New members.....read this....it helps....
 

I've noticed lately that a lot of the posts are the same old topics being reworded to get new responses.

While I did the same when I started asking questions over a year ago, I quickly learned that most of the truly knowledgable members do not post the same answers over and over again.

I don't think that someone like Larry Bible,(random selectiom) for example, has the time to retype and post his very qualified answers on AC work, over and over again. It's out there, go get it.

My point is that all of the new members(and it seems like the membershio has grown considerably) are missing out on TONS of information that has already been asked/answered by truly knowledgeable people if they do not use the SEARCH feature provided by this forum.

This means that you may not be getting the best information to make the right decisions and/opr repairs. I watch the posts regularly and I know that some of the more informed VERY SENIOR members are not responding to a lot of stuff.

How many times can you expect a guy with 5700 posts to give us the same answers they have given countless times before.

Use the search, it works wonders, then thank the guys that gave you the RIGHT INFO....

Opinions?

Search:
 

That is why I wrote the stickie at the top.
To try and get them to get the most information they can on a subject.
And if they do this and post the year and model. When they do post we can try and serve them better. If someone makes and effort and still need's help please ask.
It just make's this board that much better.
Charlie

My problem with the search is that, often as not, you have to dig through a whole bunch of stuff to get the nuggets of information. In addition, there are things that are subject to change...so, it's possible that information given two years ago may be superceded by more recent data that you wouldn't know about if you didn't post a fresh question.

There's also the problem of not wording the search terms right and not getting the right results at all.

Not trying to put any extra burden on anyone else, but I'm one of these types that prefers to be thorough...and, while I'm not trying to discout the vast resource of information in the archives or impose an extra workload on anyone, a fresh opinion can be very valuable at times. For example (not on this site), while going through my truck, I decided to confirm that the specs for the valve angles in the cylinder heads of my truck listed in the factory shop manual were correct...and it turned out that there was an update that hadn't been mentioned before. If I hadn't asked the question, I would have used the old specs and could have gotten in trouble.

Just my $.02... :) And I'm also not trying to say that the search shouldn't be utilized. But, I don't think that recommendations to use the search feature should be at the expense of discouraging new posts, except possibly on a few subjects that have been rehashed countless times (oil threads, etc).

:)

New post:
 

I did not mean to discourage new post.
As to the correctness of the answer. This is a MB Diesel board.
Where people post their thought's.
It is not dogma or gospel if you will.
I always refer to the manual and common sense as my final answer.

Example someone posted here they cleaned and reused their Pre Filter. This works for them. But Charlie will buy the $1.50 filter and replace it. Just my spend thrift self.
In fact just yesterday I replaced the Voltage Regulator and there was a little brush left but to me $15 is cheaper than a tow home.

But if I can get a tip or pearl here I am thankful.
Charlie

"There's also the problem of not wording the search terms right and not getting the right results at all."-Tim

That is very true.... but it really sounds smart to post saying " I tried to search, used " thus and thus" and did not find anything... does anyone have better suggestions for search words....

This shows that one is trying to utilize the resources in a legit manner and will bring willing help.

My point was more to the fact that some of the more veteran, experienced, experts on this board more than likely will not continue to repost their same answers over and over.

If that's the case, then the newbies would miss out on some valuable info by not searching.

I certainly would never try to discourage new members.

The easiest thing to do is post a question and get an immeduiate response, and hell, have leathermang come fix your car for you.:)

Part of the fun in searching is reading what you should have done, or what you did wrong, not just gettting easy answers.

It is time consuming looking thru the 1500 posts on wheel vibrations,(I posted one of those);) but by searching, you will get more complete answers for you questions from the vets.....

Yes/No?

One of the problems with doing a search that I always have, be it here or the TDI Forum, is getting sidetracked by something else. :rolleyes: :D

Yes.
 

In general terms I agree there are some posts that I do not respond to for the above mentioned reasons.

Note:
I would like to see a CD copy of the diesel forum offered.
I carry a laptop all the time, and my technical library is moving to CD.
99% of the time I run a dial up connection, and the time for a search is rough on a 900 baud connection, 56k is not bad and fiber optic screams.

I agree, to a degree. Searching is hard for a new member because there is so much information here. It takes quite a while to figure out how this forum works and to even determine what kind of information is available. There are tons of forums out there and based on my experiences with those, you could search and end up reading mostly flame wars. This one is different and it takes a while to realize that.

It also takes a while to learn the terminology if you are new to MB's and diesels. How can you search for an ALDA if you don't have a clue what one is? But after spending time here, you learn that info and then can access the archives. Same goes for injectors, additive, oils and transmissioni adjustments and we cannot forget the never ending vacuum issues.

Imagine a new member searching for "vacuum" because he thinks he has a leak somewhere. He would never get off his (or her) computer trying to ascertain what info is useful. You learn how to narrow issues like that down by being here and asking questions.

I personally have learned a ton by just tuning in and participating in threads. Having been here a year or so, I now know who really know what they are talking about and much of the personalities of the "old timers". The debates are good and I thank you guys for having them.

In short, thoughtful questions are good. Searching first and then asking questions is better. Learning and understanding is the best.

But then you also have to look at the other side of things. If everyone searched then there would be no more posts here since most of the topics have been covered already.

Searching is always good but sometimes you get 500 different answers and they may be old and outdated.

I'm still 50/50 when it comes to searching....

I've been trying to do that for a year, but he won't leave the farm. :o

As an old timer (since before there was a Diesel Discussion!) who has read nearly every post on the board, I don't mind helping the newbies find the stuff they need. Giving them the exact search terms or linking to a thread directly can be just as good as retyping the answer, and ever more helpful than just saying "Use the search."

And BTW, I've seen Larry type the same answer literally dozens of times. He's an extremely fast typist and doesn't seem to mind. But changes in his employment mean that is is not able to spend as much time here.

One of the things that disappoints me is that some of the professional techs (Benzmac, stevebfl, Gilly, etc.) hardly ever check in on this forum. So it is up to the rest of us to pick up the slack. So when somebody comes up with an off the wall question on a newer car that few of us DIYers know about, I usually refer them to the tech help section.

It's all about helping others to enjoy their cars as much as we do, and I feel each of us should try to contribute as much as we can.

"type the same answer literally dozens of times."

If Larry was not so stubborn we could teach him to use the "highlight,controlC,place cursor,controlV" ritual.....

" not leave the farm"...
We usually get 32 inches of rain per year...
we are 17 inches ahead of normal today...
The Grass is about to overtake me. Over one million square feet all trying to turn into weeds all the time....When I get my Tifton85 spread all over I am going to travel EVERYWHERE...expect a knock on your door.....

Let's not forget that there are some of us so tied up in our old wheezers that the wife left, the kid's don't talk to you anymore, you smell too bad to go put in public, hell, the only people that'll still talk to you are all on this board. :-)

Hasn't THIS topic been covered before?:)

Mike

Would it make sense to create another forum to move the key posts to? I've done that on other forums and it is very helpful.

Move the best post about the ALDA there, a post about turbo adjustment, suspension bushings, manual transmission swap info, egr cleaning/blocking, shifter bushings, sunroof lube, diesel purge, radiator neck, oil lines, engine mount replacement, finding replacement dash/console wood, leaky trunk gasket fix, self leveling suspension fixes, Tex vs. Leather, normal gas mileage, flex disk replacement, valve adjustment howto, injection timing, year engine changes, etc.

-Tad