New Benz owner multitude of problems
 

It is a 82 300TD. Dash lights dont work tach dead and cant get the a/c to work. Suppose to be getting a manual from previous owner. Have a 97 ford power stroke and a VW Jetta 2005 TDI. Just dont know where to start or what questions to ask. Got it because I make my own biodiesel and the engine is in good shape 215k on the clock but it has been rebuilt by the local Dealer have all receipts. Main concern is to get dash lights and a/c working. Put new belt on compressor changed over to r134 worked for about 30 minutes now cant get compressor to engage. Any help will be greatly appreaciated. Jeep Taylor

Post this on the tech side you'll get lots of responses.

Diesel Discussion.. post there so we can correctly diagnose and help you


tach amp could be flakey,

AC is fun to diagnose sometimes

All easy fixes (except the AC). Do a search and you'll find lots of info.

There you go now its in the proper place. Old cars always have a list of problems, get used to it.

dash lights, the knob on the left of the speedo is the brightness adjust knob. wiggle it left and right, sometimes that gets the lights working, if that doesn't work you will need to pull the cluster and either repair the rheostat or bypass it with a short piece of wire. www.dieselgiant.com has several pictorials for working on various parts of the car. welcome to the MB Diesel forum!

Or replace dimmer switch (potentiometer), you'll have to pull the cluster.

How is the rest of the car besides A/C and dash lights?

82 300td
 

For her age and miles 216, she is no too bad, new brakes,power brake booster new vacuum hoses etc. Lots of rust but running gear and steering,suspension are in good shape. Interior not bad seats and carpet great few cracks in dash and rear headliner loose. Need to get a repair manual. I am pretty good at twisting wrenches do all the work on my 97 ford power stroke plus I have been making bio-diesel for over a year. This will be a love hate relationship with the Benz. Jeep:D

I love my Benz. It's an '82 also. 237,000. I'm wanting to do the rear diff swap from an '85. I am looking for the speedometer from an '85 so the ratio's match. I just need the speedo, but all I see for sale is the entire inst. cluster...

Ditto John's (vstech) suggestion on the rheostat. You may be lucky and find a "sweet spot", but it will invariably be too dim (even at full brightness they are pretty dismal). Probably best to run the jumper wire.

AC is a whole different saga.

Bad tach amp is also a common failure. Do a search for the "cigarette butt" fix (kind of shady, but it may just work).

check fuses convert to cooper

a/c its almost fall

Thanks for all the tips, hope to start this weekend, its been 101 and 102 degrees here in sunny Southern Indiana for the past 3 days just to hot to be out in the garage its supposed to cool down to the 90s next week probably have to break out the long johns. Thanks Jeep

Is this a wagon?

No, Jimmy it is a 4 door sedan. Got it to replace sons Geo Metro that was totaled in a 6 car accident. No one hurt in any vehicle thank God. This just gives me something to tinker with. Glad I found the forum I think it well be my saving grace with this project. Any tips or shortcuts you have learned will be greatly appreciated. Jeep :confused: