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  #1  
Old 09-29-2009, 11:20 PM
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RIP my car

well, my first mercedes/first car has bit the dust only after almost 2 months. it was a good experience while it lasted.
i bought the car off a friend ive known for around 6 years:a 1982 300SD turbo. id done some searching around before hand but was advised to not get any of the deals that id seen. finally i settled on this car. it seemed good: 150k miles (which is supposedly nothing for a diesel), never been wrecked, no issues, and came from a family which worked on cars as a hobby. so i bought my first car, very anxious to get it out on the road. 2 or 3 days after i bought it, the car stopped starting. my engine would turn, but i couldnt get the car to start. it seemed to be a battery problem-and a friend of my dads very kindly lent me another battery to use. well, this worked at first. i was able to drive it around for a couple days. but around a week afterwards, it wouldnt start again and it left me quite puzzled. id asked around a few friends and fathers of friends(im 16) who were familiar with cars. i was told it might be an old battery, an alternator, or a starter. i decided to get a new battery. took it home and installed and yes! it started right up. my mom and i drove down to the gas station to fill her up, and take a nice ride. after i pump my diesel, i go to turn the car back on. nothing. not even 15 minutes into the first ride of a new battery, shes dead again. i jump her and sadly take her back home, where it will sit for another few weeks. in the mean time, ive passed my liscense test and now can drive alone. i spent lots of time trying to fix what i could on the car, and have her ready for me when i could fix it. finally the day comes where i can afford to get it fixed. i take her to the shop, where i am told i need a new alternator and new belts. i get her fixed and am lovin driving. soon enough though my luck changed. my friend and i had driven out to a restraunt that was 20 min away. she has been driving fine since i got her back, so i dont think anything is wrong. well, after we got our food, she wont turn back on. i had to get a nice guy to help jumpstart me so i could get home. this happens a few more times, sadly. i am told again by a few friends and friends fathers that the belts that i had put on were loose and that i needed to take the car back and get it tightened. well, a few days pass and its going fine. i go to pick up my girlfriend for a date. everything goes smooth, and i drop her back off at home. not 50 feet down the road, i blew a tire. my dad came and we got a spare tire on, and were able to drive it down back to the car shop where i would get the belts tightened. today, i went to pick it up. they had tightened the belts and said she was working fine. i pick her up and start the drive home, which is about a mile. i get halfway home and stop at a stop sign. when i go to hit the accelerator, it is going, but the car is not moving. i let it coast around the corner, and park it. this happened right outside a fire station- and luckily, two of my friends were working there at the time and saw it happen. they came out to take a look and said my transmission blew. i tried again to get it to move, and got nothing. throughout the whole time ive owned this car, i have checked the tranny fluid and the oil everytime before i start to drive, just to be safe. hopefully we are all wrong and it is something fixable....but if not, Rest In Peace my first car. thanks for a good experience.
does anyone have any input why it might of happened, or hopefully what it might be?

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  #2  
Old 09-29-2009, 11:27 PM
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It revs freely and doesn't move? How about in reverse? Low/2?

You've checked the transmission fluid level and it is fine (a little low in park idling warm)?

It could be a front pump tang failure, has the transmission been repaired recently?
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  #3  
Old 09-29-2009, 11:30 PM
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Quite possibly your car has a simple problem that can be addressed by members of the forum. But, and I hate to break this to you because it makes me feel like an aging editor, which I am, you need to use proper, succinct narrative style with capitalization, syntax, and good paragraph (extra lines) structure to make your explanation interpretatable. This may or may not be taught in schools these days, but if you want us to help with your car, you have to do it. Does sound like a strange problem though.

Edit: But you do get credit for the use of periods!
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  #4  
Old 09-29-2009, 11:33 PM
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Iagreeithelpsagreatdeal.

