On The Road and I Have a PROBLEM - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

ashedd · #1 08-04-2009, 10:46 PM

I went to Virginia today to pick up my SD and the 190d parts car that I left behind last week. We are driving both cars back to Indiana... We made it to Beaver West Virginia and currently I am in a hotel, stuck.

The 85 190d 2.2 was performing well enough. I had to do alot of downshifting(5spd) to get up the mountains. About 3 times I had to use 3rd gear doing 45mph with the pedal to the floor to get up hill!! The clutch has never slipped.

The PROBLEM..

I noticed I was having a hard time shifting gears. Then all of a sudden I could not get into 5th gear, then I could. Same for 4th and 3rd. I pulled over and put gear oil in the transmission. It seemed to be very low or out of fluid. I fired it up and away we went. Got a few miles and then I could not downshift OR get back into ANY gear.

I looked at the clutch master cylinder and piston thing and see no leaks. The clutch pedal will go from "ok" feeling to very weak. And right when we were going to hook up and tow the 190 to the hotel with my tow strap it went into all gears just fine. It was late so we stayed with the hotel plan.

Right now my plans are to spend LOTS of money and rent a uhaul pickup and tow dolly(I have driven the parts car on a 5 hour trip before with no problems). Can anyone give some ideas on what to look for with the clutch? I cannot get a socket on the bleeder nipple on the clutch pistion thing... I figured I would see if fluid would come out. I also did not see a place to fill the hydraulic clutch at the pedal. I would like to NOT spend money on a uhaul.

I think I have given all the info I can.... oh ya, when I was checking out the problem in a parking lot I pump the clutch pedal several times to see if I could get it to firm up, nothing. And that is when we were going to tow it and it decieded to work right.

I will check this post out in the morning when we wake up.

Thanks for any help.

Billybob · #2 08-04-2009, 10:57 PM

The clutch master cylinder uses the brake master cylinder reservoir for its fluid. There is a hose from the driver's side of the reservoir through the firewall and to the fitting of the master cylinder. You should check the fluid level first and then check the hose for leaks.

If you can't get your clutch to work normally have you tried to shift it by double clutching it? With the car rolling, clutch in - shift out of gear into neutral-clutch out - then clutch in - shift into desired gear.

ashedd · #3 08-04-2009, 11:08 PM

good thing you mentioned that..

When we stopped to look at the problem the first time we noticed that the master cylinder was low... ok the rear reservoir was empty.

I added brake fluid and all semmed well... it shifted like it should. I followed a clutch line to the reservoir and that is why I looked at it. Then it stops shifting and I get out again.

This time brake fluid is puring out of the drivers rear wheel area. I find that the rear hard brake line is damaged and I goto advance auto and pick out a compression fittinf union thing. I got that leak fixed! BUT I did not bleed the right rear caliper like I should have. I thought that repair would fix the problem and it did not. Fast foward to the about to tow and its works for now part.

would air in that rear brake line cause the clutch to not disengage? SHould I bleed the rear brakes and try again?

OK all for now I need sleep.

Thanks

Jeremy5848 · #4 08-04-2009, 11:14 PM

You may also have gotten air in the line to the clutch -- bleeding the clutch might cure the problem.

vlado · #5 08-04-2009, 11:30 PM

bleed the brake and clutch,it wont take that much time and you will know for sure.

kerry · #6 08-05-2009, 12:10 AM

Yep, the loss of fluid in the brake reservoir put air in the clutch system. Similar thing happened in my 307d. Have someone pump the clutch, hold it down and open the bleed screw on the slave cylinder. Get the right sized box end wrench on the bleed nipple and don't break it off!

ImBroke · #7 08-05-2009, 05:47 AM

Sounds like air in the line to me.. By all means bleed baby bleed..

