Parts Catalog Accessories Catalog How To Articles Tech Forums
Call Pelican Parts at 888-280-7799
Shopping Cart Cart | Project List | Order Status | Help



Go Back   PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum > Mercedes-Benz Tech Information and Support > Diesel Discussion

Reply
 
LinkBack Thread Tools Display Modes
  #1  
Old 06-02-2007, 06:26 PM
Registered User
 
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Fresno, CA
Posts: 193
Fans replaced still running Hot! E300

I just replaced my electric fans on my 1996 E300, they are working fine now. I was happy and thought I had the problem fixed (earlier post) -but this was just one of the problems with the cooling system.

I decided to take it of a test run after replacing the fans, I drove the gas station about 5 miles away of stop and go driving. Outside temp is 95F, before I made it to the station it was over a 100C on the gague. While I stoped to fill it was at 110C! I then drove home and went the short freeway route to avoide the stop and go, it dropped to 100C on the freway. As soon as I hit the stoplite off the freeway it went up to 110C and a block from home it was flirting with 120! I do not want to burn this car up after only having it 3000 miles. It will sit until I figure this one out. I am thinking I will change the T-stat first and see what happens. Can you buy a quailty T-stat at a regular parts store? They are the only thing open over the weekend.
Other things to check? any suguestions welcome

__________________
1999 E300 TD 190,000
1996 Passat TDI 225,000-sold
1996 E300 120,000-sold
1998 Jetta TDI 186,000 -sold
1983 Chev Suburban C20 6.2-sold
Reply With Quote
  #2  
Old 06-02-2007, 06:37 PM
Parrot of Doom's Avatar
1997 W210 E300TD 243,000
 
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Manchester, UK
Posts: 983
Buy your thermostat from MB only. It won't be as expensive as you might think.

Is the viscous coupling working allright on the main fan? You can test it, with the engine running shove a carrot into the fan - if it chops the carrot up, its fine. If the carrot holds the fan, its broken.

The water pumps are prone to failure, plastic impellor blades break off with time. Food for thought.
Reply With Quote
  #3  
Old 06-02-2007, 06:45 PM
Registered User
 
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Fresno, CA
Posts: 193
thanks parrot-
I have no problem buying the thermostat from MB-I will have to wait until Monday for that.
The main fan has plastic blades I am not sure about sticking a carrot in that, or will it ok anyway?

Would the water pump be bad and no leaks? Only reason I ask is that American cars I have had always seem to leak when the pump went.
__________________
1999 E300 TD 190,000
1996 Passat TDI 225,000-sold
1996 E300 120,000-sold
1998 Jetta TDI 186,000 -sold
1983 Chev Suburban C20 6.2-sold

Last edited by dauber; 06-02-2007 at 06:54 PM.
Reply With Quote
  #4  
Old 06-02-2007, 07:34 PM
Registered User
 
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: Northern Virginia
Posts: 1,078
fan clutch

Another way to check the fan clutch is to see if the fan continues to spin after you shut down the engine. Let car get hot, park it, raise the hood, open driver's window, shut off engine with key. Note what happens to the fan. If it continues to spin like a bicycle wheel after engine is shut down, clutch is shot. If it stops almost right away, clutch is good.

Someone here will know for sure, but I think the thermostat fails in the open position.

other things to check are coolant type and level, expansion tank cap integrity, aux fan relay/fuses.
__________________
2009 E320 Bluetec 117,000
1995 E300D 306,000 Sold
1996 Ford Taurus LX 130,000 Sold
1985 300TD Still 225,000 Sold
2016 Ford Fusion 24,900
Reply With Quote
  #5  
Old 06-02-2007, 08:09 PM
Registered User
 
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Fresno, CA
Posts: 193
Fan stops turning right away so the clutch is good. Expansion tank is good and coolant is full, although I do not know what type of coolant-its orange in color.
Aux fan is new and works. Looking back on the previous owners repair orders the water pump and the thermostat have not been replaced.
I think I am going to replace both.

I am going to need some coolant for this job. What type is used for this car? Do I only use the MB coolant? or can I buy some of the aftermarket stuff. I know for my VW I only use the Dealer coolant.
__________________
1999 E300 TD 190,000
1996 Passat TDI 225,000-sold
1996 E300 120,000-sold
1998 Jetta TDI 186,000 -sold
1983 Chev Suburban C20 6.2-sold
Reply With Quote
  #6  
Old 06-02-2007, 08:24 PM
Registered User
 
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: Walnut Creek, CA & 1,150 miles S of Key West
Posts: 4,874
Prior to the fan clutch engaging you can lay your finger tips against it and slowly bring it to a stop. I've done it many times when attempting to determine if the fan was causing a vibration I was experiencing.

I would not try that when it is hot and the clutch is engaged....

You can use Zerox G coolant. They are OEM for MB.

Not sure what you should check next. Matt has said previously that the t-stat doesnt open fully until 94c (I have no reason to doubt what he says).

