200K Miles, One More Time…
 

I had wanted to capture the odometer as it turned from 199,999 to 200,000, but was too busy.

Overall, this car has performed well. Known mechanical issues are:

Clogged EGR Tube
Have not yet cleared it.

Neutral Safety Switch Faulty in Cold Weather
On the first start of the day, if the ambient temperature is below about 50degrees, the car will not start in Park, but always starts in neutral. After the transmission/safety switch warms up, the car will start in Park, no matter how cold it is outside, even after sitting for hours.

This past summer, I replaced my shifter bushing because of a tiny amount of play (which I now realize was normal). The technician used a McGuyver-type rod he invented to push on the new bushing while the car was on the lift. Perhaps replacing the bushing in this manner had something to do with the problem?

Since the neutral safety switch misbehaves only when cold, and functions perfectly when warm/hot, I doubt the problem is electrical since, in my experience, electrical problems have always been heat related. Plastics, however, stiffen up and become uncooperative in the cold, but pliable when hot/warm, and I suspect the plastic shifter bushing is the culprit here - - or perhaps some oily gunk that behaves the same way in the cold.

FYI: This type of neutral safety switch malfunction can have a curious side effect: On two recent occasions, the first after a very cold, windy, rainy night; and the second after a bitterly cold, very windy night, ASR/limp home mode was triggered within the first minute of driving the car. After restarting, the fault went away and, so far, has not reoccurred.

Since the computer analyzes a signal from the neutral safety switch to determine electronic throttle actuator behavior, I suspect my quirky switch sent a false signal, and triggered this fault.

This past weekend, the weather was EXTREMELY cold with below-zero wind chills. The ASR fault, however, did not occur. When it was triggered previously, I started the car in neutral, shifted into reverse to back out, and then drove off. Lately, I have been cycling the shifter back to Park before driving, and no fault has occurred.

Overall, this is a very good car. I just wish the body style was still in production.

http://www.cyber-valley.com/img/200k.jpg

http://www.cyber-valley.com/img/200k1.jpg

http://www.cyber-valley.com/img/200k2.jpg

I used to have an ASR/LHM problem that was limited to cold/humid weather. Fault codes pointed to the throttle actuator. The fix for me was to avoid cold/humid weather which I guess not everyone can do.

I missed 210,025; now have to wait for 606,962.

Sometimes these cars go a little crazy electrically, especially after the first start of the day.

One day, about a year ago, my ABS pump started running for no reason, and kept going after the engine was off. By the time I arrived at my mechanic, the problem had mysteriously stopped, and never returned.

Still, I will tend to the safety switch issue ASAP.

Congrats on reaching the 200K milestone. Have you applied / received your high mileage award from MB USA?

http://www.mbusa.com/heritage/high-mileage.do

No; but I downloaded the form and will take it to a dealer. Thanks for the link.

My odometer is currently just shy of 199,600 - I have been watching it like a Hawk so I can take a pic of it on 200,000! That will happen in a week or two.

I got my 155,000 m-250,000km badge today! It came with a wonderful black MB Classic Center binder with a certificate and a letter from Classic Center. I was expecting the badge but didn't know there would also be a certificate. A very good looking badge I might add. Very COOL!
Come on 312,000 miles! (the next badge)

Which model do you have?

POD is a fellow dieseler. His is a 97 210.025 with the OM606.962 (turbo). They (UK) got them a year before we did on this side of the pond.

More on the ASR issue:

As soon as I walked out the door this morning, the bone-chilling cold told me that this was a potential ASR/LHM day. When I got in the car, felt the arthritic stiffness of the shifter, and noticed the extra half-second or so of crank time, I knew a fault could be triggered, if I did things right.

Normally I would have just sat and idled for a few minutes to let things warm up a bit. Today, however, I just drove off. After about 200 hundred feet, when I tapped the brakes to go over a speed bump, the ASR light came on. I shut the car off, restarted (ASR off), and continued onto a local road for about half a mile. When I slowed at a stoplight, the ASR light came on.

I recall reading something about a brake light switch connection to ASR/LHM faults. But if the switch was the problem, why would it occur only when the car is cold? Or is that switch reacting to the cold in a similar manner as my neutral safety switch?

After driving another 2 or 3 miles, with the engine straining to get out of 1st (or second?) gear, I felt a familiar surge of power that let me know the issue had sorted itself out. Instead of the engine straining to get to a higher gear, it now felt like it was in a higher gear but something was holding it down. (I am guessing that, because the ASR fault code was still in the computer, the car was unnecessarily throttling itself back.) After shutting down and restarting, all was well.

So perhaps I now have two switches to replace: Neutral Safety; and Brake Light.

I'm on my way to 312,00. It's great to have a car whose enthusiasts take pride in their high mileage. It says a lot about us and our cars, I think.

200K picture
 

Here you go...

Taken January 2004 pulling into my parents driveway..

Wow, that is a really nice looking W124. Love that black color.