Ok so my 2000 ford explorer was getting like 10mpg so I decided it was time for a diesel, well I found my "new" 1984 Mercedes 300SD in beautiful condition inside and out! I took the explorer to the detail shop and it is now up for sale! I am sold on the Mercedes!!!!

So, here is my problem.... Despite how pretty it is, we have some issues that need fixing. I will list the ones I can think of in numeric order. If anyone can chime in on the cause and fix, that would be greatly appreciated!

1. My speedo is not working, it is electronic not a cable.
2. Cruise control doesn't work, is that because it needs the speedo to work properly?
3. Is there supposed to be lights on the shifter letters?
4. HVAC out of whack! Sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn't. Heater seems to blow even when it is off. Yesterday it started making a loud noise when the fan was turned on. Is there any controls under the passenger seat that would make it work when someone is sitting in it? Because I swear when my husband gets in the car it acts differently.
5. I want to install a keyless entry with remote start, would this one work? http://www.jcwhitney.com/autoparts/Product/tf-Browse/s-10101/Pr-p_Product.CATENTRY_ID:2013471/p-2013471/N-111+1984+200729703+600019467/c-10101
6. I want to get my windows tinted, what looks better 35% all around or 35% in front and 5% on rear windows? Do any of you have any example pictures that I can see? Seems silly, but it is a big decision that I have to live with.
7. Antenna motor works in the trunk but the switch is not working, I guess that answers that question .
8. Where is my supposed lumbar support?

I think that is it for now, we already fixed a lot of the other problems like installing a thermostat that a big dumbass took out .
We installed a new fuel filter, air filter, we cleaned out the banjo fitting and hose and also ran diesel injector cleaner through it. Now a car that couldn't climb a hill without damn near stalling is running like a top!

Any suggestions would also be greatly appreciated.

Welcome, there are many intelligent, helpful folks here. Did you replace both fuel filters?

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83 SD

84 CD

Welcome. These cars are fun to drive and own, but they will require attention quite often. You list is proof of that.
Just a hint for future reference: Usually posts/questions are answered much more effectively when you don't carpet bomb multiple problems in one post. Toomany MBZ really did you a solid with all the answers he provided, though. Also, there is a search function that just will give you loads of answers and info already posted. You aren't likely to ask something that hasn't already been answered. Use the "advanced search" option with a single word search with "diesel discussion" as the search forum. Or the new Google search where you can use multiple word phrases but can't pick the forum.


I had the windows tinted in my wagon and one 240 and wish I had done the 35% all the way around. I have them very dark in the back, and it is impossible to see out at night. IMPOSSIBLE!!!
Again, welcome, and get to searching. It will occupy you for hours.....

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Jimmy L.
'05 Acura TL 6MT
2001 ML430 My Spare

Gone:
'95 E300 188K "Batmobile" Texas Unfriendly Black
'85 300TD 235K "The Wagon" Texas Friendly White
'80 240D 154K "China" Scar engine installed
'81 300TD 240K "Smash"
'80 240D 230K "The Squash"
'81 240D 293K"Scar" Rear ended harder than Elton John

I'm a low-level mechanic person to ask, so take some of this with a grain of salt. My answers in capital letters

