Ginny's Road Trip, need go between
 

Well, I leave in the morning for Orlando. I've received a few emails asking me to keep in touch while on the road. I've deiceded not to take my laptop as I'm not sure I'll ever find wireless.
I was hoping to find someone to be my go between while I'm on the road.

Is there anyone out there willing to allow me to text them info and pics while I'm traveling and have them post to this thread to keep everyone informed?
I asked the DH but he's up to his eyeballs in work and would rather not. Love him but he's got a lot of work ahead of him with me gone. May be more than he can do without stressing out. It's times like these when he learns just how important I am, :D

Anyway, if you're willing to do this for me, email me @ imagesinthewind@mho.com.

I would text you info and email you photos from my cell.
Thanks~

Bring your laptop. I'm always able to find a wireless connection when I travel.

I second bringing the laptop. Last summer when I was travelling in my motorhome I found I could drive down a street in a town until I found an open wireless network to use.

There's wireless everywhere...take the laptop!

McDonalds and Starbucks both have free wireless, I think.

Good luck!

As do many people's houses. :D :D ;) (hey its their fault they don't know how to set up their networks properly......)

Update:

We, the teen and I, flew to FL. We didn't get stopped at security, thankfully. I was worried as we had one-way tix and no checked bags. But we didn't.
We flew US and arrived without incedent.
We were picked up by the seller and he was pretty nice.
Got to the car and at first I was unimpressed. Paint needs a waxing, more body dings than described and it was the first time I'd seen a 123 up close and personal. They are small. Compared to my 116 SD, very small.
I looked it over, shook the tires (no noticable movement), checked the oil, looked under floor mats, in trunk, inside.
Interior is a 8.5/10. The small things are fixable. Good interior, no saggy seats, great headliner, palamino color. Smells funny, like an old car.
He went to start it and the battery was dead. He claimed that he left the door open and it killed the battery. We jumped it and it jumped easy.
I checked for blowby and if there was any it was slight.
Smoked two packs a day though. Grey-ish.
Idles rough. Sounds like it has a miss somewhere.
I drive it around the block and it doesn't drive like it has a miss.
PEPPY le Car! Needs brakes in the very near, now, future.
All windows go up and down quick, not sluggish like my car. Sunroof is hit and miss but mostly hit. Quick open and close.
Odo doesn't budge but speedo seems to be right.
I'm afraid. What if. . .

Teen says, 'what could happen?'
I pay the man, get the title and we go.
To the gas station and fill with disesel. To the auto parts store for OTR supplies.
Off to 408 towards the turnpike and home.

We got to I-75, AKA the AUTOBAUN and by then I'm feeling better about everything. We've done the Italian tune up and most of the smoke is gone, but not all.
She goes 85 without worry and I still have loads of pedal left.
We get to the Waffle House in Ocala and eat. I'm not sure it was food but it took the hungry out of my tummy. We go out to the car which has not been off since the jump. (Yep, fueled up and went to the store, left it running). It starts right up.
We get to Valdosta around 10PM local time and get a Motel 6. Gotta stay cheap.

Day Two:
Up and on the road by 9 local time. Fuel up, McDs for breakfast, a little soda and we're off. Since I don't have an odo, I check the mile marker when we get on the hwy. MM 11 off I-75. When we leave Georgia it's MM 355. We get on I-24 at MM 184 and off for fuel at 155. 374 miles total. I get fuel and it takes only 12.15 gallons. And I top it off to the very top always. So, 31mpg. Really. And I've been averaging 75 mph because no one will let you go slower! There were times when the big trucks would mow your #@$% down if you didn't go faster! I buried the needle more than a few times (85mph) to keep from being run over. Ya'll on the east are maniacs!

Then it starts to rain. I hate rain. I hate driving in the rain in a car I trust. So driving in a new old car that I don't know does nothing for my stress level. Then I realize that I'm getting cold. I've had the heat on but now the blower isn't working. I then realize that the temp gauge is only at about 60, or whatever the midle line is between 40 and 80C. So I go faster to get the temp up so the blower will come on.

I hydroplane.

I slow down and decide that dying in a horrible car crash in the rain in Kentucky probably taking a few others with me is not part of my plan. I think cold is better than blood. And I love my daughter who is now scared quiet because of the slide. I'm quiet too.

