When chasing a minor coolant leak in the monovalve area in in 1983 300SD I pulled the battery out so I could see better behind that damnable second firewall. The battery tray actually looked quite decent but some sixth sense told me to remove the tray and take a look underneath it. I'm glad I did

I found several handfuls of old, rotted leaves and water. Oh my!

Cleaned it all out, shop vac'd and observed. There's a suspension component - a long bar that crosses the vehicle and disappears into the wheel well. I think it's the anti-sway bar - my knowledge of suspension is pretty well nil. The bracket that holds the bar onto the body and the bar itself was beginning to rust around the bracket but the bodywork itself was in great shape. At this point it looked more like surface rust than anything really bad.

Sprayed large quantities of rust inhibitor all around and made a resolution to do the job annually. I now have to get under the fuse box somehow on the driver's side as there must be an identical bracket under there.

You my friend caught it right before it could have gotten worse!!

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1982 300SD--251,151
2001 Ford f-150 4x4--347,034

with the title of this thread, I though you were going to join the probable long list of members who have removed the battery tray to see road, tire, and suspension down through that area.

I agree, you caught it before the party even began.

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This post brought to you by Carl's Jr.

i had to replace my battery tray, cause it was just a pile of rust chips. found the body was pretty rusty. vacuumed it all out and coated it w/ por15. oddly, the new oem from the dealer tray needed to be drilled for the stud on the inner fender. the hole was in the wrong place. i'd guess everyone should pull their tray even if its good to check this area...

The battery tray should be looked under when buying a 126 because of rust issues.

When we bought our 84SD, I crawled all over that car looking for rust. I wasn`t until later when I was removing the false fire wall to clean out the leaves and open up the drains, I found the rust problem under the battery tray.

There was a large hole in the firewall from the battery acid and the sway bar mount bolts are all rusted bad. Just on that one side. hope I don`t have to ever remove the bracket to replace the bushings.

that space behind the 2 firewalls is a bad trap for leaves. now i use the back pack blower to keep it cleaned out. just don`t park under trees.

Charlie

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there were three HP ratings on the OM616...

1) Not much power
2) Even less power
3) Not nearly enough power!! 240D w/auto

Anyone that thinks a 240D is slow drives too fast.

80 240D Naturally Exasperated, 4-Spd 388k DD 150mph spedo 3:58 Diff

We are advised to NOT judge ALL Muslims by the actions of a few lunatics, but we are encouraged to judge ALL gun owners by the actions of a few lunatics. Funny how that works

I just replaced my tray the other day (Thankfully no rust under it) and yes it was a very tight fit to get it in place but thankfully I didn't have to drill anything.

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1982 300GD Carmine Red (DB3535) Cabriolet Parting Out
1990 300SEL Smoke Silver (Parting out)
1991 350SDL Blackberry Metallic (481)

"The thing is Bob, its not that I'm lazy...its that I just don't care."

wasn't a big deal. but i couldn't compare the 2 trays cause the old one was just about gone.

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1984 300TD "MAX" 303K+ still going...
fast '70 Chevelle 200k+
home built Shovelhead chopper

That's right, just below the hood hinges, those cavities that go deep on each side is the worst trap for debris and leaves there is.

Many W126 owners do NOT know that.

I know someone personally whose car caught on fire because of that on New Years day last year at the Pasadena Rose Bowl.

It is something every W126 owner *MUST* stay on top of, by watching that area, inspecting it every couple or three weeks, and keeping it cleaned out.

Engines fires can and do result from failure of the owner to do so.



Agreed about the battery tray rust too. Couple of years ago I had mine cleaned up and coated with POR-15 and though I am not in a rust area it was preventative maintenance, after 17 years left untreated....

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1991 560 SEC AMG, 199k <---- 300 hp 10:1 ECE euro HV ...

1995 E 420, 170k "The Red Plum" (sold)

2015 BMW 535i xdrive awd Stage 1 DINAN, 6k, <----364 hp

1967 Mercury Cougar, 49k

2013 Jaguar XF, 20k <----340 hp Supercharged, All Wheel Drive (sold)

I vacuum mine out every few months

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1982 300GD Carmine Red (DB3535) Cabriolet Parting Out
1990 300SEL Smoke Silver (Parting out)
1991 350SDL Blackberry Metallic (481)

"The thing is Bob, its not that I'm lazy...its that I just don't care."

You should, --- most owners don't.

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1991 560 SEC AMG, 199k <---- 300 hp 10:1 ECE euro HV ...

1995 E 420, 170k "The Red Plum" (sold)

2015 BMW 535i xdrive awd Stage 1 DINAN, 6k, <----364 hp

1967 Mercury Cougar, 49k

2013 Jaguar XF, 20k <----340 hp Supercharged, All Wheel Drive (sold)

so... sitting for two years under a walnut tree could build up debris... I think I have something to do tonight...

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John HAUL AWAY, OR CRUSHED CARS!!! HELP ME keep the cars out of the crusher! A/C Thread
"as I ride with my a/c on... I have fond memories of sweaty oily saturdays and spewing R12 into the air. THANKS for all you do!

My drivers:
1987 190D 2.5Turbo
1987 190D 2.5Turbo
1987 190D 2.5-5SPEED!!!

1987 300TD
1987 300TD
1994GMC 2500 6.5Turbo truck... I had to put the ladder somewhere!

We will pray for you . you should have a good bit of debris built up in there. fun part is getting it out from under the brake booster area.

Too bad MB didn`t make the drain cut outs in the false firewall panels larger.

Charlie

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there were three HP ratings on the OM616...

1) Not much power
2) Even less power
3) Not nearly enough power!! 240D w/auto

Anyone that thinks a 240D is slow drives too fast.

80 240D Naturally Exasperated, 4-Spd 388k DD 150mph spedo 3:58 Diff

We are advised to NOT judge ALL Muslims by the actions of a few lunatics, but we are encouraged to judge ALL gun owners by the actions of a few lunatics. Funny how that works

I took at a look at the driver's side last night. It looks like the driver's side of the whole business is buried under the brake booster and the fusebox.

I'm assuming there is no easy way to "coax" either component out of the way to get below them with rust inhibitor?

I've vac'd the area out and sprayed down around the hoses but access there is not great, to put it mildly.

worth preventing, a little consequence photo to sober us up.

Attached Thumbnails

 

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This post brought to you by Carl's Jr.

I thought that was just surface rust to you guys on the east coast


Charlie

__________________
there were three HP ratings on the OM616...

1) Not much power
2) Even less power
3) Not nearly enough power!! 240D w/auto

Anyone that thinks a 240D is slow drives too fast.

80 240D Naturally Exasperated, 4-Spd 388k DD 150mph spedo 3:58 Diff

We are advised to NOT judge ALL Muslims by the actions of a few lunatics, but we are encouraged to judge ALL gun owners by the actions of a few lunatics. Funny how that works