I've been chasing the problem of a very loud abnormal sound in the 617 diesel engine for some time. I initially took the car to a local indy who listened carefully and determined the problem was Transmission Torque Converter Flex Plate failure. This proved to be an inaccurate diagnosis...also, He did not seem too interested in offering a pay-to-play diagnostic service to further investigate.

After much discussion here in the forum, it was determined the real problem was a failed fan clutch. I finished replacing the water pump and the fan clutch yesterday, filled the car with 50/50 coolant mix and WOW!...the engine sounds like NEW!

Congrats.

How much did he charge for this initial diagnosis? Did he put the car on the rack to listen for the noise?

The indy charged nothing to listen to the car. He came out, gave a listen and told me what he thought the problem was.....

Sounds like you got what you paid for.

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Current stable:
1995 E320 149K (Nancy)
1983 500SL 120K (SLoL)

Black Sheep:
1985 524TD 167K (TotalDumpster™)

Gone but not forgotten:
1986 300SDL (RIP)
1991 350SD
1991 560SEL
1990 560SEL
1986 500SEL Euro (Rusted to nothing at 47K!)

Bizarre he couldn't determine that it was coming from the front or rear of the engine. I would not be returning there, if I took my cars anywhere to get worked on.

Sent from my SM-J737A using Tapatalk

__________________
WARNING!!! VINTAGE MERCEDES MAY MULTIPLY UNCONTROLABLY!!! I have tons of Sl/Slc parts w108 w111 w126 and more. E-mail me with needs
BirchsgarageMB@gmail.com

Your first post said:

Quote:

. . . who listened carefully and determined the problem was Transmission Torque Converter Flex Plate failure.

Then as the story unfolds:

This is a real life example of why shops don't like to give off the cuff diagnoses. The shop gives a free " it might be this but I need to look into it further " and the car owner takes this as " 100% here is your problem " then blasts the shop for a " miss-diagnosis ".

The questions are:

Is a shop required to give free in depth diagnosis? ( A sub question is, Does your doctor give free tests to determine what pills you need? )

If they had told you the fan clutch was bad, would you have fixed it your self or paid them to fix it?

If the shop said to change change the water pump at the same time, would you have considered this padding the bill?

Great.


Many years ago, I knew a guy who had his own shop in a city populated by many people of means. He worked on BMWs and M-Bs exclusively. When I was at the shop, I'd watch these people come in with their car and want service. I was amazed and sometimes embarrassed by the attitudes of my fellow human beings - the deserving, the demanding, the entitlement, the take-it-leave-it-on-my-terms, the looking down at the seemingly lowly technician. To my amazement, I'd also watch the guy routinely reject business. He would be respectful (unlike many of the people wanting service) but wouldn't suffer fools and send them on their way.


So what.
If you're fortunate, you won't have to go back in the future and plead for help with something else. If you hope to keep a 1984 vehicle going, your future is likely to include seeking the help of others in one form or another.

Or he's possibly incompetent like many mechanics are in the look it up on YouTube days we live in, or very possible liked the idea of charging for separating the engine and trans while only repacing something on the front of the motor. If you stick your head under the hood then under the side by the door it's going to be pretty obvious which end it's coming from in most cases. I sell parts and turn business away working on cars for multiple reasons. I've even refused to sell parts to certain Indy's because they are scum bags. Euro cars have swarms of dirty bastards buzzing around them. Some of the ****bags I've bought parts cars from make me want to vomit There are some really good guys but be warned!
Smiling faces some time tell lies, and I've got proof!

__________________
WARNING!!! VINTAGE MERCEDES MAY MULTIPLY UNCONTROLABLY!!! I have tons of Sl/Slc parts w108 w111 w126 and more. E-mail me with needs
BirchsgarageMB@gmail.com

Ditto,
Many Indies around here refuse to work on the older MB's. When I asked why, it's because too many want a "free" diagnosis and then bash the shop for charging a diagnosis fee or feel it's necessary to make a profit.

I've never had an issue because I've always told them up front, they will be paid for their time because I'm self-employed and know what it's like to have someone always wanting a free diagnosis.

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Sam

84 300SD 350K+ miles ( Blue Belle )

I have absolutely no problem paying for diagnostics. That said, this particular shop never offered that service......

Back when the 560 needed a new transmission, I interviewed this particular shop. They told me they didn't replace the torque converters but merely reused the old torque converter when rebuilding the transmission on the bench. I thanked them for their honesty then I promptly took the car and my money elsewhere......

That was ten years ago and the tranny in the 560 is working GREAT!

In the days pre lockup converters, every transmission shop had a converter flushing / end play checking machine as it was common practice to reuse a good part.

When a converter actually needed to be replaced, some customers would whine and cry " can't you just reuse it? I'm getting rid of the car. " Nothing like a no win situation.

I wonder if the shop never lifted the hood and just did a walk by knowing it was free work. Apparently they never gave him a parts list or pricing so this was not an official diagnosis / estimate.

Also, the OP claims he never found a good shop in 25 + years, I'm betting good shops don't want to deal with his cars leaving the less than better shops to pick up the work.

Some years back, paid a shop $500 to install a new A/C compressor on the 1984 300DT. I needed the A/C to WORK because I was taking the car halfway across the United States in the middle of summer. 1800 miles into the trip, the A/C went out. I arrived at my destination suffering heat stroke and sweating like a pig. Me and my passenger's clothes were SOAKED from perspiration...

I finally got the car into another shop to check out the situation. My first thought was the A/C compressor had FAILED. Boy, was I WRONG. Turns out the first shop had used an incorrect sealing washer where the A/C hoses connect to the compressor. The new shop mechanic merely reached over and grabbed a washer which he said cost no more than a dollar and replaced the leaking washer. After he tested the system to see if it would hold a vacuum VOILA! instant air conditioning!!!!

$500 down the D-R-A-I-N with incompetent mechanic #1 plus an extremeley uncomfortable road trip!!