Quote:
Originally Posted by pselaphid View Post
Quite possibly your car has a simple problem that can be addressed by members of the forum. But, and I hate to break this to you because it makes me feel like an aging editor, which I am, you need to use proper, succinct narrative style with capitalization, syntax, and good paragraph (extra lines) structure to make your explanation interpretatable. This may or may not be taught in schools these days, but if you want us to help with your car, you have to do it.
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  #5  
Old 09-29-2009, 11:41 PM
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Giving up on the car that fast is not a good way to keep a hobby in older cars! I'd repair and figure out what is wrong before giving up so easily. Sounds like low fluid or a clogged filter, or at worst, a failed trans. I had mine fail last month, and swapped in a good used one. Don't junk the whole car because of such an overall minor issue. Especially one with that low of miles!
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  #6  
Old 09-29-2009, 11:44 PM
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And I didn't mean to be discouraging, just suggesting you break up the symptoms into a more digestable narrative. We're interested. We all have issues and sharing them helps the collective.
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  #7  
Old 09-30-2009, 12:20 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by pselaphid View Post
Quite possibly your car has a simple problem that can be addressed by members of the forum. But, and I hate to break this to you because it makes me feel like an aging editor, which I am, you need to use proper, succinct narrative style with capitalization, syntax, and good paragraph (extra lines) structure to make your explanation interpretatable. This may or may not be taught in schools these days, but if you want us to help with your car, you have to do it. Does sound like a strange problem though.
I was thinking the exact.same.thing! Wow that post was difficult to read.

Could very well be an easy fix on that car. These cars are old enough now that every conceivable failure has been experienced by many people and discussed multiple times online. The information is readily available.
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  #8  
Old 09-30-2009, 12:42 AM
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Question

Sorry, I tend to get sloppy sometimes when I am typing. I don't have a computer or internet access at home, but I do have an iPod that can get internet. However, it is very hard to type on, so usually I don't proofread my paragraphs since its time consuming. My high school actually gives all of the students laptops to take home, and sometimes mine likes me and will let me access the internet- I just have to readjust to typing correctly. I'll be careful from now on.
Anyway, I didn't really examine the car too much as I am (regrettably) not very auto-savvy. I have a few friends that enjoy working with cars as a hobby, and a few of their fathers are current or ex-mechanics. My own grandfather used to own a gas station and worked on cars. Sadly, his age is getting to him and he can't remember much about them, but he did pass on his old toolbox to me. I have only been able to work with about half the tools, but I want to learn more about cars and fixing them.
I initially brought the car into an auto shop the day after I received my license, which was around September 10. After having my alternator and belts replaced, the car ran well for me. However, it did take a few tries to get it to start. The engine would first turn over a few times before finally catching, which I assumed was normal for an old car (probably mistake 1). Eventually, the car would turn over a few times and not start. I had to get jump started a few times after having driven somewhere and my car not turning back on, preventing me from returning. I had been advised that my new belts were loose, and that this could be preventing the battery from fully charging and allowing my car to turn on. I went and purchased myself a battery charger, and for a few nights had it hooked up to let the battery charge for a few hours. This worked for a while, and I figured that I could let it ride out like this for a few days until I had the spare time to bring it over to the shop.
Being 16 and still in high school, it is hard to fit everything that I want to do into one day or week. I take classes, play on the hockey team, and have a managing position at a local pizza shop. Also, a fair portion of my time goes to seeing my friends and girlfriend. This combination absorbs the majority of my free time, therefore making it hard for me to work on or bring my car to a shop.
On Sunday (27) my girlfriend and I were out on a drive. I dropped her off at home, the proceeded to make the drive home. Not 150 feet from her house, i heard something blow up and quickly parked the car. After I realized that nothing was on fire, I called my dad and asked him to come help. After he arrived, I had to leave the scene for a hockey game I had that night. My dad had the car towed back to the shop where I had initially brought it to. He requested that they tighten the belts, like we were recomended to do. Today I went to pick it up, and started coming home when BAM! my incident happened.
I was too nervous or frustrated to check for problems at that moment, but i have it parked safely by a police station until i can tow it back home. The accelerator would go when I hit the gas pedal, and the same thing happened in reverse. However, the car wont move at a faster rate then it was already coasting. It was never like this before i had to bring it to the shop-even if it sounds terrible to say, I almost hope something went wrong while my car was there so they can fix it for me.
Hope it wasn't too long, and that it was easier to read-thanks for the help!