1. My speedo is not working, it is electronic not a cable. CAN"T HELP YOU WITH THIS ONE.
2. Cruise control doesn't work, is that because it needs the speedo to work properly? I DON'T KNOW ABOUT THE SPEEDO, SOUNDS LIKE YES, IT WOULD NEED TO BE WORKING, BUT DO CHANGE ALL .... AND I DO MEAN .... ALL... OF YOUR FUSES. THEY MIGHT LOOK OK, BUT CHANCES ARE THEY'RE ALL PITTED. THIS CAN CAUSE ALL KINDS OF ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS. IT'S LIKE, $8 OR SO TO REPLACE ALL OF THEM WITH THE NEWER COPPER KIND THAT WON'T PIT.
3. Is there supposed to be lights on the shifter letters? HMM, I NEVER LOOKED AT MINE, I GUESS YES, IT'D BE HARD TO SEE AT NIGHT.
4. HVAC out of whack! Sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn't. Heater seems to blow even when it is off. Yesterday it started making a loud noise when the fan was turned on. Is there any controls under the passenger seat that would make it work when someone is sitting in it? Because I swear when my husband gets in the car it acts differently. HVAC'S ARE A LOT OF FUN ON MERCEDES. THEY HAVE LOTS OF PROBLEMS. IT'S REALLY THEIR ACHILLES HEEL; MOST DO NOT WORK. THEY MADE THEM BAD FOR YEARS AND YEARS, NEVER CHANGED THE BAD DESIGN. I DON'T KNOW ABOUT UNDER THE PASSENGER SEAT, BUT I THINK IF I WERE YOU, I WOULD GO TO A MB MECHANIC. GET A GOOD SPECIALIST TO LOOK AT IT, OR EVEN A PLACE THAT SPECIALIZES IN AUTO AIR CONDITIONING. THE WHOLE SYSTEM WILL CAUSE YOU PROBLEMS, YOU'LL NEVER BE ABLE TO ENJOY YOUR CAR. GET IT FIXED, BE DONE WITH IT. IF IT'S THE FAN OR THE MODULATOR, YOU CAN CONTACT ME DIRECTLY, I'VE DONE THAT BEFORE ON MY 1991 300D, WHICH IS DIFFERENT THAN YOURS, BUT MAYBE I CAN HELP.
5. I want to install a keyless entry with remote start, would this one work? http://www.jcwhitney.com/autoparts/Product/tf-Browse/s-10101/Pr-p_Product.CATENTRY_ID:2013471/p-2013471/N-111+1984+200729703+600019467/c-10101 I DON'T KNOW, ME PERSONALLY, I DON'T WANT TO MESS WITH ANY ELECTRONICS. I KNOW IT MUST VERY EXHAUSTING, BUT I RECOMMEND GOING THROUGH THE DRUDGERY OF TURNING YOUR WRIST EACH TIME TO UNLOCK AND LOCK THE DOORS. OH, THE HORRORS OF SUCH BACKWARD AND UREFINED TIMES THROUGH THE AGES.
6. I want to get my windows tinted, what looks better 35% all around or 35% in front and 5% on rear windows? Do any of you have any example pictures that I can see? Seems silly, but it is a big decision that I have to live with. IF I WERE YOU, I WOULD NOT TINT THE WINDOWS. YOU SEE A LOT OF EUROPEAN CARS WITH TINTED WINDOWS BECAUSE THE A/C'S DON'T WORK AND THEY DON'T WANT TO SPEND THE MONEY ON FIXING IT. WHY LIVE IN A DARK CLOUD ALL THE TIME? BE CHEERFUL AND BRIGHT. DON'T TINT THE WINDOWS.
7. Antenna motor works in the trunk but the switch is not working, I guess that answers that question . YUP.
8. Where is my supposed lumbar support? I DIDN'T KNOW MB HAD LUMBAR SUPPORTS ON THOSE OLDER MODELS.

I think that is it for now, we already fixed a lot of the other problems like installing a thermostat that a big dumbass took out .
We installed a new fuel filter, air filter, we cleaned out the banjo fitting and hose and also ran diesel injector cleaner through it. Now a car that couldn't climb a hill without damn near stalling is running like a top!

Any suggestions would also be greatly appreciated.[/QUOTE]

I WOULD ALSO RUN SOME DIESEL KLEEN THROUGH THE TANK, BUY A 16 OZ. THING OF IT, ADD I THINK (?) 4 OUNCES WITH EACH TANKFUL. IT WILL EVENTUALLY CLEAN OUT THE INJECTORS, ALLOWS THE FUEL TO BURN A SPLIT SECOND EARLIER SAVING FUEL AND QUIETING DOWN THE CAR.

ENJOY! I'M GETTING 36 MPG ON MINE ON THE HWY. I KNOW YOURS WON'T DO THAT, BUT YOU MIGHT GET 28 I THINK.

JEFF 1991 300D, 114K

OK, I try to be helpful!

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83 SD

84 CD

For all the replies.
The reason I need tint is the Texas heat. I think I may take the 35% all the way around suggestion.
Oh you make me sound so lazy when you talk of having to unlock the doors manually . I just thought it would be cool to heat up the car before going out in the morning.
I will take the advice to change all the fuses, are there others besides under the hood drivers side?
I did not change the in line clear fuel filter because it had already been recently replaced.
I believe diesel Kleen is what I am using, I am on my second tank with it now.
I won't know the mpg until I fix the speedo .

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1984 Thistle Green 300SD 215,844 miles before speedo broke (when?)

The speedometer CAN be taken out of commission by something as simple as a fuse being blown. However, if that proves not to be the case, the problem lies... elsewhere.

It doesn't have a remote start but keyless entry is available from www.uskeyless.com and www.mbzkeylessentry.com (No affiliation with either site) - that installs in the trunk and plugs into existing wiring. A difficult part of keyless on these cars is the vacuum locks as opposed to normal electric locks.

Remote start will be a more complicated issue, and there won't be a nice handy ready-made solution to it. Here's why: The glowplugs/preheat system. The engine doesn't like to start (Although it SOMETIMES will) without being preheated. That's what the "loopy-light" on the dash is for; turn the key on and it comes on. A few seconds later, it goes out, meaning the cylinders are preheated and ready to start.