Then it starts to sleet. Windows are getting icy cause of lack of hot defrost.
It's begins to snow and I give up. Only 10 miles away from the destination just south/east of Paducah KY in the Best Western off exit 31.

It's an ice storm and nothing is open. We get a room and have nothing for dinner cuz the places are closed due to weather.
Tomorrow is going to be sunny and cold. 25 degrees with humidity. More like 10.
And no heat.
Will look at monovalve in the AM, and maybe scout out a big piece of cardboard.

I'm just hoping that without a block heater and because the car has lived in FL all it's life that it even starts tomorrow!

Wish me lots and lots of luck, I'm off to sleep. At least the hotelroom is warm.

***************************************************

Sounds like the thermostat to me. If you block the radiator keep a close eye on the temp gauge.

I will certainly be checking this thread often until your return. Nothing better than a car with a story Ginny. And, kids don't remember "things" that much, they remember experiences, and you and your daughter are creating memories that you will talk about 20-30 years from now. Precious time!
I guess we'll hear tomorrow about the starting situation. Block up that radiator but keep an eye on the temp gauge. Don't want to overheat! No use looking at the monovalve. Can't do anything with it, and the temp gauge is letting you know that the problem probably lies with the thermostat {if it even has one}.
Will be checking in. Safe journeys!! :)

very cold night in Paducah....
 

The 7am projected temperature for Paducah, KY is 16 degrees F accorder to weather.com.

Ginny -- If you read this before you go to start the car, you might want to glow the plugs once till you hear the CLUNK of the relay kicking out; then turn the switch off and back on for 20-30 seconds, then crank. Hope the battery is charged up good.

Blower fuse would be another good thing to check during your pre-flight in the morning before you hit the road. Somebody can tell you where it is, I have no idea where your particular car hides it. Easy to check, easy to replace, maybe even some spares in the fuse box already... and one possible cause for no blower.

Good luck!

An old indian trick: cracking sunroof open 1/2" or so will tremendously help draw heated air through defrost up against the windshield with hardly any cold air entering the car.

Ginny- you got guts, gal. Maybe not as much as that guy on here who brought his W116 to S America a few months back , but still, hats off to ya.

Good advice about glowing twice, not sure about Dog's "indian" trick, but it may work.

At least it looks like you got a reasonably sound car. As others have said, sounds like a missing thermostat (rather than broken) to me. You may have some trouble starting it, but that's easily fixed. The sunroof is likely just some schmutz in the switch- they can be disassembled (gold contacts) and made as new. The funky smell of Florida in the car may be your lifetime reminder of this trip.

Hope you have some pictures of the adventure- we would like to see:)

Rick

Don't bother with the blower fuse. On the other thread she says it blows on defrost so the fuse is ok.

good morning all!
Just getting up and figured I'd check the board in case of new advice.
I'm sure that I'll find cardboard here and there's tape in the trunk.
I'll glow long and twice and hope.
Cross your fingers and toes for me.
The car is covered in ice. I'll get a pic before opening the door. There is a good chance
that we don't leave here until 11 or so this morning. Let the traffic get heavier to clear the hwy and let it get a bit warmer if it can.

There is a really steep small hill getting in and out of the parking lot of the hotel. If it's ice I'm in deep chit. I could slide all the way down and into something nasty.

Not looking forward to today.

You wanted an adventure...

Do you have any spare glow plugs? Did you check the plug with a multi meter? I know Autozone used to carry the Bosch ones for $11, but that was a couple of years ago.

She started this morning. Didn't want to but finally did.
Now she's idling and I'm hoping for heat of some kind. I'll try the cardboard trick if the car doesn't seem to warm up. I may also try the monovalve and hope that there is a tstat in the car. A lot of hoping today.
I'm told the hwy is good, no ice. Looking at weather in the different cities we'll go through along the way. It's 40 at home right now.

Good luck again!

I would be hesitant to attempt a thermostat replacement on the road. Two main reasons, the first being that breaking off bolts on a major repair would be nasty unless you were at home where you had time to work on it - and also, thermostat changes are a little fun when you can't get the system to bleed immediately... if you get air stuck in the cooling system it may take longer than you like to think fooling with the thing trying to get it working properly... and you risk an overheat in the meantime.

