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  #1  
Old 02-19-2001, 10:48 PM
riuscire7
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Hello,
I own a 89 300E. Its my first Mercedes and i love the car. About 2 days ago while i was driving around and came to a complete stop the car began to shake. I dont really know that much about cars, but with my benz i try to learn as much,...;i thought the spark plugs had something to do with the shaking so i went ahead and changed the spark plugs. When i removed the old spark plugs i noticed that the the ends were a dark black and had oil on them. After i changed the plugs the car ran much better but there is still a bit of shaking every once in a while. I have read many threads throughout this forum and i know there is alot of well experienced 300E w124 owners, and i wanted to ask you guys what is causing this problem and how can i get rid of it. One more thing...as i accelerate, the car tends to kickback quite often..i know its the transmission..but not exactly sure what the specific problem is...can someone explain how to go about fixing this problem, your help will be greatly appreciated!!!



Thanks

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  #2  
Old 02-20-2001, 12:07 AM
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sorry to say but it sounds like a valve job needs to be done. its not that bad,, about $1200 with a reasonable mechanic. i refused to believe i needed a valve job om my 300E until i finally had it done. what a difference! i believe your so called trans problem is a good thing! i wish my trans downshifted when i want it to. also, did you remember to gap those plugs?
good luck!
adam
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Current Stable:
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PREVIOUSLY OWNED:83 300SD, 87 420SEL, 88 420SEL, 90 420SEL, 86 560SEL, 86 190E 2.3-16V AMG, 94 E320

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  #3  
Old 02-20-2001, 07:41 PM
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Your engine is in need of the valve guide/valve seal treatment pronto. The roughness and "kicking back" are related to plug fouling. If you want to really get a true view of the problem. Change the plugs, drive 200-300 miles and take another look at your "new" plugs. You will be surprized. They can get old almost as quickly as you can replace them.
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1989 300e
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No matter what you fix, there will always be something else to fix..
"Warranty" is just another way of postponing the inevitable.
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  #4  
Old 02-20-2001, 10:33 PM
riuscire7
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You are right..after i finished replacing the spark plugs i took a quick test drive and removed them, only to find them already completely black...this morning as i came to a stop the car stalled. So are the valve guide/seal the cause of the problem???If so, then i will go ahead and have the work done on the car, as for the transmission kickback problem ...are the valve guide/seals again the problem????
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  #5  
Old 02-20-2001, 10:37 PM
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You will need to get the work done, or you will want to shoot your car in the grill . What exactly do you mean by transmission "kicking back". Is it shifting erratically, due to poor engine performance or something else. Please advise..
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1989 300e
2000 Dodge Grand Caravan SE
No matter what you fix, there will always be something else to fix..
"Warranty" is just another way of postponing the inevitable.
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  #6  
Old 02-20-2001, 11:01 PM
dlswnfrd
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Don't Shoot the Horse Yet

Riuscire7, Strang behaviour occurs to the transmission when a sick engine is out in front.
Poor manifold pressure and irradic power both are enimies to the transmission.
After you have had the problem solved, either just valve stem seals or a complete cylinder head rebuild, then approach the transmission problem; it may just go away.
Happy Trails Beep Beep from Houston!!!
Donald, El Cheapo
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  #7  
Old 02-20-2001, 11:24 PM
riuscire7
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jeffsr

By "kicking back" i mean everytime i accelerate the car jolts. Its really irritating, but i got the timing down and everytime i feel the jolt coming i have to slightly take my foot of the gas.

Mr. Swinford ,do you think that it will be necessary to completely rebuild the cylinder head, and if so how much does that work run about??


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  #8  
Old 02-21-2001, 10:42 AM
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That does not sound like your tranny. That sounds like you engine is giving your trans a workout. Probably missing, stumbling and backfiring. If you get the valve job done, this will involve removing and disassembling the head. Have the head checked for trueness, valves ground and seated and, of course new seals and guides. You will be happy with the results of this work. It will seem like a new car.
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Jeff Lawrence
1989 300e
2000 Dodge Grand Caravan SE
No matter what you fix, there will always be something else to fix..
"Warranty" is just another way of postponing the inevitable.
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  #9  
Old 02-21-2001, 11:03 AM
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Unless you are made of money I would have your regular tech diagnose the problem. If you don't have a regular tech, find one!

I seriously doubt that your problems will be cured by a valve job. It sounds to me like a mixture problem. I can see having one maybe two valve guides in severe failure but not all cylinders. Also if you have a uniform oil consumption (equal carbon on old plugs) I would replace the seals first, about a $200 job. The only reason to do the valve job is if you have a compression problem or a loose guide. We have resealed hundreds of 103 motors with complete success. We have done about three valve jobs, all for lack of compression and all with over 200K miles.
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  #10  
Old 02-21-2001, 11:37 AM
riuscire7
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Thanks to all for your good advice. But stevebfl, if the valve job would not fix my problem then how would i resolve the mixture problem. My 300E tends to cosume about a quart of oil every 250 miles (pretty terrible). When i bought the car i bought a warranty for 2 years. "The warranty covers :pistons, piston rings and pins, crankshaft and crankshaft main bearings, connecting rods and connecting rod bearings, camshaft and camshaft bearings, timing belt or chain, timing gear,timing tensioners, rocker arms, rocker shafts and rocker bushings, valves, valves springs, valve retainers, valve guides and valve seats; lifters, push rods and followers; oil pump. Cylinder block and cylinder head(s) are covered only if damaged as as result of a mechanical failure of a covered internal part of the engine. Rotor, eccentric shaft and all other internally lubricated parts on rotary engines are also covered." I have called them and explained to them my problem and they have asked me to take the car in, saying that it might be a small problem (doubt it). Out of all the things covered above, what should be replaced so that i may suggest to the warranty company what needs to be done.

Thank You
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  #11  
Old 02-21-2001, 11:59 AM
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Since you are well covered, I refer you to the first line of my reply.

Your oil consumption is high enough to be a failed guide but it is most likely just seals. BTW the insurance company is not going to buy you a fix based upon an internet conversation. We can give you advice, but mine would be to use your insurance to develope a good relationship with an expert. If your insurance covers internal engines but not mixture forming devices that is not a reason to blame the engine.

Whatever your problem is it won't change because you can afford it or not!

Whatever the cause, you should not wait to solve the problem. Oil consumption at that level will destroy your catalytic convertor in a short time. It may already have and be part of your problem.

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Continental Imports
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