The difficult part about putting remote start on your car will be activating the preheat system and then giving it time to operate and then hitting the starter. Not impossible, but difficult and you'll have to do a lot of it piece-by-piece.

There are three components to the cruise control. There's the switch that's on the steering column, there's a "computer" box under the dash somewhere that interprets signals from that switch, and there's an "actuator" under the hood. Any one of the three is suspect. Cruise is frequently given up on on these old cars because the parts are expensive and it's so hard to keep them working. I haven't had cruise for over 1.5 years of driving my Benz. If you want it fixed, it's possible... somebody will know how to diagnose I'm sure.

Shifter letter lights... I'm not sure. i've learned not to even look at it. you can feel the gates as you slide through them.

There's nothing fancy under the seats as far as climate control is concerned... that's a can of worms if ever there was one.

I think the lumbar support is only for the top-of-the-line V8 model, and even then as an option.

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~Michael S.~
Past cars:

1986 300SDL
1987 300SDL
1982 240D
1982 300SD


Current:

1987 300SDL

There is a bulb down in the shifter area of W123's. I'm not sure if W126's are the same.....

__________________
Jimmy L.
'05 Acura TL 6MT
2001 ML430 My Spare

Gone:
'95 E300 188K "Batmobile" Texas Unfriendly Black
'85 300TD 235K "The Wagon" Texas Friendly White
'80 240D 154K "China" Scar engine installed
'81 300TD 240K "Smash"
'80 240D 230K "The Squash"
'81 240D 293K"Scar" Rear ended harder than Elton John

See post #16 and the referenced thread at the end of that post as well:
Shifter light

Attached Thumbnails

 

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The Golden Rule

1984 300SD (bought new, sold it in 1988, bought it back 13 yrs. later)

I cannot address the problems but on another note, I would suggest joining the MB club. In the DFW area, Park Place MB will sell you the parts at cost +10% (very handy when you needs parts ASAP and cannot wait for shipping) and you get to go to 6 Tech sessions a year at various MB shops or Indy's to work on your car at $10 a session. Very good deal for a $45 member ship.


Just an idea.

Welcome aboard.

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Sent from an agnostic abacus

2014 C250 21,XXX my new DD ** 2013 GLK 350 18,000 Wife's new DD**

- With out god, life is everything.
- God is an ever receding pocket of scientific ignorance that's getting smaller and smaller as time moves on..." Neil DeGrasse Tyson
- You can pray for me, I'll think for you.
- When you understand why you dismiss all the other possible gods, you will understand why I dismiss yours.

Speedometer or just the odometer inop? Odometer gears are a common failure part and can be replaced.

There are some very good tips on troubleshooting the cruise control. Use the search feature. There's a wealth of info here from many who don't frequent the forum much anymore. I'm greatful for those who have save me a bundle of time/cash.

I have a 300SD W126 parts car (or two) stored at my ranch if you might need something. Not sure where you are located.

Oh yea... Welcome to the forum.

Thanks for all the advice.
Davidmash, I am in Austin, is there a MB club here too?
Whiskeydan, both the speedo and odometer do not work. I will wait to address the cruise control until I get the speedo working since it may be related.
jbaj007, Awesome, thanks, now I need to pull out the radio that was installed by the previous owner and find that bulb.
Thanks for the link bustedbenz.

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1984 Thistle Green 300SD 215,844 miles before speedo broke (when?)

Have you already replaced the speedometer cable?
If not, I bet that is actually your problem for both the odometer and the speedometer.
The cruise control actuator is a separate issue and is not ordinarily a symptom of an inoperable speedometer. Search the forum to find the repair procedures for fixing (or better still replacing) the actuator...someone here has used/rebuilt ones or they can be found easily on ebay or Contact Phil at the buy parts link on the Shopforum homepage and talk with him.

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Bama1


2008 SLK 280, Firemist Red - "Hurricane"
2001 F150 Lariat 4x4, Black on Black - "Badboy"
1982 240D 4 speed survivor -"Pearl" - Donated to Vietnam Veterans
1962 Oldsmobile Dynamic 88 -"Gertrude"

1954 model original owner - ~2.5M
Gray softtop/solid exterior/modified chassis

No cable, it is electronic.

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1984 Thistle Green 300SD 215,844 miles before speedo broke (when?)

Do your brake lights work? The brake disconnects the cruise control. On my '94 S350 when the 3rd brake light blows the fuse, the cruise control doesn't and the ABS light comes on. Luckily it's been awhile since this has happened>

Wayne