A little knowledge is dangerous. 300D a sad fate - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

whunter · #1 06-24-2009, 03:33 AM

On the way home tonight.

I was stuck behind a pickup truck pushing a 300D up the highway ramp.

Traffic kept me locked in for three miles at 70 MPH..

As I passed the truck, the 300D belched a giant cloud of smoke under the hood.

The stench of cooked ATF was intense.

Before they pulled on the shoulder there where flames coming from the passenger side of the engine/hood/fender.

I looped around the ramps coming back to help, but they had the fire out, and where connecting a tow strap when I arrived.

The new owner of the 300D read the manual, and decided push starting would work better at high speed..

They freaked out when I explained the transmission was probably toasted, and they needed a roll back tow truck.

They took off towing with a strap, transmission in neutral, the car was on fire again before they made the ramp half a mile ahead.

Preparing to merge back on the highway, I watched Law Enforcement pull them over.

A little more time and understanding could have saved that car from a sad fate.

Knowledge of Michigan vehicle towing law, and common sense could have saved them both tickets...

LUVMBDiesels · #2 06-24-2009, 06:50 AM

Geeze... You cannot help the terminally stupid, can you? You would think after setting the car on fire ONCE they would think TWICE about doing the same thing!

Well maybe you will see it in the PnP and can at least salvage some parts

moon161 · #3 06-24-2009, 08:15 AM

Fascinating captain. Please clarify. I gather there's a pump driven by the output shaft that circulates ATF in the converter?

did excessive circulation with a stalled input rotor heat the ATF till the TC shell failed?

A friend told me about a pontiac grand-am tc failure on the QEW at 90 or so- big fire, kids died.

mplafleur · #4 06-24-2009, 09:04 AM

You see all the weird stuff. How many miles were they going to go before come to the conclusion it wasn't going to tow start?

Stupid towing laws. How else am I going to tow start a car; not on a tow dolly.

I've towed and have been towed many miles, very safely, with straps or chains. If I have a break down and need to get the car home and it's a few miles, I'm towing it with a strap.

E150GT · #5 06-24-2009, 09:08 AM

Why would the car catch on fire? The transmission fluid could get that hot? I wouldnt tow start my car, but I wouldnt think it would catch fire for doing it so long.

LNGfish · #6 06-24-2009, 09:17 AM

I want to know more about this too.

kerry · #7 06-24-2009, 10:19 AM

I was towing a 62 Falcon station wagon without an engine and the TC kept catching on fire. We'd stop, put it out and go on for a while before doing it again. It was just a small flame.

Jeremy5848 · #8 06-24-2009, 12:01 PM

You can tow-start a Mercedes at speeds up to about 30 mph because of the back pump. However, with the front pump not turning (until the engine catches), there's no fluid circulation through the cooler and eventually the transmission fluid will overheat.

pawoSD · #9 06-24-2009, 12:34 PM

Amazing the things people will do....that poor car. I am going to guess it was not in excellent shape by any means to begin with if that is how they were treating it.