89 560SL - Quiet Directional Signals & Running Hot

[harveyr]

I am a happy new owner of an 89 560SL with 52,000 miles. While driving the car I noticed two "issues" that might warrant attention:

1) The left and right directional signals work, but the clicking is barely audible. Is this normal? If not, what controls/generates the sound?

2) The car engine temp runs at about 83 c on the highway with the air conditioning on, same in city driving. However, the temp shoots to 100 c when the car sits at a red light (a/c on), turning off the a/c seems to lower the temp a bit. The temp goes back down once the car is in motion. I know that there is a fan near the radiator, but I have no idea whether it runs (ever). Is this jump in temp something that I should investigate/fix?

Thanks for your assistance!

[David Langsam]

I think I once heard my turn signal - in the middle of the night, at a stop sign, with no other cars around. But I might have imagined it.

[Walrus]

both conditions normal as far as I can attest.

[Jack M]

Hi, Turn signal sound is very low almost non existant.

Two suggestions. Always make sure that the coolant level is at the mark on the tank. This is important because if it drops even a bit below the mark, the inlet to the radiator will get too hot and the plastic will deteriorate, and it will crack. Then you have to replace the radiator tank which is another 2 days out of your life plus $$$. Pull the radiator, disconnect the transmission lines, ya, ya, ya. This is a weak point in the cooling system.

Be sure that the aux fan comes on. Methods for checking this are in the forum .

Enjoy the drive! J

[MAGV5]

Harveyr,

Your turn signals are no prblem. If they are flashing they are ok. On the heat issue.
This reading is normal for Texas in the summer. I llive in Arlington, Texas and my temp indicator acts the same. Just watch the temp in stop and go traffic, making sure it dosen't get too much over 100 and never near the red marker. If temp gets to the red marker pull over and turn off the engine. Things that could be checked to make sure they are working correctly, are the fan clutch and the thermo switch on the engine that controls the electric fan in front of the radiator.

Magv5

[karburn]

Check the fan clutch. The fan should spin by hand when the engine is cold (and off ), but after the car heats up to 100C or so, shut if off and check the fan again. There should be considerable resistance to turning by hand.

I know because mine spins freely, even when hot. I've been having the same symptoms with my 97 560SL. My car will actually stall if I get caught in stop-n-go traffic when the engine is hot. New fan clutch is on order.

[Kimolaoha]

Originally Posted by harveyr

1) The left and right directional signals work, but the clicking is barely audible. Is this normal? If not, what controls/generates the sound?

I got so tired of forgetting to turn off the turn signals (especially with the top down when they were REALLY inaudible and when glare made it hard to even see the flashing blinker lights) that I wired a red flashing light (from Radio Shack) into the flasher relay (behind the dash) and installed it in the Instrument Panel (there is a dummy slot in the middle bottom of the IP on an '83 380SL, filled with black styrofoam). Now -- when the signals are activated --I get a nice red dead center flashing light that can be seen even in bright sunlight. I haven't traveled down the road with a flashing blinker for years now. If there is any interest, I could probably still dig up the write up/instructions that I posted on the old Ritter-Easley list many years ago. If you can pull the IP, you can wire this up in 30 minutes or so.
Mike

[karburn]

PS: I replaced the fan clutch and the temperature is now under control. It stays within normal range even when driving in stop-n-go traffic. That fan moves a LOT of air now.

I still have an occasional stall, which is really a mystery. The fuel system pressure checked out and one vacuum leak was fixed, but it will still stall on a sudden stop when the motor is hot.

[rowdie]

There is also a switch on the receiver/drier thay measures refridg. temp and activates the aux. fan.

[abiby]

Originally Posted by karburn

I still have an occasional stall, which is really a mystery. The fuel system pressure checked out and one vacuum leak was fixed, but it will still stall on a sudden stop when the motor is hot.

Wow, what a coincidence. Those are the exact symptoms I was recently reading about.

There was a fix from MB which involves replacing the two rubber boots on the Idle Control Valve, both with an additional outlet (they all come this way now), and adding a plastic tube between them. Insure that the plastic tube is open on both ends as it comes with one end closed.

Problem was that in certain conditons, sudden release of throttle would completely close the flow through the ICV, causing a stall.

.