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  #1  
Old 02-13-2009, 12:45 PM
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Friday the 13th: wrecked W124 E320 Wagon

I noticed yesterday that the air out of my vents was not getting cold. When I got to my driveway, I restarted the car, and the AC came back.

No luck at all so far today. It takes a long time to switch from hot to cold, including an awkward period of warm air in the side vents and cooler air in the center vents.

I cannot hear the click of an AC compressor that I here so easily with my W123 and R107. Does the compressor audibly activate on a W124?

I see a heater valve on the passenger side of the engine bay behind the firewall, and am thinking that would be the likely culprit. The belts are all new within the past few months. Any suggestions? I hope its not a Friday the 13th situation and Jason has just put an ax in my Evaporator.
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Last edited by TylerH860; 02-16-2009 at 04:41 PM.
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  #2  
Old 02-13-2009, 01:21 PM
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You can visually check the A/C compressor clutch while the engine is running. But most likely the A/C is low on refrig. That's usually caused by a leaking evaporator. Happy 13th.
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  #3  
Old 02-13-2009, 02:00 PM
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Lots of potential culprits when the clutch will not engage.

Unlike the W123 cars, the W124 belt is a serpentine and MB has included a disable on the compressor clutch when the rpm of the compressor does not match the crankshaft. (clutch slip)

The RPM sensor is located on the back of the compressor.

You may also have a KLIMA relay problem, and I recall this is integrated into the OVP relay on late w124 chassis.

Could also have a bad pushbutton unit.

May be low on freon.

The factory manual has an extensive diagnostic section, which is most helpful on these cars. (Hint)

Jim
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  #4  
Old 02-13-2009, 02:16 PM
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That chassis also has a high side Eye-sight on the reciever/drier...if clutch is pulling in, check the eye-sight for refrigerant flow......
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  #5  
Old 02-13-2009, 03:58 PM
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Well, the AC came back on the next time I started it, and was working beautifully, then this Friday the 13th got worse.

Wrecked the car. I'm fine, but the Excelsior sure isn't. Not good.
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1985 500SL Euro w/ AMG bits 130k
1984 300SD Turbodiesel 192k
1980 240D Stick China 188k
2001 CLK55 AMG 101k
2007 S600 Biturbo 149k Overheated Project, IT'S ALIVE!!!
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  #6  
Old 02-13-2009, 05:47 PM
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As long as you are OK

Everything else is replaceable.
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  #7  
Old 02-13-2009, 05:45 PM
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Sorry to hear, hope it gets better.

How bad is it? Repairable? Everyone okay?
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  #8  
Old 02-15-2009, 02:55 PM
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Fortunately from the photo, it is apparent that the fender and bumper have been replaced before, pretty crappy paint on the fender too.

Someone other than me might know if your LCA is replaceable with the earlier version, it is likely bent. The tie-rod possibly also, and your ASR problem is most likely due to an ABS sensor wire damage.

The wheel though, that's a shame. You'll need to assess the amount of damage, and if it is not much more than the deductible, it is often better to not claim it and risk increased insurance premiums (they always get their money back it seems, even tend to profit on a claim eventually).

Best of luck. I might have some used steering parts I can live without also, let me know.
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  #9  
Old 02-15-2009, 10:37 PM
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That's why I didn't want to involve the insurance until I get an estimate for the damage. I've never been in any kind of accident before, except getting tapped by a Asian woman at a stop light, so I have little experience with insurance companies.

As for crappy paint, that comment was unnecessary, looks fine to me and I know what serious orange peel and bad body work looks like, but I appreciate everything else. Perhaps its an unflattering photo, but the body work could be alot worse. Keep in mind how much I paid for the car. One would think car forum members would know the quickest way to grind someone's gears is to insult another's car.

I've seen rims badly bent repaired before. This one doesn't look too bad. I'm not sure what to do there. I find out Monday what the body shop will estimate; if its high enough to warrant involving insurance, I'll weigh my options.

My guess is I'll wind up fixing it myself, or with my indy's assistance. I have AAA, so I have a few more free tows to burn. I was planning on painting the bumper anyway in the very near future.
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1985 500SL Euro w/ AMG bits 130k
1984 300SD Turbodiesel 192k
1980 240D Stick China 188k
2001 CLK55 AMG 101k
2007 S600 Biturbo 149k Overheated Project, IT'S ALIVE!!!
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  #10  
Old 02-16-2009, 04:48 PM
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The Excelsior sure is a tough Ol' Bird.

