. Canada's response to the Great Depression was to set up a National Pension system, not Social Security Supplemental, and a National Health Care system so no one ever had to do without medical care. Peter ___ http://www.okiebenz.com To search list archives http://www.okiebenz.com/archive/ To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: http://mail.okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com
Re: [MBZ] Starting a dormant Cat truck v8 diesel
I would suspect the fuel filters unless you KNOW they have been changed recently. They also act as water collectors and can crap up badly with little or no warning. Fuel suppliers for large equipment are notorious for delivering bad fuel, too -- I've had to diagnose the contents a few times, including silicate (clay) dust that went through the filters and destroyed the engine at least once. It can also take some cranking to get the IP to deliver fuel on those engines, again a well known issue. Bad idea to ever let them lose prime. Stanadyne injection pumps are also well known for solenoid failures -- clicks by the valve itself it broken and won't open. You should be able to prime the filters with the hand pump, verify that it pumps with the filters off. It works like an MB with a pressure relief valve and a fuel return, although I don't know if the relief is in the pump or if there is a fuel return to the tank. Peter ___ http://www.okiebenz.com To search list archives http://www.okiebenz.com/archive/ To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: http://mail.okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com
Re: [MBZ] do we still answer car questions?
The check valves in the pump can fail too, a cheaper fix if you can still find them. Primary cause in my experience is a crack in the section of the line where all the vacuum lines attach. You have to replace the whole line, the center section is not available separately. This may restore other vacuum accessories, too. Peter ___ http://www.okiebenz.com To search list archives http://www.okiebenz.com/archive/ To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: http://mail.okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com
Re: [MBZ] Fw: Mercedes Benz 280e
If you need a second one for parts (if there are any left that are good) I have one that needs a new home soon -- like tomorrow. Spare engine and transmission. Peter ___ http://www.okiebenz.com To search list archives http://www.okiebenz.com/archive/ To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: http://mail.okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com
Re: [MBZ] OT: VW Golf keys
Good to know this works, I only have one key for mine and would really like a remote for the hatch -- VW in their infinite wisdom requires a key or remote or inside switch to open the hatch EVERY TIME, which is a pain. I'm running about 45 mpg at the moment, suspect either a bad wheel bearing or a damaged wheel -- I will replace the 18" wheels with factory 15s when I need new tires, these things ride like they are solid -- and I have 17 or 21 stops on the way to work every day I'll be heading to St. Louis on the 24th for my great niece's second birthday so I'll find out if it's better on the open interstate. Maybe not, once you get over 65 mph the milage drops on diesels. Peter ___ http://www.okiebenz.com To search list archives http://www.okiebenz.com/archive/ To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: http://mail.okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com
Re: [MBZ] '87 30TD rev counter.
The connector behind the engine is usually the one that gets corroded. Mine comes and goes, along with the idle speed control, and I suppose I should get in there and clean that connector sometime. Peter ___ http://www.okiebenz.com To search list archives http://www.okiebenz.com/archive/ To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: http://mail.okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com
Re: [MBZ] '87 30TD rev counter.
The connector that attaches the tail from the sensor to the harness. It's exposed and corrodes, resulting in poor transmission of the signal (which is not voltage, but a pulse generated by the Hall Effect pickup). The result is first an erratic tachometer/idle speed control, followed by eventual loss of signal to the amplifier. Peter ___ http://www.okiebenz.com To search list archives http://www.okiebenz.com/archive/ To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: http://mail.okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com
Re: [MBZ] Another 108
3.5L is the M116 cousin of the more common M117 in America. Very few were sold here, mostly prior to 1973 due to emissions problems. Basically a stroker version of the M117 (or the M117 is the long stroke low compression version of the M116). Same hp and torque with a liter less displacement, higher rev limit (6200 rpm vs 5800). Peter ___ http://www.okiebenz.com To search list archives http://www.okiebenz.com/archive/ To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: http://mail.okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com
Re: [MBZ] And now for something completely different - NOT rabbit related
I saw that. Probably not merino though, too nice and white -- Merino sheep make TONS of lanolin, and the wool isn't white when they are sheared, it's tan and VERY greasy (and in the case of a male sheep, rancid, too). I'd guess Perendale, nice white and coarse. At any rate, poor sheepie is much better off! Peter ___ http://www.okiebenz.com To search list archives http://www.okiebenz.com/archive/ To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: http://mail.okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com
Re: [MBZ] Non-Hurricane Damage
The aftermarket paint on the 300D suddenly failed last winter, same as yours. Rapid peeling of clear coat on all horizontal surfaces within a month. On my car, I suspect inadequate thickness, can't tell you why a Benz paint job would fail suddenly. Peter ___ http://www.okiebenz.com To search list archives http://www.okiebenz.com/archive/ To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: http://mail.okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com
Re: [MBZ] OT: Trial by fire for the Golf
Brake drag will definitely lower milage in your Golf -- I've picked up about 2 mpg since the rear brakes quit dragging and the pedal regained it's normal feel. I'm sure the issue was related to being parked for six months or so over the winter, but drag is drag. I'll be having the tires rotated and balanced and check out the "thump thump thump" I'm getting from the front, looks as though one of the wheels has damage. If so, I'll be finding a set of 15" wheels when the tires wear out, I'm NOT fond of the 18" wheels and rock hard tires it has on it. Steering is great, the ride stinks. Minor things drop the milage on these cars quite a bit -- there is a couple mpg in a minor alignment issue, the low profile tires can cost you a couple mpg in rolling resistance, and minor brake dragging issue clobber the milage. I was just shy of 700 miles on the last tank of fuel, would have tried for 700 but don't really want the car sitting in rain with an empty tank and dropping temps, way too much condesation. Peter ___ http://www.okiebenz.com To search list archives http://www.okiebenz.com/archive/ To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: http://mail.okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com
Re: [MBZ] OT: VW Golf TDI brakes
A dose of RedLine and an oil change quieted my TDI down quite a bit, and smoothed it out, too. I don't know why better oil would make the engine run that much smoother, but I noticed within a dozen miles or so. I use Mobil 1 T, it's readily available and most of the "rated" oils are not. Peter ___ http://www.okiebenz.com To search list archives http://www.okiebenz.com/archive/ To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: http://mail.okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com
