Got the 190D back together and running for New Years
 

Well I tore the intake manifold off a month and a half ago to ream glow plugs and had the injectors sent to Greazzer to have them rebuilt and through not having time or the parts hadn't come in, I wasn't able to complete the job until today. It took it awhile to start and once it did, it took a while for it to smooth out (we found cylinder 1 likely wasn't firing cause I didn't purge the injection system of air) but now it runs much smoother. Also, it is a tiny bit peppier. So thanks to Mark for a good job on those injectors, if anyone needs theirs done, send them to him. Mine were rusty as hell and came back looking new and just make the engine run so much smoother.

Glad to hear the 190D is back up and running again - I take it you were the designated driver for the festivities?

I missed the festivities actually. I had to drive a friend home that had been helping us but we did our countdown on the clock. Now unfortunately I believe my temperature sensor is shot and I have a vacuum leak in the dash for the blend door, gonna try to sort those out today.

solved the temp sensor issue, think we solved our problem with fuse 10 (we took out the EGR control relay), and we think there isn't a vacuum issue with the blend door but more likely the blower motor is having issues. That will be a fun fix.

Blower motor isn't as bad as people say - just take your time with it so you don't break stuff whilst you burrow your way down in there

Not that hard when you have the motor out like you did.

I rank it about an 8/10 in the pain in the but scale due to it being hard/tight to access. Not complicated, just tight. Very much a DIY if you take your time though.

I think the worst part is taking the wiper assembly out.

Yea I looked it up yesterday and it didn't look as bad as I thought. Now the issue is I don't know if the fan is going or something has attached itself to one of the blades or something else entirely. It is emitting a high pitched whine (which is why they thought it could be a vacuum line with a small leak) but now I suspect bearing failure or something is caught on it or blocking air to it (we a similar issue in our sprinter).

Highly unlikely its anything other than the blower motor beginning to fail. As aggrevating as it is to gain access, if I ever went into one with an original blower motor I would replace with new. Anyone who pulls the engine out of a 190 is amiss if they don't at a minimum clean and oil the blower motor while the access is easy.

I assumed you all would have the air conditioning version of the motor in which case the "go directly down" route is probably better isn't it? (In other words windscreen wiper off, black mesh off and then split the casing to see the motor) Even I don't think it is always necessary to remove the engine first!

I cleaned it oiled it and put it back in...

...and today I saw a brand new one for 60 euros with a fitted cage so I thought I'd better order that!

That is how I got to mine!

AFAIK, all American 190's came with A/C and have the motor with 2 fan cages. I recall your pictures showing only 1 fan cage. In addition to what you list above, you have to losen the center section of the outer firewall in order for the blower motor housing to move enough to remove the blower motor. The bolts are difficult to access and your half laying across the engine to reach things. Just a real PITA to me and not something I desire to do repeatedly.

If it easier with engine out, I may see if it gets worse or totally fails to do I cause I'll probably need to pull the engine to put in my ABS brake lines, wiring harnesses, computer and pump and change the one bad motor mount and transmission mount and maybe the steering gear box. Will have to be a summer project for sure.