More power to you if you do decide to try it - but I'd shiver and drive home before I'd crack the cooling system open on the road. Just my $.02

Unplug that monovalve right away. The worst that will do is give you full heat but I doubt that's a problem. Even with the cardboard, if the monovalve is malfunctioning you won't get heat.
Look carefully at the weather. There's a storm a brewing in Colorado and for the plains, coming in tonight. Looks like their not really certain how far north it will go, but it looked from the weather picture that it could easily hit I-70.

Unplugging the monovalve probably won't help. Typical failure on a 123 is a pinhole leak in the rubber diaphragm. The top portion of the monovalve slowly fills with coolant. With incompressible liquid filling the top, the valve cannot move to open, hence no heat. Normally with this problem you get some heat following a cold start, but it fades away over the next few minutes. Good news is it's an easy fix. Don't know parts cost, I sold my 123 10 years ago.

I think every used diesel I have purchased came with a thermostat that only brought the engine up to 60C. It must be a standard Behr feature!

- JimY

Orlando, eh? Several of us live down here :p TheDon and myself and probably about 30 others.

We should have some sort of car meet.

If your putting miles on the old girl ,keep her speed down ,I ran into driveshaft issues when hitting higher speeds trying to get somewere,just wasnt worth it .Im sure your still wishing you could of keep more south ,an old trucker gave me that advice on a long haul one year,it was about the same time of year your tracking it home.Good luck ,hope you make it home safe and sound.

Update:

Well.
I asked for an adventure. Be careful what you wish for. For you may surely get it.


Got to east Kansas City. Had heat galore with the cardboard trick. Unplugged the monovalve and my daughter was complaining about the heat. But since I had cardboard against the radiator, we just opened the sunroof when she got too hot. Poor thing.
So the heat issue is fixed for now.

We were going along about 10 miles from the border to Kansas and we hear a sound and it's not a good sound. It's a brushing sound with a beat. Shh Shh Shh Shh. Sound is constant with no beat under 30 mph. Once I go faster the sound catches a beat and goes faster with the car speed. Doesn't get louder or softer with speed.
I pull off at a Walgreens (figure I'll need to wash me hands after) and check under the hood. Found a something that looks to have come loose and put that back together thinking 'I'm the man! I need no one!''.
Get back in the car and as soon as I hit the street the sound is back. I get on the hwy and it's just the same as before. Guess I NOT the man. . .
I pull of again at the next exit which has a Denny's and a hotel. I'm thinking long term.
I call John49 and we talk about what the causes might be including maybe something has gotten picked up under the car and I'm dragging something or it's up under and on a pulley or belt.
I looked briefly under for anything hanging and found nothing that sticks out.
I do have a hell of an oil leak and it looks like fuel leaks at all each injector.
I'll look again in the morning with more light and I'll see if there's an indy in the area that could take a look if I can't diagnose.
Just to be clear there is no metallic sound at all. If you know what a horsehair brush is for brushing your hair, take two of these and brush them together. That's the exact sound. No clunking, no squeaking, no clattering, no pinging. Just brushing.


On a side note, I feel really stupid.
What made me think I could do this?
I have brought my teen daughter across the country hoping, not knowing, I'd get home okay.
Why did I trust the universe this much?
I'm not doing well.

I'm going to go take a shower and hope (there I go again) that one of you has had this happen, that it was something really simple and I can be on my way again, happy, in the morning.
Thanks. . .

What part of the car is it coming from? If it's coming from the center of the car, it could be a disintegrating flex disk with a piece of fabric flying around and hitting the driveshaft tunnel.

Where's the oil leak? Injector return line leaks are not a big deal.

Yeah, it seems to be coming from the center, like behind and under the center well. behind the climate controls.

Sounds expensive, your could be. . .
Oh and the oil leak seems to be everywhere. The whole bottom of the car is think with it. Will check level again tomorrow, I did today and it was fine.

I was thinking flex disk when I read that. It is not an expensive fix, I'm not sure about getting part on short notice though. If you can see the driveshaft going to the rear axle, the disk is maybe 5" in diameter (round) by 3/4" thick black rubber and located at the end of the driveshaft. See if you can check to see if it's intact. As for the oil leak, just keep it topped off, it sounds like you're almost there. It won't let you down.