-Zach
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  #9  
Old 09-30-2009, 12:56 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by gittins View Post
Sorry, I tend to get sloppy sometimes when I am typing. I don't have a computer or internet access at home, but I do have an iPod that can get internet. However, it is very hard to type on, so usually I don't proofread my paragraphs since its time consuming. My high school actually gives all of the students laptops to take home, and sometimes mine likes me and will let me access the internet- I just have to readjust to typing correctly. I'll be careful from now on.
Anyway, I didn't really examine the car too much as I am (regrettably) not very auto-savvy. I have a few friends that enjoy working with cars as a hobby, and a few of their fathers are current or ex-mechanics. My own grandfather used to own a gas station and worked on cars. Sadly, his age is getting to him and he can't remember much about them, but he did pass on his old toolbox to me. I have only been able to work with about half the tools, but I want to learn more about cars and fixing them.
I initially brought the car into an auto shop the day after I received my license, which was around September 10. After having my alternator and belts replaced, the car ran well for me. However, it did take a few tries to get it to start. The engine would first turn over a few times before finally catching, which I assumed was normal for an old car (probably mistake 1). Eventually, the car would turn over a few times and not start. I had to get jump started a few times after having driven somewhere and my car not turning back on, preventing me from returning. I had been advised that my new belts were loose, and that this could be preventing the battery from fully charging and allowing my car to turn on. I went and purchased myself a battery charger, and for a few nights had it hooked up to let the battery charge for a few hours. This worked for a while, and I figured that I could let it ride out like this for a few days until I had the spare time to bring it over to the shop.
Being 16 and still in high school, it is hard to fit everything that I want to do into one day or week. I take classes, play on the hockey team, and have a managing position at a local pizza shop. Also, a fair portion of my time goes to seeing my friends and girlfriend. This combination absorbs the majority of my free time, therefore making it hard for me to work on or bring my car to a shop.
On Sunday (27) my girlfriend and I were out on a drive. I dropped her off at home, the proceeded to make the drive home. Not 150 feet from her house, i heard something blow up and quickly parked the car. After I realized that nothing was on fire, I called my dad and asked him to come help. After he arrived, I had to leave the scene for a hockey game I had that night. My dad had the car towed back to the shop where I had initially brought it to. He requested that they tighten the belts, like we were recomended to do. Today I went to pick it up, and started coming home when BAM! my incident happened.
I was too nervous or frustrated to check for problems at that moment, but i have it parked safely by a police station until i can tow it back home. The accelerator would go when I hit the gas pedal, and the same thing happened in reverse. However, the car wont move at a faster rate then it was already coasting. It was never like this before i had to bring it to the shop-even if it sounds terrible to say, I almost hope something went wrong while my car was there so they can fix it for me.
Hope it wasn't too long, and that it was easier to read-thanks for the help!

-Zach
Zach, when starting the car, you are waiting for the glow plug light to turn off, right? It is the yellow light in the lower right corner of the instrument panel with the curly-que symbol on it. You should be turning the key only far enough to let that light come one, then wait a few seconds for it to turn off, THEN turning the key the rest of the way to make the engine crank over. If you aren't waiting for the light to go out, then it will have to crank over for quite a few seconds every time you start it and that can drain your battery. Just a thought...

As for the engine revving up but the car not moving, that could be any number of things. Transmission blown up, rear end blown up, flex disk disintigrated, u-joint broken, flex plate bolts loosened up and dropped out, torque converter blown up, tranny fliud low or lost, shifting linkage separated. There are many possible causes.
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1984 300 Coupe TurboDiesel
Silver blue paint over navy blue interior
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  #10  
Old 09-30-2009, 08:05 AM
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Hard to tell from your description but it sounds like it might be a B2 piston failure in your transmission. I would check this out. It is not too difficult to fix. Good luck.
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  #11  
Old 09-30-2009, 09:15 AM
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Yeah, could be a B2, but first just take a good look at the driveline and inspect the flex discs. That would be my first guess.
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  #12  
Old 09-30-2009, 10:32 AM
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Wow, where to start... Welcome to used car ownership! The first thing that comes to mind is that it's a good thinig the car crapped out AFTER you dropped the girl off!

