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  #1  
Old 01-17-2005, 05:51 PM
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janetc
 
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Location: Silverlake, Ca.
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1979 240d mechanic says the engine is no good, no compression

Hi
I was reading the 240D posts today. I own one. the mechanic says the engine is no good, no compression. I really love the car. It ran well, then one day it just turns over and over, but doesn't fire. Any recommendations for a second opinion, or, are there tests I can try. It's manual, and I can get it to move in spurts.
Thanks
Janet

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  #2  
Old 01-17-2005, 06:03 PM
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Location: central Texas
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Ok,, does this mechanic have experience with OLD MB's ?
Do you trust him ?
Did he not give you the actual compression figures ?
He should give you compression figures for Each cylinder.
If it was lower on one than the others he should have suggested a leak down test to determine whether the problem was rings or a hole in the piston... or the valves...

When were valves set last ?
Was it this mechanic who set them ?
Did your engine experience a gradual ' lessening of power' ? Like over months or years ?

Has he offered to buy it ?
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  #3  
Old 01-17-2005, 06:16 PM
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Location: Blue Point, NY
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Quote:
Originally Posted by jc2124
It ran well, then one day it just turns over and over, but doesn't fire.
First opinion discarded because a vehicle that runs well one day and will not start the next day is not suffering from low compression. I am presuming that you did not run it out of oil or lose oil pressure between the one day and today.

New first opinion required.
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  #4  
Old 01-17-2005, 06:19 PM
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janetc
 
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Silverlake, Ca.
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240 D

I bought the 240 D in August. It had a bad battery and I have two other vehicles. I rented to a German friend and his friend who was visiting from Germany. They bought a new mega battery, replaced all the filters and did a lot of simple maintenance on it. It ran great!! I noticed that the glowplug light took a long time to go off. One day, I left it in the position and waited for a couple of minutes. From that day forward, it never started.

The mechanic is another German Mercedes owner's mechanic. He did not give me compression numbers. I have no idea when the valves were set. He has done nothing to the car. I had it towed back here today. I have a gut feeling that it's not about spending 2000 on an engine. It ran really well and was a joy to drive. I would futz with it, but it's my first Mercedes and my first diesel, so I'm leaving it alone. I really don't want to get rid of it. thanks for your reply. It gives me hope.

and, no, he didn't offer to buy it. That's always a giveaway.
thanks
jc
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  #5  
Old 01-17-2005, 06:24 PM
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janetc
 
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Brian oil pressure

The oil was low. I bought a 5 quart synthetic oil and put it in while my friend changed the glow plugs.
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  #6  
Old 01-17-2005, 06:31 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by jc2124
The oil was low. I bought a 5 quart synthetic oil and put it in while my friend changed the glow plugs.
When you state that you put in 5 quarts of synthetic oil, are you saying that the crankcase was five quarts low on oil??

If this is the situation, your mechanic just might be correct.
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  #7  
Old 01-17-2005, 07:04 PM
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janetc
 
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Location: Silverlake, Ca.
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Ouch

I'm going to contact my friend who changed the plugs. He didn't seem to think the oil level was a problem. He's very experienced with the car, as you can see. He's driven his all around the world. http://www.mercedes124.de/besold/
thanks I'll get back to you.
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  #8  
Old 01-17-2005, 07:14 PM
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You burned out something in the glow plug circuit...
check that first.. since it quit immediatly after you let them run a little longer than usual...
When you are starting in cold weather the manual says the glow plugs continue to heat for about 45 seconds after the light usually goes off.... so your extra glowing should not have done anything really bad... but on an old car it might have...
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  #9  
Old 01-17-2005, 07:27 PM
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janetc
 
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glow plugs

After the new glow plugs were installed, I could see smoke coming from the second one from the front. Could that be a clue?
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  #10  
Old 01-17-2005, 07:39 PM
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Yep. On that model, those are probably series glowplugs. One goes out, they all go out.

No startee right after that.
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  #11  
Old 01-17-2005, 08:32 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by jc2124
It ran great!! I noticed that the glowplug light took a long time to go off. One day, I left it in the position and waited for a couple of minutes. From that day forward, it never started.
Glow plug relay...?

- Patrick
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  #12  
Old 01-18-2005, 10:27 AM
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janetc
 
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relay

I replaced the glow plug relay. Nothing changed.
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  #13  
Old 01-18-2005, 02:06 PM
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Very nice digital volt/ohm meters can be had from normal auto parts stores now for $15 or less...
Why don't you get one and disconnect the plugs on each end....and see if you have continuity from one end to the other.... if not then one is burned or shorted to the head...
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  #14  
Old 01-18-2005, 02:16 PM
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If its a stick shift I'll give you $100 for it if its not rusted............
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  #15  
Old 01-18-2005, 08:31 PM
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What part of the country are you located in? Maybe someone in your area could either give you help, or recommend where you could take it. More likely, being a 4 sp, someone will try and buy it!

That's another reason why it's nice when people put there general or specific location in the sig or other info locations...

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