To whoever reads this post.I have a problem with my 1980 450sl.I tried a straight forward Question.No Tech answered.I tried one in diealect to maby attract a bite.no help.This is supposed to be a tech site where Techs help.What is the combination.I am willing to pay for tech advice.Has this site become so popular the some of us find ourselves on the outside looking in.Que Deci.Michael

I can't speak for the site owners, but if the guestion you had on your car was titled "Shesa Maka Noise", then a number of people, including technical, attempted to answer your question. One answer was from Steve (Steve Brotherton Continental Imports Bosch Master, ASE Master, L1 27 years MB technician), who I also believe has a degree in engineereing. Maybe it scrolled over to the next page before you saw the answer, or maybe your question about start up pinging was not specific enough to answer without more info, or seeing the car. Or maybe you are asking about a different question than this one that I didn't see.

We should all remember that the techs on this board are volunteering their time, after a full day of work at their paid jobs, while they are also trying to maintain their professional development, start MBWerks, and somewhere in there have a family life. They aren't obligated to do this, or to answer every post. It is free, it is usually great advice, but for someone with my (low) level of Auto technical ability, it can't be a total substitute for my tech. And yes, the site is growing rapidly, so some things may get overlooked, or answered less completely than we members would like. With over 3000 members and 8-10 new members per day, 5 or 6 technical people are going to be pretty busy.

You might try reposting the question so it appears at the top of the list again - the list grows faster every day! Good luck on your problem solving :), and thanks again to the people who volunteer their time to help us all out of our problems!

Question?
 

I have found answers to a number of questions though this forum both from Techs and other Mercedes-Benz owners. In fact I enjoy the postings for all types of problems even those not applicable to my vehicle. Many topics can also be researched by doing a search of prior postings. You might try to search feature for your answer. What is the question you have? Remember the Techs and the 3000+ members of this site offer "free of charge" the benefit of their experience. Perhaps your question was not clearly stated, did not give enough information, or just simply did not attract enough attention. If first you don't get a response, search and then try again.

benzmac what does it take.
 

John thank you for the post.I mentioned that the popularity of this site.Is overwhelming the few techs.As far as The one person that replied,having more pedegrees than man of war.I am not nostradamus.If someone does not list their crediantels I have no way of knowing.The answer I got did not fir the Question.I am an old man.I was raised in the time of books.When people read an understood.I am finding in this computor age,That no matter how one trys.You will get answers to Questions to you did not ask.I suggest that you go tilt some windmills.Thank you Rybikowsky

Michael:
I am also an older retired man, raised in a time of books, before computers. It was also a time of politeness and appreciation for the help people try to give, not a time of being deliberately offensive to those who try to help. You addressed your post "to anyone who reads this". I read it and thought you meant what you said, so I tried to politely respond on methods of geting answers to your questions.

Even in a time of "only" books, if you asked a question so vague that there were many possible answers, you didn't get a simple or clear answer, and would be unhappy. When you read a book, you usually knew something about the author - Steve's "man of war" credentials were right there on his post for you to read.

This is a polite forum, which is one of it's attractions. It is not a place for puerile and offensive behavior.

Also you could try emailing our techs, that way you might get the personal type of response you so eloquently crave.
Also if you are getting answers to question you don't ask you may want to consider skipping the forum all together and maybe try a local tech at a garage near you.
Also please note that even though non-tech people are trying to answer your question on this forum and even though they may be far off the solution, they are just trying to be courteous and helpful because they all understand the frustration of having a problem with a car and not being able to figure it out. So go a little easy on them.

I am not going to read this post any more so you can go ahead an let off a tirade or insult at me if you so desire. Good luck to you and your problem.

Michael,

Most everyone on this site just wants to help. JCE was making some suggestios how to get the best results from this site.

I try to help where I can, but I too cannot read every post anymore, we are at more than a page per day minimum on Tech Help. I used to read every post every day, I can no longer do that. I am not a pro tech, but I can help in many cases.

