Ginny's Road Trip, need go between - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

imagesinthewind · #1 02-10-2008, 12:27 PM

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,

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~

Bio300TDTdriver · #2 02-10-2008, 12:42 PM

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

kerry · #3 02-10-2008, 01:32 PM

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.

pawoSD · #4 02-10-2008, 01:55 PM

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

zeke · #5 02-10-2008, 01:57 PM

McDonalds and Starbucks both have free wireless, I think.

Good luck!

pawoSD · #6 02-10-2008, 02:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by zeke

McDonalds and Starbucks both have free wireless, I think.

Good luck!

As do many people's houses.

(hey its their fault they don't know how to set up their networks properly......)

imagesinthewind · #7 02-12-2008, 11:55 PM

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.

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

bgkast · #8 02-13-2008, 12:05 AM

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

JimmyL · #9 02-13-2008, 12:12 AM

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!!

daw_two · #10 02-13-2008, 12:59 AM

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.

bustedbenz · #11 02-13-2008, 01:37 AM

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!

300SDog · #12 02-13-2008, 03:52 AM

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.

rs899 · #13 02-13-2008, 06:39 AM

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

kerry · #14 02-13-2008, 09:01 AM

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

imagesinthewind · #15 02-13-2008, 09:02 AM

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.