I have decided to consolidate all my posts on my car into one long dreary thread.

In addition to the things mentioned above that I have replaced, I have now replaced the ignition switch and lock assembly, repaired the wiring so that NOW the car can start with the key switch. Before, I had to turn on the switch, and press a button to start it... Kinda like my Grandads 1940 Ford when I was a kid... a long time ago...

Replaced the vacuum modulator on the transmission. Also, found a vacuum line diagram in the shop manual and found several things disconnected or plugged.

Repaired the belt tensioner. At the same time, I found that someone had decided that their way of stringing the belt around all the pulleys was better than what M-B did, so I bought a new drive belt for a non-A/C car, and left the compressor pulley out of the mix for now. It is not installed under the power steering pump like it is supposed to be. Now, the tensioner works properly. The A/C rebuilding will come at a later time.

All of the electric windows are repaired. Someone had removed the plastic moisture barriers from 3 of the doors. I cut out some new barrier material and installed them. Also, repaired and hot-glued some trim pieces that have gotten broken over the years.

There are some terrible squeaks that I hear as I rev the engine. I have replaced the bearings in the alternator, and cleaned it thoroughly while I had it apart. I thought the tensioner pulley bearing was causing the squeak, until I replaced it. Now, it is either the water pump, or the PS pump. I'm leaning toward the PS pump, as I have listened to the water pump with a length of pipe and heard nothing extraordinary as I touched the pump body and listened.

I am not worrying about the sunroof for now. I have 4 working windows.

Back to the PS pump: It may not be the original for this car. It has 3 odd spacers between the pulley and the bolt flange. The pulley wobbles as it turns. Is there a special way to install the 3 spacers? AND, and this makes this all the more suspect to me: One of the PS pump pulley bolts is 14mm while the other 2 are 13mm.

This squeaking is the BIG problem right now. Other than this, the car is running very well for me.

Since I repaired the odometer today, I can now track my gas mileage now that locally, we have hit $3.10 a gallon for regular.

I DO appreciate all of your replies, both on this thread, and private.

Bruce

__________________
My first Mercedes Benz. 4/6/07.

1984 190E (201 024) 2.3L four.

Here is a link that may help:
http://www.detali.ru/cat/oem_mb1.asp?TP=1&F=201034&M=102%2E983&GA=722%2E410&GM=717%2E404&L=765%2E902&CT=M&Cat=488&SID=13

__________________
1992 400E current
1988 300E sold
1973 280C totalled
1973 280SEL never got it running
1971 250C my first love but rusted out

Just a heads up for a new MBZ owner, whatever you do, and to avoid a pinging engine, DO NOT USE REGULAR GAS.

Premium 91-92 octane or greater.

These engines get tempermental with low octane gas, my 85 190E 2.3 8V gave me a bad idle and a sluggish take off with low octane fuel.

-J

Thank you for the links, friends.

I had never thought about using anything besides Regular in this car. Things will change on the next fill-up. I've heard no pinging, but I cant hear much over the squeaking.

My used parts supplier is stripping a 1985 190E that was hit in the back end. HE was the first one to notice the strange placement of the GM air cond. compressor.

One good thing about this weird compressor is that I also have a 1985 Oldsmobile Toronado that has a very noisy original compressor on it. The one on the Mercedes is an exact fit if I change the drive belt pulley back to a V belt! I own a pair of clutch removal, and installation tools, so, YAY!

Bruce

__________________
My first Mercedes Benz. 4/6/07.

1984 190E (201 024) 2.3L four.

Today, I replaced the flat belt tensioner and installed a new belt that would bypass the GM compressor. I used the non-A/C belt placement arrangement from the manual CD that I bought thru this site.

It all tightened up really nicely. All of the bolts are in place and correctly torqued. The only noise now is because one of the power steering pump pulley bolts is stripped and it wants to wobble a bit. THAT will be another project that will happen when the A/C compressor gets moved again. Wont happen this summer!

Bruce

__________________
My first Mercedes Benz. 4/6/07.

1984 190E (201 024) 2.3L four.

Hi Bruce,

I noticed you changed the vacuum modulator in your transmission. Can you please tell me how you changed it ??? I have some vacuum issues on my 93 190e and would like to replace the modulator. Thanks for your help.

smk_texas

There is very little room to work on the side of the transmission, so I put a jack unter the tranny pan with a block of wood between them and removed the rear tranny mount, and losened the U clamp on the exhaust pipe. Then, I was able to lower the tranny enough to get at the modulator. After I lowered it, I was able to push it over towards the passenger side to make a bit more room. The modulator is held in with a clamp and 2 allen screws. It was tough going, as the wrench is short, and the bolts had never been removed before.

In my case, the modulator was not leaking vacuum. If I connected my little vacuum pump to it and drove it, it made no difference in tranny operation with or without vacuum. When I pulled it off the tranny, the O rings were rotton and hard as a rock. This was my fluid leak, as it is now staying full of fluid. The old modulator was stuck in one position. I pressed the piston with my thumb and it ticked and started moving.

The new modulator (green style--like the old one) came with new O rings installed. It cost $38 at my local M-B dealer, and was in stock!

The shift quality is totally different now. Before, it had a very harsh shift. Now, it is smoother.

A few days ago, when I found the vacuum line routing on the engine, I found that PO had connected the tranny vacuum line to the wrong tap. I changed it, and didnt notice a difference in the shift, but do notice that it will downshift at lower speeds with throttle pressure easier than before.

Almost ALL of the repairs I am doing, with the exception of the modulator replacement, has been done before... badly.. by previous owners.

Bruce

__________________
My first Mercedes Benz. 4/6/07.

1984 190E (201 024) 2.3L four.