Zach,

With this car, you've put yourself behind the 8 ball in a couple of ways. When I was your age, my first car was a '71. Back then this was considered an old car even though it was only 8 at the time with 63,000 miles!

Your '82 is 27 years old now with over twice the mileage. Now granted, it's a much better engineered car than my old Ford but still, 27 years is a long time for a car to be on the road. I'd be willing to bet that most of your classmates are driving cars that are year model 1999 and newer - probably Japanese.

That's because the vast majority of people driving today want a car they can do minimal maintenance on, jump in every morning and go off on their way. They don't have to nor do they want to know ANYTHING about how it works.

Our first cars - yours and mine, are what I'd call "tinkerers cars". Cars that are older and need frequent attention to small details to keep them running. These cars can be extremely reliable but they require either a fairly thorough knowledge of mechanics, deep pockets to pay someone else to do repairs or a willingness to learn how to work on them yourself.

This learning process can be slow, expensive and painfull. Part of the painfull part is dealing with situations just like this one and working through them. Another painfull part is accepting the fact that the time you need to spend working on the car is going to subtract from the time you spend with your friends.

I was lucky growing up because my father fostered a respect and knowledge of mechanics in me from the time I could hold a wrench. In high school, most of my friends were gear heads too so as a bonus, I got to hang out with my friends and work on our cars too! Since this before the invention of the internet, we had a kind of community of locals who helped each other out much like we do here online.

So, in conclusion, I wouldn't give up on the car, just be ready to learn hard and fast to avoid having to pay others to keep it on the road. Also be prepared to take it off the road for a while and work extra hours at a job to earn the money to pay for the spare parts.

The bright side is that despite some seemingly high initial repair bills, this older used car will save you money over making payments on a newer one.
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  #13  
Old 09-30-2009, 11:19 AM
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it helps if you have room for a spare car, or a spare parts car...
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  #14  
Old 09-30-2009, 11:57 AM
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A couple of observations.
1. These cars are reliable and built like tanks AND must be properly maintained if they are going to work. (I'm saving the 85SD for my 8yr old son's 16th birthday because it is solid, slow and safe.)

2. These cars are old and most mechanics don't know squat about them which means that YOU need to become educated (or wealthy) IF you are going to drive one.

3. The MOST EXPENSIVE way to repair is to throw parts at a problem hoping to get it right. Proper diagnosis is required before any part is replaced. Learn this lesson now before you pay another idiot mechanic to install the wrong parts.

4. Your initial no start situation (as is tire failure) is something simple that should be considered as basic maintenance. ie glow plug.

5. These cars are inexpensive to operate once you decide to make educated decisions and/or do the basic wrenching. Much can be accomplished with a set of Craftsman tools bought on sale along with a $75 jack and stands.

6. The transmission may be relatively simple to repair also. Alternatively, someone here probably has an extra from a parts car they'd sell cheap.

7. Break up your posts so they are easier to read else people are likely to simply skim or ignore them.

8. You car can be repaired. Please offer it up to someone that will care for it should you decide to give up.
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  #15  
Old 09-30-2009, 04:08 PM
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I was in a very similar position to you last december. I bought the 240 about two weeks after I got my license. Had it for about 8 months and the transmission grenaded. It sat in the garage for most of the winter, but I finally stepped up to the plate and swapped the transmission by myself in the cold with simple tools

Don't despair! Granted, you seem a lot busier than I, you can still do it. You have the tools, you just need the knowledge and time. These cars are going to be expensive and unreliable if you don't know anything about it and need a mechanic to work on it. Figure it out and do it. They can be cheap and reliable.

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