I'm thinking I would replace it first as if the impellers on the WP are bad it should have been overheating in cooler weather too....
__________________
Terry Allison
N. Calif. & Boca Chica, Panama

09' E320 Bluetec 77k (USA)
09' Hyundai Santa Fe Diesel 48k (S.A.)
Reply With Quote
  #7  
Old 06-02-2007, 08:53 PM
Registered User
 
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: Northern Virginia
Posts: 1,078
cap

Replace the expansion tank cap. They are cheap and eventually fail. Without proper pressure in the system, the coolant boils sooner. Search this forum for a long discussion about the problems bad caps cause. This is easier than changing a fuse. No kidding.
__________________
2009 E320 Bluetec 117,000
1995 E300D 306,000 Sold
1996 Ford Taurus LX 130,000 Sold
1985 300TD Still 225,000 Sold
2016 Ford Fusion 24,900
Reply With Quote
  #8  
Old 06-02-2007, 09:00 PM
Registered User
 
Join Date: Oct 2005
Posts: 4,263
When the temperature is above 100C, is the M4 auxiliary fan running? It should be, and if not there is another problem. The N22 climate-control pushbutton module will tell you if the fan is demanded, even if it is not running.

This might be a case of dirt in the condenser or radiator, if everything else is in order. If the cap were bad, I'd expect to lose coolant (although this is not a given). This system doesn't need pressure to work properly, as opposed to older engines.
Reply With Quote
  #9  
Old 06-02-2007, 09:20 PM
Registered User
 
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: Northern Virginia
Posts: 1,078
N-22

Matt L said, "The N22 climate-control pushbutton module will tell you if the fan is demanded, even if it is not running."

Can you explain that to me? I'm really interested. Thanks.
__________________
2009 E320 Bluetec 117,000
1995 E300D 306,000 Sold
1996 Ford Taurus LX 130,000 Sold
1985 300TD Still 225,000 Sold
2016 Ford Fusion 24,900
Reply With Quote
  #10  
Old 06-02-2007, 09:46 PM
Registered User
 
Join Date: Oct 2005
Posts: 4,263
With they key in position 2 (engine running or not), press and hold the REST button for >5 seconds, until the display changes. The left side will show "1."

Press the left button to increment the left side, the right side to decrement. See elsewhere for what they all mean; #20 on the left is the fan control current, between 0 and 10 ma. 0 is no fan, 10 is full-speed.

Briefly press REST again to exit the current-sensor readout mode.

Also, pressing both AUTO buttons for >10 seconds puts the unit into fan-test mode, putting full power to the fans. Pressing both buttons for >10 seconds again or turning the key off exits that test.
Reply With Quote
  #11  
Old 06-02-2007, 11:04 PM
d.delano's Avatar
Dönerkebap
 
Join Date: May 2004
Location: DC
Posts: 1,466
You also could try flushing with citric acid, to clear out deposits that may have set up in the radiator or elsewhere, inhibiting cooling. Also, try some Redline Water Wetter or similar. Do this only in addition to everything else posted, not in lieu of.
__________________
'02 BMW 325i
'85 300D 450k
'93 190E 2.6 170k(killed by tree)
'08 Ducati Hypermotard 1100S 6k
'06 Ducati S2R800 14k(sold)
Reply With Quote
  #12  
Old 06-02-2007, 11:21 PM
Registered User
 
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Fresno, CA
Posts: 193
The electric fans are running at full speed with the temp above 100C, so that is working correctly. The main fan stops turning when the car is shut off instantly when the temp is up so I am guessing the fan clutch is fine also. The only other things that I can think of that would make it run that hot are the pump and the T-stat.

Thanks TM I will pick up some Zerox G coolant. You make a good point about it overheating in cold weather also if the pump is bad. I think I will still replace the pump and T-stat just for general maintenance
__________________
1999 E300 TD 190,000
1996 Passat TDI 225,000-sold
1996 E300 120,000-sold
1998 Jetta TDI 186,000 -sold
1983 Chev Suburban C20 6.2-sold

Last edited by dauber; 06-03-2007 at 01:43 AM.
Reply With Quote
  #13  
Old 06-02-2007, 11:39 PM
Registered User
 
Join Date: Oct 2005
Posts: 4,263
Check the other side too. Ensure that the condenser and radiator aren't dirty on the air side before you look for serious problems.
Reply With Quote
  #14  
Old 06-02-2007, 11:55 PM
Registered User
 
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Fresno, CA
Posts: 193
The condenser and radiator are both clean, thanks Matt
__________________
1999 E300 TD 190,000
1996 Passat TDI 225,000-sold
1996 E300 120,000-sold
1998 Jetta TDI 186,000 -sold
1983 Chev Suburban C20 6.2-sold
Reply With Quote
  #15  
Old 06-03-2007, 12:06 AM
Registered User
 
Join Date: Oct 2005
Posts: 4,263
I always wish that the problem is easy, like a bunch of bugs blocking the air flow. But it's not always that way.

If it were mine, I'd check the thermostat first, in a pot of water. I've never measured the thermostat opening temperature of my Benz, but I've done so on a number of other cars in the past. I've done it after replacing the unit (since they're cheap), to know if it was a problem. A few times it was. It's a very easy test, if you're going to change the part anyway.

If the thermostat is good, get back with us. The pump could be bad, for example.

Reply With Quote
Reply

Bookmarks

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is On
Trackbacks are On
Pingbacks are On
Refbacks are On




All times are GMT -4. The time now is 04:29 AM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.7
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.
Search Engine Optimization by vBSEO 3.6.0
Copyright 2018 Pelican Parts, LLC - Posts may be archived for display on the Peach Parts or Pelican Parts Website -    DMCA Registered Agent Contact Page