I grew impatient of the body shop and took the Excelsior out of the place. I decieded to put the spare on and see how everything is. Warning lights were gone, and the car drove straight as can be. I do think it may be slightly toed in, but I think an alignment will do the job. The only issue with the driving the car is the brakes. The rotors must be warped because I can't make a complete revolution turning the front rotors by hand without serious resistance on one part of rotor. At highway speeds, the steering wheel shakes moderately like the tires are out of balance. Would warped rotors create the same effect?

Its good to have the car home; the AC worked fantastically, by the way.
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1985 500SL Euro w/ AMG bits 130k
1984 300SD Turbodiesel 192k
1980 240D Stick China 188k
2001 CLK55 AMG 101k
2007 S600 Biturbo 149k Overheated Project, IT'S ALIVE!!!
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  #11  
Old 02-16-2009, 05:58 PM
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I have a feeling the AMG wheels will be assimilated.......




Praxis Moon

In the year 2293, the Klingon moon Praxis, described by Captain Sulu as "their key energy production facility," exploded in a violent cataclysm that had numerous far-reaching consequences. Chief among those consequences were:

1.

The Klingon homeworld Qo'noS lost most of its ozone layer as a result of the blast. This indicates that the Klingon moon's explosion caused significant disruption in the atmosphere of Qo'noS.
2.

A Federation starship on the other side of the Neutral Zone was buffeted by a "subspace shock wave", apparently within minutes. This indicates that the subspace shock wave travelled at superluminal speed.
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  #12  
Old 02-16-2009, 06:56 PM
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Oh dear, things don't look as good as I thought...

Here's the good side:



and the other side.







A new oil leak has popped up as well. The head gasket and valve cover were replaced 2,000 miles ago.
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1985 500SL Euro w/ AMG bits 130k
1984 300SD Turbodiesel 192k
1980 240D Stick China 188k
2001 CLK55 AMG 101k
2007 S600 Biturbo 149k Overheated Project, IT'S ALIVE!!!
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  #13  
Old 02-16-2009, 08:27 PM
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I apologize, I perhaps didn't put that in the most clever fashion.
Allow me to re-state that: It appears by the less than OE quality paint in a normally non-obvious area beneath the light that the fender has been replaced and painted.

I do love the color, the same as my Daughter's '94 (which is currently wearing a non-painted rub-strip on the front bumper, spring will change that).

On the odd spring angle: As it is apparent that some work has been done on that corner, is it possible that the spring is not rotated/oriented properly on the control arm from previous work? I don't see any obvious damage or misalignment in the photo, does the wheel stick out any more than the driver's side? Might be the control arm, but it seems more like a spring improperly installed (we hope).

As far as the wheel, the runout will more likely be a problem on the inside of the wheel where it is weaker. Wheels can be repaired if there isn't a crack or significant metal missing, but pick a good shop with experience/references or you might find that "repaired" wheel grenading on you when you need it. If that wheel is forged, the chances of it being repairable are much higher than on a traditional cast wheel (more ductile).
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  #14  
Old 02-16-2009, 08:38 PM
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That's a relief. Even with both front wheels replaced with the originals, I still have a mild to moderate vibration from 55-65 mph. Any ideas? I'm going to swap the rears tomorrow, but I doubt it will make a difference.

As Jimmy pointed out to me in a text message, if the rotors were warped, it would cause an even bigger vibration when I brake.
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1985 500SL Euro w/ AMG bits 130k
1984 300SD Turbodiesel 192k
1980 240D Stick China 188k
2001 CLK55 AMG 101k
2007 S600 Biturbo 149k Overheated Project, IT'S ALIVE!!!
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  #15  
Old 02-16-2009, 09:12 PM
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You might have damaged the rotor, it could also be the hub or the bearing. This is pretty beefy on a Mercedes, but I suppose possible. I had a reoccuring issue like this on a quattro after a good pothole hit, required a new wheel, hub, & bearing to make it right.

Do you own a dial-indicator? If so, that would be the next thing; measure runout at the hub with the wheel off. If no dial-indicator, you can do some rough checking by putting a jack-stand or other item against the hub and rotating to see if there is significant lateral (side) or radial runout in the hub.

While you're at it, look at the spring/LCA interface to see if the spring is rotated so that the end of the coil is nested firmly into the indent in the LCA.

If it is a hub, I believe that all of the 124 non-4matic front hubs are the same and rare to find damaged, you're in good shape for finding a good used one here. The bearing would then be replaced as good procedure in replacing the hub.
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