As I pulled into my bank's parking lot, I noticed there was a black 300SD parked across from me, and there was smoke coming from the fuse box area...and the owner was fumbling to get the hood open...so I grabbed my water bottle, and put out the fire as soon as he opened the hood...he was very thankful as he would have just stood there and watched it burn...LOL!

It pretty much destroyed the fuse box...and the fire started because he jumpered the window fuse connectors with a couple alligator clips and a piece of wire... apparently it kept blowing the fuse...and he was surprised that it caught fire!!

The moral of the story? Don't hack up your electrical system!!

So yea, I was pretty happy that I was able to save a Mercedes today.

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Current cars:
2000 ML55 AMG, 174k miles
2003 C240 T-Modell, 202k miles
1995 S320, 207k Miles

and to think, everyone thinks im lame for carrying a fire extinguisher in my trunk

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1981 300SD 512k OM603

While you certainly get kudos for the effort, it's likely that such an individual won't be able to get the vehicle repaired at a realistic cost and it will be relegated to a parts vehicle.

Sadly.

Why do people do stuff like that, its amazing. "I think I'll bypass this safety precaution that keeps trying to warn me of a problem..." Yeah....


I keep a mini fire extinguisher in my console tray right next to me....can't be too prepared!

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-diesel is not just a fuel, its a way of life-
'15 GLK250 Bluetec 118k - mine - (OC-123,800)
'17 Metris(VITO!) - 37k - wifes (OC-41k)
'09 Sprinter 3500 Winnebago View - 62k (OC - 67k)
'13 ML350 Bluetec - 95k - dad's (OC-98k)
'01 SL500 - 103k(km) - dad's (OC-110,000km)
'16 E400 4matic Sedan - 148k - Brothers (OC-155k)

You got lucky that the underhood fire wasn't any bigger than it was. Had it been a larger fire, upon opening of the hood, someone could've gotten their upper body severely burned by a flash fire.

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'81 MB 300SD, '82 MB 300D Turbo (sold/RIP), '04 Lincoln Town Car Ultimate

Sooner or later every car falls apart, ours does it later!
-German Narrator in a MB Promotion Film about the then brand new W123.

What is there to flash? Gasoline vapor maybe... but wouldn't diesel burn more slowly? Or at least not so hot...

Not that it wouldn't flash, i guess I'm just thinking that you might have time to jump back, instead of it being an even more violent fire.

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~Michael S.~
Past cars:

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


Current:

1987 300SDL

Nah, I've been around many full-fledged car fires...and they don't explode like in the movies...

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Current cars:
2000 ML55 AMG, 174k miles
2003 C240 T-Modell, 202k miles
1995 S320, 207k Miles

Offer to buy the car from the guy. You might get a deal.
BTW, Johnathan, I used to live in Downey too. I lived near Lakewood and Florence. I could see the old McD running man sign from one of my windows.

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DJ


84 300D Turbodiesel 190K with 4 speed manual sold in 03/2012

I can see it now.....Epay item #......

Well maintained 300SD for sale, strong runner, nice interior, needs slight electrical bug fix, power windows not working correctly......

__________________
Chris
64 190D R.I.P.
80 240D W/617 engine -for sale
82 240D -for sale

A/C good but just needs a charge, ...

__________________

Gone to the dark side

- Jeff

This car is HOT!

__________________


~Michael S.~
Past cars:

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


Current:

1987 300SDL

I might have tried the jumper wire thing when I was 16.

Tom W

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[SIGPIC] Diesel loving autocrossing grandpa Architect. 08 Dodge 3/4 ton with Cummins & six speed; I have had about 35 benzes. I have a 39 Studebaker Coupe Express pickup in which I have had installed a 617 turbo and a five speed manual.[SIGPIC]

..I also have a 427 Cobra replica with an aluminum chassis.

Using a Bullet in place of a fuse is a good redneck trick.

read some where some idiot used a bullet in place of a fuse, it got hot and went off and hit him n the nuts.

Solution? use a bigger bullet

Charlie ☺

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there were three HP ratings on the OM616...

1) Not much power
2) Even less power
3) Not nearly enough power!! 240D w/auto

Anyone that thinks a 240D is slow drives too fast.

80 240D Naturally Exasperated, 4-Spd 388k DD 150mph spedo 3:58 Diff

We are advised to NOT judge ALL Muslims by the actions of a few lunatics, but we are encouraged to judge ALL gun owners by the actions of a few lunatics. Funny how that works

Mythbusters confirmed that . They had great fun shooting off bullets with a direct short to the battery. They went off almost instantly!

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Dale

http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g1...MG_2277sig.jpg

1990 300D 2.5 Turbo -155k
2000 E430 - 103k
2014 Jeep Grand Cherokee Ecodiesel 4x4 - 11k
2014 VW Passat TDI SE - 7k Bro's Diesel
2006 E320 CDI - 128k Pop's Benz

Pre-glow - A moment of silence in honor of Rudolph Diesel

You should have offered to buy it from him if it was in reasonable shape. He isn't going to be able to get it fixed for less than the cars worth.

Actualy he was probably going to let it burn and just collect the insurance check.

My favorite are the ones that use wire wrapped around the termal's instend of the GP's fuses! Now thats a cool repair!

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1999 SL500
1969 280SE
2023 Ram 1500
2007 Tiara 3200