I'm new to this forum. I'm also new to the car (87 2.3-16 Smoke Silver, black interior, 113K miles) but starting to get a little used to it. I've noticed the water temp. rises quickly to 80 within a couple of miles of driving and climbs to 100 where it stays most of the time. Is this normal? I have an 85 2.3 8V that heats up to 90 in traffic jam but stays below 80 most of the time.

I had a similar problem. The problem was that the fans in front of the radiator were not turning on (or, at least, not at the correct temp). My shop corrected and what a world of difference!

John

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john
'87 2.3-16v
'92 500E

John,

what did your shop actually do to get the fan to turn on at the right temperature. Maybe I should change to a different mechanic; mine tried to tell me the hight water temp. was typical for all 190's. He didn't convince me, though.

YF

All of the fans on any 190 are electric. They are turned on by temp sensors on the cylinder head or a pressure switch on the drier.
Have this checked.

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Benzmac:
Donnie Drummonds
ASE CERTIFIED MASTER AUTO TECHNICIAN
MERCEDES SPECIALIST 11 YRS

I am also new to this forum and new to my 16V. My car takes a long time to get up to 80. In fact it will run well under 80 unless you are really moving! In traffic it goes to 100 (fan turns on), but quickly goes back down to 80 when back up to speed......

Thermostat stuck open?

Any thoughts would be welcome...

Cheers!

Change to a different mechanic.

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john
'87 2.3-16v
'92 500E

SZ 190 16V:

You need a new thermostat. It is stuck in partial open and it is a common failure mode.

I have replaced three thermostats in three MBs I have owned. None lasted more than 70 kmi.

After a new stat, the temp should go to 80 - 90 in a few miles of driving and that is good for the car as this is the operating temp.

Bo

The 16 valve has an electric clutch for the engine fan. The temperature switch turns the engine fan on at 100 C and the auxiliary fan on at 105 C. If you turn your A/C on, the auxiliary fan should operate at low speed. I believe that the temperature sensor on top of the thermostat housing with two connectors controls both the engine fan and the auxiliary fan. Both fans are actually controled by relays.

My car normally runs at 100 C and I believe that that is normal for a 16 valve.

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Jim Villers
190SL, 230SL 5-speed, 95 E320 Wagon, 01 E320 Wagon, MGB, Boxster 'S', 190SL "Barn Find"

My thoughts exactly, Jim. I believe 100 C is where I'm running always, everywhere, track, autocorss, heavy traffic, driveway, parking garage, etc. The electric fans keep it there consistently.

I'll confirm the exact degree during my commute home tonight.

Temp rises quickly in these cars, very normal and par for the course.

YF Yin and SZ 190 16: be sure to sound off on the thread regarding 2.3-16 owners! Welcome, and enjoy!

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Paul

'02 ML320 3rd row - wife's
'01 //S8 Alumi*****
'87 930 Sport Seats / LSD
'58 TR3A commuter

previous

'95 //S6 6gang
'87 190E 2.3-16
'88 ///M5
'98 ML320
'93 300E 2.8
'90 300E 3.0

http://blogs.europeancarweb.com/index.html (Sgt. Schultz)
http://randomstupidity.tumblr.com/
http://www.sfest.com/gallery/

Paul, Jim, and Bo,

Thank you all for your experience and your comments. I will acknowledge that I've read your replies and will try to reply to the thread.
I've owned the car now for a month and starting to know it better. Paul is right about the water temp. rising pretty quickly on this car. But, I have now found that the aux. fan kicks on at 105 like you Jim said and keeps the water temp. at about 100. (These days the weather is much cooler in Conn. where I live and the water temp. seems to be around 90. I don't know if the outside temp. makes any difference....)
I've changed to a different mechanic, as suggested. The new guy says he can make the engine fan stay on all the time by adjusting the fan clutch (?) and it will help bring the water temp. down to around 70 or 80. I haven't asked him to do it. What you all think? Is it advisable to do this?
One more thing: I am getting a very brief high-pitched whistling sound in first gear as I let out the clutch. The noise is not prolonged and does not happen in any other gear. Is this something serious and should be checked right away?

Thanks,
YF Yin

YF Yin-

CT??? You JUST got the car? Did you buy it in Manchester? I think I test drove it. Anyway, email me krasuskyp@firstinterbank.com, I'll give you my #, we can better discuss. I'm in Hartford (work) / Tolland (home), and while by no means a 2.3-16 guru, have grown to be pretty knowledgeable of the cars, THANKS TO MERCEDES SHOP MEMBERS! Anyway, give me an email, and then a call, I'm here for about another 20 minutes, then tomorrow a.m.

__________________

Paul

'02 ML320 3rd row - wife's
'01 //S8 Alumi*****
'87 930 Sport Seats / LSD
'58 TR3A commuter

previous

'95 //S6 6gang
'87 190E 2.3-16
'88 ///M5
'98 ML320
'93 300E 2.8
'90 300E 3.0

http://blogs.europeancarweb.com/index.html (Sgt. Schultz)
http://randomstupidity.tumblr.com/
http://www.sfest.com/gallery/

OK all, I stand corrected. It's my oil temp that is consistent at 100 celcius, not coolant, I was getting my 100's confused. Coolant this morning, after my typical triple digit commute, was a strong, consistent 60-70 celcius. Never budges from there. But, if yours is running @ 100, that's still only 50% of the span of the gauge, I'd say you're fine. You've only got another issue going on if the temp continues to climb beyond that. If you're maintaining it, you've prob just got a different setting thermostat installed that's opening at a different time than mine.

Don't know why I run so cool, I like it. Even after a hard track run. Mine warms up on a cold winter morning immediately. Have heat about 2 miles down road. But from there it stays at a nice cool temp.

Good luck!

__________________

Paul

'02 ML320 3rd row - wife's
'01 //S8 Alumi*****
'87 930 Sport Seats / LSD
'58 TR3A commuter

previous

'95 //S6 6gang
'87 190E 2.3-16
'88 ///M5
'98 ML320
'93 300E 2.8
'90 300E 3.0

http://blogs.europeancarweb.com/index.html (Sgt. Schultz)
http://randomstupidity.tumblr.com/
http://www.sfest.com/gallery/

If you did get your 16V in Manchester ,CT and its smoke silver then maybe you live on Spring Street ? while I live on Gardner Street...just a guess. That would be wierd...anyway, CT is small so us MB Hot Rodders should hook up...Paul sure could show you how to get a 16V sideways while Mike and I show you what the rear of a 500E looks like on the highway!!! Enjoy the new ride, dude...

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Jim

1992 500E
2007 CLK63
2003 Audi RS6
2001 Audi allroad

Jim's500E,

Nice greeting, Jim. The only 500E's I've seen are parked on the streets, not on the highways. Meantime, quite a few people have been surprised by the passing 16V not realizing what's under the hood. My 16V is smoke silver, but I didn't get it from Manchester. Mine came from NYC.

I know there's not a whole lot of horsepower in the 16V, compared to the new sports cars on the market -- even a Subaru is packing a lot of horses, but I am having lots of fun with my 16V. I like the high revving engine and I like the throaty sound a lot. I am partial to a sports car giving a firm ride and a nice roar. The new cars are simply too quiet and too cushy for me.

Conn. is a small place and we should definitely get together. I could learn a lot from you guys. Paul has been very helpful already with my questions.

Meantime, I will look for some 500E's to pass me on the highways!

Before I get stopped for speeding, can you recommend a good radar detector?

Thanks,
YF Yin