Sounds like the driveshaft area needs to be looked at. Best case scenario maybe something is wrapped around it. Is your speedometer still working? I'm guessing it is or you would have mentioned it, but was just thinking about the speedo cable.
It is an adventure when things are going reasonably well.
It is a cluster-effff when things aren't.......;)
Will keep checking in.

It sounds like things are going reasonably well for such an adventure. Adventures are supposed to have some elements of stress. You should have all of the problems with the car figured out by the time you get home.

If the flex discs look worn or are disintegrating, I wouldn't drive it until they are replaced. I've read stories on this forum of the damage that happens when they finally let loose.

Good luck.:)

Yep, so far it needs brakes, heat (water pump and/or monovalve and/or tstat), may need tie rods (slight play in steering but car doesn't wander), odo work, braided fuel lines replaced, oil leak found and fixed.. .

Anyone know any indie mechs in the east KC area??

I need a picture of what/where they are so I'm sure of what I'm looking for. Anyone?

Flex discs. http://catalog.worldpac.com/mercedesshop/sophio/wizard.jsp?partner=mercedesshop&clientid=catalog.mercedesshop&baseurl=http://catalog.peachparts.com/&cookieid=2AS1CGTP02AS1CH3J5&year=1984&make=MB&model=300-DT-001&category=K&part=Drive+Shaft+Flex+Joint

Sounds like the typical "new" Mercedes stuff. For $70 and a weekends worth of time you can fix it up.

Here is what a flex disk looks like (there is one at the front of the drive shaft just behind the transmission, and one at the back of the transmission just in front of the differential)

http://www.dieselgiant.com/flexdisc26.JPG

Hopefully yours does not look like this:
http://www.pelicanparts.com/bmw/tech...uibo/pic10.jpg


While you are under there also try giving the drive shaft a wiggle at the center support bearing (Under the car between the front seats).

This is from the service manual --


No.s 1 and 2 are the flex discs making the connection between transmission/driveshaft/differential.http://img184.imageshack.us/img184/3184/flexze4.jpg

I think in KC you've got Hafkemeyer motors (7115 Wyandotte, KCMO 816-333-8880) and Star motors (7 west 62nd terrace KCMO 1-800-STAR-LTD). They are closer to the west side of KC. I've not been to these places but have been recommended by others in past. I'd like to help you but I'm an hour away and tomorrow I'm flying to your town (Denver).

Kevin

1978 300D
1979 240D

Hey guys, as you heard, Ginny called me earlier this evening with basically the same info she has posted here. It seems like the sound is coming from the bellhousing area from what I can gather. Flex disk, debris on driveshaft, etc. would not make a noise when car is stationary, although it should be looked at. I'm guessing something is amis in the bell housing, or at the front pump, (loose torque converter bolts, or possibly debris in the bell housing). She said the starter sounded normal, so I doubt it's a loose starter dragging on the ring gear, although she did say the starter drive didn't engage on the first try when cold, she could hear it grinding on the ring gear. If anyone knows of a good Indy in the area now would be a good time to chime in.

I didn't get from her posting that the noise was present when stationary. Was that said during yall's conversation?

Star motors is more northeast. Where are you staying right now?

Disregard the above. It IS in about the same are of KC as Hafkemeyer. Here is a map http://www.mapquest.com/directions/main.adp?do=nw&go=1&r=f&aoh=&aot=&aof=&1a=7115%20Wyandotte%20St&1c=Kansas%20City&1s=MO&1z=64114&1y=U S&1l=zlhGuLfE9NoCQ%2fUBNxEPSw%3d%3d&1g=bQaoAKhAJXjWQAA295Tl9Q%3d%3d&1pn=Hafkemeyer%20Motors%20Inc&1p l=816%2d333%2d8880&1v=ADDRESS&1ffi=1&1n=&1qn=Hafkemeyer%20Motors%20Inc&2a=&2c=Kansas%20City&2s=MO&2z =&2y=US&2l=vYRbKlOoIaNawoHpk6vNvg%3d%3d&2g=h0Uwtt%2bj6UlklIn%2beBxltA%3d%3d&2pl=&2v=CITY&2ffi=&2n=Ja ckson%20County&2qn=star%20motors&panelbtn=2&1qc=&q=star%20motors&2pn=star%20motors&2sb=Star%20Motors %20Ltd%7c7%20W%2062nd%20Ter%7cKansas%20City%7cMO%7c64113%7c39014797%7c%2d94588439%7c816%2d363%2d6000 %7cUS&2qc=Auto%20Repair

Kevin

1978 300d
1979 240D

From her post it sounded like it only makes the sound when moving.

