I just completed THE MOST CHALLENGING car repair I have ever done.

I took apart the driver's door FROM THE INSIDE, IN THE SUN, on a 100-plus degree day. It wasn't all that technically challenging but it was physically brutal in the heat, small space and totally obnoxious conditions.

I went to see "Inception" at a midnight show (good movie) and while I was inside, someone tried to break into my car. They totally jacked the driver's locking assembly and the plunger assembly. I couldn't use the key, as the plunger was broken and snapped, thus when the lock tried to push the plunger up, it jammed against the housing and wouldn't budge. I'm not going to put up with getting in through the passenger side for more than a day.

It's completely harrowing removing the panel with the door closed. There's no good way to do it and your fingers are crossed you don't trash the panel itself the entire time because a LOT of creative pulling is required.

I'm going to take the opportunity to lubricate all the locks, hinges and closures.

It took a good half hour but I got it free enough to get at the plunger and at least get the door open (and the vacuum engaged so the trunk wouldn't be key-dependent until it's all fixed). So in an emergency, just know that you CAN do the door panel, or at least a lot of it, from the inside.

Just don't make me do it ever again.

__________________
1980 300SD 220,xxx
somewhere, nc

__________________
'85 300TD "Puff The Magic Wagon" - Rolling Resto
'19 Mazda CX-9 Signature - Wife's sled
'21 Morgan 3-Wheeler P101 Edition
'95 E300d - SOLD
'84 300TD "Brown Betty" - Miss this one
'81 240D "China Baby" - Farm grocery getter

Worse than the valves? You were there. You got dirty. Doesn't that count? It wasn't solo, but you were in there under the hood.

The conditions may have been a bit better, though. The current heat is awful.

I don't know how you guys in Texas can tolerate that heat. It has been brutal in the NE by our standards lately. Into the mid 90s. I get so lethargic. I have all these things I want to do and can't seem to get moving. When it gets back down to the low 70s and the mid 60s, the latter which is ideal, I feel like I come alive again.

Richard

__________________
85 300D 75K Anthracite Grey 0-60 in 13 seconds **For Sale**
84 300D 333K Black (The Velveteen Rabbit) 0-60 in 14 seconds
00 Toyota Sienna 208K (Sold)
15 Subaru Outback 43K
11 Subaru Outback 67K
98 Ford Taurus 100K (Gertie - Was Grandma's - drove it to church and shopping - really) Daughter's car now.
30 Model A Ford 2 Door Sedan (Sold) 0-60 in . . . Never reached 60

90's are not all that bad if you have some shade (and water). Working in the bright Texas sun is the problem - it's brutal.

__________________
Charles
1983 300D, bought new, 215k+ miles, donated to Purple Hearts veterans charity but I have parts for sale: http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/mercedes-benz-cars-sale/296386-fs-1-owner-83-mb-300d-turbo-rebuild-parts.html

Too much glare for too long and I get a headache. I much prefer a cloudy day to work on my car. The light is diffuse and I can see better into the engine bay.

__________________
85 300D 75K Anthracite Grey 0-60 in 13 seconds **For Sale**
84 300D 333K Black (The Velveteen Rabbit) 0-60 in 14 seconds
00 Toyota Sienna 208K (Sold)
15 Subaru Outback 43K
11 Subaru Outback 67K
98 Ford Taurus 100K (Gertie - Was Grandma's - drove it to church and shopping - really) Daughter's car now.
30 Model A Ford 2 Door Sedan (Sold) 0-60 in . . . Never reached 60

Nah. It's a wet heat. It's fine. We love it here.

I keep a fan blowing in the garage while I'm out there. Try to only do work in the morning.

__________________
'85 300TD "Puff The Magic Wagon" - Rolling Resto
'19 Mazda CX-9 Signature - Wife's sled
'21 Morgan 3-Wheeler P101 Edition
'95 E300d - SOLD
'84 300TD "Brown Betty" - Miss this one
'81 240D "China Baby" - Farm grocery getter

To be honest, I don't know either. I was considering re-locating to the Hill Country of central Texas, until I came to my senses. Friends of mine want me to relo to Phoenix because of the dirt cheap residential housing -- yeah riiight. I'll be out tomorrow.....not.

__________________
'06 E320 CDI
'17 Corvette Stingray Vert

I think all I did with the valves was occasionally hold something. YOU did all the work!!! And I think of you every single time the engine leaps to life.

This was awful and dirty and physically miserable. I was completely motivated, though. I am NOT going to dishonor this nice car by climbing in and out through the passenger side. Inspiration like that will keep you going even when your arms and hands are running with sweat, you can't get the door panel to come free from where the dash bumps out, your fingers are bloody and your knee is crushing the console!!!!!!

__________________
1980 300SD 220,xxx
somewhere, nc

Doing the door panel with the door CLOSED is the challenge. Well done!

__________________
TC
Current stable:
- 2004 Mazda RALLYWANKEL
- 2007 Saturn sky redline
- 2004 Explorer...under surgery.

Past: 135i, GTI, 300E, 300SD, 300SD, Stealth

I will second that.



Good job. Time to celebrate.

__________________
85 300D 3 pedal. Current project.
83 300TD (need rear wiper assembly dead or alive)
84 300SD Daily driver
85 300TD almost 400k miles and driven daily.
98 E300D *sold
86 300SDL *sold and made flawless 10 hour journey to new home.

I can definitely identify with the heat.

My shop is an old haybarn with concrete added later. No insulation although, being a haybarn, there are large doors on each end. luckily aligned with the prevailing winds.

This time of year I just do the best I can with aiming some fans toward where I'm working. You would think that since it's Texas I'd get a break in the Winter, but with no insulation in a metal building there's no chance of heating it. It would be like trying to heat the great outdoors. When it's about 30 or below, I just shut down operation. Luckily, a typical winter day will start out freezing and be in the forties before noon. If the Sun is out, then it heats the building enough that you can hold a wrench in your hand pretty quickly.

Oh my, please do tell where you went that people were trying to break into a 30-year old car !!!!!
What were they trying to get - not your Becker radio, I imagine?
I am driving around down here with a false sense of security.....

__________________

Current Mercedes
1979 maple yellow 240D 4-speed

Gone and fondly remembered:
1980 orient red 240D 4-speed

Gone and NOT fondly remembered:
1982 Chna Blue 300TD

Other car in the stable:
2013 VW Jetta Sportwagen TDI / 6-speed MT

Ummmmmmmmmm, Hu?

I love the heat. Totally thrive in it.

When it's 90+ with a humidity that makes you sweet buckets I feel the greatest!

I'll be moving someplace south very soon. I hate snow, cold, and AC

__________________
-Typos courtesy of my mobile phone.