Shorebilly · #8 08-05-2009, 07:13 AM

G'mornin',

I am about 140 miles North of your present location, in New Milton, WV 26411 (xxx-xxx-xxxx) if you need some assistance......or perhaps a place to work on/park the car for a few weeks.....feel free to phone.....I have the W201 MB CD Manual here......and I have access to a lift in Buckhannon, WV (it might cost a couple of bucks for you to gain access).....not much in way of parts here locally tho.....

Luck To Ya,
SB

ashedd · #9 08-05-2009, 09:10 AM

I will bleed the clutch and brakes. Shorebilly thanks for the offer, if by chance it does not work I might call you.

I need a 7mm wrench from the autoparts store, after that I should be fine.

Thanks to all.

jim16671836 · #10 08-05-2009, 09:27 AM

I thought the rear brakes require a 9mm wrench. But any new knowledge will be appreciated. Where are you located in Indiana. We are near Evansville..

ashedd · #11 08-05-2009, 10:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jim16671836

I thought the rear brakes require a 9mm wrench. But any new knowledge will be appreciated. Where are you located in Indiana. We are near Evansville..

You are correct but the clutch slave cylinder takes a 7mm

I am in Indianapolis

kolnerspieler · #12 08-05-2009, 10:58 PM

if everything fails, and there isnt a lot of traffic, just try shifting without the clutch, just be really careful. If you can get the car going then just shift, but rev the engine high then shift slowly and carefully until it slips into the next. When down shifting pull out of gear carefully and then reve motor and try to slip it into the gear down. Dirving this way could be challanging, and if there is traffic it will be impossible.

ashedd · #13 08-05-2009, 11:04 PM

Well we made it home with both cars running under their own power.

Below are a few pics of the trip. I bled the clutch(lots of black fluid and air) and both rear calipers. The right rear caliper/line had so much air in it I thought something was wrong, then fluid started to flow. When I originally noticed the brake fluid leak the rear rotors were covered in rust. After the bleed both rears seemed to work. Little 190 actually stopped well.

No problems with shifting. One time I had an issue with getting it in gear but I pumped the pedal and it went in. I am guessing that the clutch still has some air in it. I still think the 1st, 2nd and 3rd being nice close ratio's and the HUGE jump to 4th and tiny leap to 5th is a bit weird. But 3000 rpm at 70mph was nice.

I did loose the wiper motor BUT rainX solved that problem

. 190 runs ok, rough idle, no cooling issues at all. But ever since I have had it the engine sounds/acts/runs just like a Buick I had with a clogged exhaust. The 190 "putt's" it doesn't purr. This issue causes the om601 to be very underpowered. I know it's only something like 72 hp BUT I had an 85 vw golf diesel(53 some odd hp) and it was a hot rod compared to this car. The 190 will not hold speed with ANY type of incline, no matter how slight. Infact when we encountered rain the accopmaning wind caused me to go into 4th to maintain 60mph on level ground. I have to do WOT accelerations from all stops, shifting at 4500 rpms.

Anyway, I don't really care because we made it home and it's a parts car. I will only drive it on one more oneway trip to pull the transmission.

ashedd · #14 08-05-2009, 11:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kolnerspieler

if everything fails, and there isnt a lot of traffic, just try shifting without the clutch, just be really careful. If you can get the car going then just shift, but rev the engine high then shift slowly and carefully until it slips into the next. When down shifting pull out of gear carefully and then reve motor and try to slip it into the gear down. Dirving this way could be challanging, and if there is traffic it will be impossible.

I use to do that in one of my SHO's all the time. Clutch was too heavy and I use to get lazy lol

Shorebilly · #15 08-06-2009, 02:21 PM

Sounds like you had a decent trip....I am a bit surprised when you mention that your 190D seems under powered....my '84 190D 2.2 w/ 5 speed seems to border on peppy.......I even have one hill on US 33 near Buckhannon, WV that "if" I am doing over 70 mph I don't have to downshift to 4th to top the hill.......

Keep me posted on parts availability.....

SB