My new '82 is making a strange noise from the transmission when stationary too: http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/diesel-discussion/213367-my-new-82-300d-sounds-like-has-supercharger.html?highlight=supercharger

Yes it was. She described it as a "Shhhhhh" sound when stationary,which seems to be coming from the bellhousing area if I understood right. Then the rhythmic sound once under way.

:confused:

I have never had really bad flex discs, but I did have a not-so-good center support bearing on one of the cars. I think that if anything in the driveline starts to go bad at higher speeds you would feel the vibrations up through the seat into your body if you are paying attention to it. I would think that it would sound a bit more than a couple of horsehair brushes. Whatever it is, do what you can to take a look at it in daylight. Perhaps you can drive one side of the car up onto a curb and squeeze under there, or just find anyone kind enough to put it on a lift and start shaking things. There should be no visible cracks in either of the flex discs and the center support bearing should deflect no more than 3/8" or so when pulled on. It is amazing the difference a new set of flex discs makes on a car with a manual transmission. You can actually feel them load/unload. The difference isn't so obvious on a car with an automatic, until they fail.

I keep re-reading your description of the noise and I can't think of anything obvious. Could it possibly be speedometer cable lightly binding within its sheath ( the needle would dance a bit if this were the case) or just a noisy v-belt on the engine? With the car standing in neutral, when you rev the throttle do you hear any of this noise?

Rick

I was wondering about the flex plate given the location and the starter episode. It would have to make the noise at idle as well.

Kevin

1978 300D
1979 240D

I can't offer much specific advice on the sound/potential flex disc issue.....but don't feel stupid, the forum is with you (much like the force!). You'll make it home, your daughter will be fine and you'll remember this maiden voyage forever:). I still think it's cool what you're doing.

As others have mentioned, the leaking return lines aren't a big deal - but as I might have suggested before - if a home depot or lowes are nearby - pick up some weedwhacker fuel line and replace. It's an easy fix if you have the time and you'll save some fuel and keep things clean/dry in there.

Careful with the weedwhacker fuel line. I bought some stuff that when it got warm turned very soft and slid off from the injector real easily. That fuel does get warm.

Really? I wonder if the home depot/lowes brands make a difference. I've had about 1000 miles on mine without issue.

Like everything, I suppose results may vary. I suggested it as more of a quick, on the road fix (versus ordering lines from the dealer or online) but point well taken.

Ginny-

Don't worry (too much) we'll help you figure this out. I think it is unlikely, but when you get under there take a peek at the front surface of the bellhousing, just behind the engine oil pan. There should be a big plastic plug about the size of your fist there that keeps garbage out of the bellhousing. If by some chance that is missing, you could get something in there making a noise. Or something could be loose in there ( you should look in there and spin the engine ). There should be something you can see with the car on a lift.

We're pullin' for you- you look to be more than halfway home;)

Rick

Ginny, you're not "the man." You're "Da WO-man!" My hat's off to you. You're a gutsy gal. Thanks for posting the events of your trip here.

Yes, sorry, it can be heard, though not loudly, when stationary in park and N. It's only a constant sssshhhhhhhhhhhhh sound and light because of the engine noise. No insulation on the hood so the engine noise is pretty loud.
When the car is moving the noise is quite easy to hear and we originally heard it over a good song that we turned up to jam to.
It sounds to be coming from the middle of the engine, behind the climate controls but under them not right behind. More like near our feet.

I'll be side curbing the car this morning and skootching under to see what I can see under the think oil blanket. Yuck.

I'm staying at the Drury Inn KC Staduim on Blue Ridge Cutoff.

I had a dream it was a plastic bag. . .

I'm off to eat and then start car work.
Hopefully I get home tomorrow. New pizza coupon came out Tuesday which means Friday pizza is going to be slammed. No one else can do slammed but me. I don't panic over food. Car breaking down 8 hours from home, yes. Food, no.

Thanks guys. What the heck would I do without you?