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  #1  
Old 02-20-2005, 06:25 PM
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Smile Back from Florida - 3400 miles

Just got back from my vacation in Florida with the wife. Drove the SDL 3,400 miles round trip and no real problems whatsoever. Cruised at 75-80 mph all the way (except when the Radar Detector advised otherwise ) and had great weather for the trip there and back except for a few snow whiteouts between Erie PA & Buffalo NY coming back.

Coolant Temperature never got above 85-90deg. even pulling hard up the long hills in West Virginia or with the A/C on in 80+ deg. in Florida. Engine is also running quieter on its first full fill of Mobil-1 synthetic - the lifters are definitely much happier

Talking of Oil, I tried about six different Wally-Marts in Florida and on the way home to get the Truck-SUV Synthetic oil (aka Mobil Delvac-1) as we cannot get it at all in Canada. I had no luck whatsoever. A supervisor in a PA Wal-Mart told me that it had been discontinued Bye-Bye to cheaper Diesel Synthetic Oil I guess.

One issue was a noise that developed once we got to Florida from the RH Front suspension when manouvering at low speed. There was no noise on the highway or any vibration through the steering wheel. I couldn't exactly pinpoint it but it would groan/graunch when I kneeled on the front bumper and compressed the spring on that side. I tried spraying WD-40 around some of the suspension joints and bushings (including the sway bar bushings) and it has disappeared for now. Is the start of the mysterious front-end noise syndrome ??

The other item was the Starter motor which on the trip home began to sound like it was continuing to run after starting the car. Any ideas

A great trip and another reinforcement of how good these cars are for long distance cruising.

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  #2  
Old 02-20-2005, 07:29 PM
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Glad to hear you liked it down here!

Since you don't mention what kind of miles you have on your SDL, I am going to take a stab at your creaking, and guess that either it's coming from a lower ball joint, or the mount for the guide rod.

-Larry
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  #3  
Old 02-20-2005, 07:37 PM
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Welcome to the front end noise club! Take your pick, upper control arms, swaybar bushing, lower ball joint, lose shock.

SDL's love the open highway I just put 200 miles on mine Friday.

I have given up on finding Delvac 1 at Walmart, I just run 15w-50 because I can get the 5 quart jugs cheap.
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  #4  
Old 02-21-2005, 12:16 AM
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Larry:
The SDL turned over the 200,000 mile mark on the trip south.
Loved the sun and warm weather but was shocked to see the continuing aftermath of last years hurricane damage. The number of people still without homes to live in and the wreaked businesses just amazed me in and around Port Charlotte. The news coverage at the time certainly didn't do justice to the extent of the devastation. 6 months later there are still many people living in RV's and Trailers parked on their driveways because their houses still aren't habitable. I felt really sorry for all those whose lives were disrupted in so many ways.

Your 420SEL isn't a bronze colour by any chance is it? I saw a really nice one in Sarasota on a day trip to let the better half loose in the neat shops there. Sorry I didn't have time for that drink - I could have used it watching the credit card melting

Hatterasguy:
I will be checking out the entire front end to try and pinpoint the culprit. I'm guessing (hoping?) Sway Bar Bushings, since I cannot detect any ball joint movement and it did go away after the application of WD-40.

Any ideas on the starter? Sticking Solenoid perhaps?
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  #5  
Old 02-21-2005, 10:11 AM
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I'm not to sure on the starter. Try Whunter's starter thread, he knows his stuff maybe he can help.

It does sound like a bushing if some oil made it stop. Hopefully it isn't the drivers side sway bar bushing! It looks like the fuse box needs to come out for that one!
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Old 02-21-2005, 12:12 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Hatterasguy
Welcome to the front end noise club! Take your pick, upper control arms, swaybar bushing, lower ball joint, lose shock.

SDL's love the open highway I just put 200 miles on mine Friday.

I have given up on finding Delvac 1 at Walmart, I just run 15w-50 because I can get the 5 quart jugs cheap.
I just bought 16 quarts last week at Wal Mart.... I went to three to get it though. The first Wal MArt had four quarts of the old container. The third Wal Mart had more than enough of Truck and SUV in the "new" container. Looks like they were phasing out the old container...
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  #7  
Old 02-21-2005, 04:39 PM
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I know all about the white-outs btw Erie and Buffalo...that's where I'm stuck.
Sounds like your starter is, um, starting to go. I'd get it pulled and rebuilt before it leaves you stranded. Winter is tough on diesel starters. The rebuild shouldn't be too expensive, it might just need brushes. Can't remember what the starter rebuild on our SD cost...I do know that I've never owned a car that didn't need a starter when it was umder my care....
We had the squeaky front end too. The SD's new owner (a friend of mine down in FL actually) just landed a sweet job and dropped ~$3000 on a full front end rebuild (he doesn't do his own work). The car is definitly worth it though! She was a real sweetheart.
Happy Motoring!
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  #8  
Old 02-21-2005, 06:08 PM
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Be sure that your key is returning FULLY to Position II (run) from Position III (start) after you let go, because a weak spring in the tumbler may be holding the starter engaged.

It's a simple check when starting, and I'm all for simple things!

Best Regards,
Jim
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  #9  
Old 02-21-2005, 06:55 PM
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Thanks, I'll keep an eye on that.
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  #10  
Old 02-22-2005, 10:36 AM
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I hate shopping at WalMart, but have tried at least 6 in search of the elusive Truck and SUV oil. What I've found is that only the supercenters in this area seem to carry it. The last one I tried had both types of packaging, so yes they are switching over. It's really maddening that the regular auto parts stores don't carry this stuff. For me, it's enough of a PITA to find it that I might switch back to mail order AmSoil. It's cheaper and easier to get, but you just have to plan ahead.
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  #11  
Old 02-22-2005, 12:00 PM
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Thats why I use 15w-50 every autoparts store seems to have it in my area. I refuse to order oil I already order oil filters that is bad enough. What are these things that rare that we have to resort to special ordering oil over the net?
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  #12  
Old 02-22-2005, 12:07 PM
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I run the TDI for 10,000 miles on a fill and the E300 for about 6,000. I'm afraid that the regular Mobil-1 wouldn't handle the soot at those intervals.
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  #13  
Old 02-22-2005, 12:15 PM
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According to the lab at least on my engine it will. If I remeber correctly I had less then 1% of soot at 3k miles. MB specs 2% as the upper limit.

My friend is going to change the oil in his E300D in a few weeks, maybe he will get a sample tested. It will be just under 6k miles on 15w-50.
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  #14  
Old 02-22-2005, 05:10 PM
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Once someone mentions oil, the thread turns completely into an oil thread.
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  #15  
Old 02-22-2005, 05:24 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Rick Miley
What I've found is that only the supercenters in this area seem to carry it. The last one I tried had both types of packaging, so yes they are switching over.
Strange, I tried three Wally-Mart Supercenters and none of them had it.
Just so I know what to look for next time I'm in the US what exactly does the old and new packaging look like and how much are you paying for it?
Like Hatterasguy, for now I am using Mobil-1 15W-50. I pay $27.50 ($US) for 4.4 litres (4.65 qts).

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