My suggestion is:

1. Post with a title as descriptive as possible.
2. Describe your problem with as many meaningful "clues" as you can give. This many times will include some history of the car or the problem.
3. Ensure that you include the year, model and any specifics that may relate to your problem.

Sometimes even with all this information you may not get a reply, at least right away. It could be that the problem stumps everyone, or it could be that it may require some complex tests that a pro tech may hesitate to go into because they have no way of knowing the depth of the posters technical knowledge.

Michael, please don't give up on us yet. We want to help if we can. Give it another try with as much information about the car and problem as you can give. Someone will try to help.

Have a great day,

Well, I am by no measure old, but it is fairly obvious that the techs on this board donate a substantial amount of their free time in order to benefit others.

Some general problems, such as making noise on startup have such a broad number of causes that it could be very hard to specifically describe the problem and find an immediate solution.

Remember, the people here are volunteering their time, they do not have to do this, they choose to do this because they care about others.

I apologize, I know this still does not answer your question.

benzmac what does it take
 

John and the rest of you.You are right please forgive my rudeness.Mia Culpa Mia Culpa Mia Maxima Culpa.Michael

O creature sciocche, quanta ignoranza è quella che v'offende?
 

Mr.Rybikowski,

I for one, am proud of you for admitting your impatience. Unfortunately, sometimes we do let our human slip out, and the accompanying emotions aren't always pretty. We are all guilty as charged, I'm afraid.

Here's some added tips from my experience. First, let your thread ride for awhile, especially over a weekend. Next, read the respondent's "signature". It tells you a lot about who that person is, and you may even find out more about them by clicking on the "profile" icon below their response. It will also help you to get a sense of that member's "personality". And that will develop even further as you read their continued posts. Then, "remember never to bite the foot that stops your grapes". We're all here to learn, share, and to help when we can in our own individual ways. But that doesn't mean we won't or can't disagree and/or offer differing opinions.

Some of us try to be helpful to the best of our ability while waiting for a real tech to read the thread and respond. Very much like first aid while waiting for an ambulance. During that process we may even try to interject a little humor to offset the stress and show that we are friendly.

Now, go back to the "Shesa Makea Noise" post. I think you may be surprised to find at least two or three plausible theories about what the problem might be.

benzmac what does it take.
 

Scott you are quite the gentleman thank you for the s uggestions and kind tone.I will try to relax and go more w
ith the flow.Michael.1980 450sl.
1980 300td
1987 nissan truck
1999 ural patrol.
1995 moto guzzi calif.
1981 honda xr250.
bycycle
roller skates
pogo stick
walking shoes
bare feet.

Michael,

One more thing. Noises are probably the most difficult thing for us to help you with. But, I've even gotten help with noises, by describing where they come from and if they are engine speed, wheel speed, etc.

Keep on trying to describe the problem and answering the questions. Sometimes just the act of putting it in words makes you think through the problem in a way different than before and makes you come up with your own solution.

Best of luck,

Michael:

Mondays can be like that sometimes - good luck on the diagnosis. There is a lot of talent on this forum, and the answer is out there somewhere, so don't give up :) .

One last thing
 

Michael:

In case it crossed your mind, don't be afraid to ask what may seem to you a "stupid" question. I ask them all the time on this forum and I'm learning from each and every one of them. Since last October or so, when I registered, I've gotten just one reply to a post that I considered less than appropriate and that one only in terms of tone. The information was very useful, the person who posted seemed just a little bit arrogant and condescending (either that or I misunderstood his sarcasm, which is always possible in this format).

I don't know if this applies, but I've had other engines with a "tick" for awhile upon start-up that quiet down as they warm up or rev higher than at idle. In two cases (a Toyota pickup with an SR5 engine and a Toyota Celica with the same mill) after a valve adjustment, this problem went away. In another case, an oil change did the trick (the car was my first wife's, and she'd apparently not had it serviced for some time before our wedding).

Bon chance.

benzmac what does it take
 

Your a great bunch of people.I hope ican help someone on the site in the future.Thanks Michael.