I have a few questions, please help. - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

pesuazo · #1 03-26-2003, 10:19 AM

1) Flex Disk
Where is it ?
What does it do?
Is it a DIY job?

2) Fan Clutch
Same questions

mbtjc · #2 03-26-2003, 07:19 PM

The fan clutch is what your visco fan blades are bolted onto, which is then bolted to the water pump pulley. It's a really easy DIY job. All you do is unscrew the four bolts that hold the clutch to the pulley. Unscrew 3 of them totally, but loosen the 4th one just enough to get the fan clutch out (they fit in slots, not holes), that way you will maintain alignment of the holes when you reinstall it..and the tension from the PS pump belts won't mess with the pulley. You may have to loosen the tension anyway, you'd just have to see. Then just unbolt the fan from the clutch and then reverse.

Flex discs are rubber pieces that mate sections of the driveshaft. They take up tension in the driveline. If we didn't have flexdiscs, we'd have broken drivelines left and right. There is one right by the rear tranny mount. It's a rubber disc with bolts through it. People do it as a DIY but it's not as simple as the fan clutch. I've personally never done it, but I would guess it's more of a medium DIY job. If you have no or little mechanical experience, I'd think about it really hard before tackling this one.

Just wondering...how do you know they need replacing?

pesuazo · #3 03-26-2003, 10:05 PM

Thanks for your reply.
I am considering to purchase a 1989 300E. The owner's mechanic tells him those things need replacement and he forwarded the info. I am in the dark regarding those parts since my car had never had any problems with them.
The car has 123,000 miles and looks excellent inside and very good outside (photos, the car is in Houston). I need to fly out there to do the PPI. He is selling it for $2000, (unbelievable price for what I saw in the pictures). I am planning on flying for a weekend, doing the PPI (perhaps fixing the problems there if I decide to purchase), and driving it back. The owner assures me I can drive it back without problems, but he understands my concerns and desire to fix it before the drive.
I needed to know the level of difficulty before I hop on a plane with some of my tools. I consider myself pretty handy, specially if in need to save some $$$.

mbtjc · #4 03-26-2003, 10:41 PM

Wow....Houston-NYC! Personally I would be very skeptical. I'm not sure I would travel that distance for that car. Those are the only things that are known that are wrong with it. I'd hate to travel all that distance and then find out much more is wrong. We all know that an ill-maintained Benz can be hell to own. It's obviously your call...but I'd be skeptical. What's wrong with the one you have now?

pesuazo · #5 03-26-2003, 11:13 PM

My MB is OK, some little problems, but nothing that stops me from driving from NYC to Raleigh, NC and back about twice a month.
I am thinking about giving it to my wife, since she likes it.
I have some friends in Houston, if the car does not pass the PPI and my personal tests, I will just consider it a weekend trip to visit friends (fortunately my sister works for American Airlines, and the plane tickets are reaaally cheap).

I am skeptical myself (sort of too good to be true thing). But my trusty compressor tester, a PPI, and knowledge acquired thru this forum will lead the way.
Another detail, I think the seller is rich, he owns a Porsche, a Volvo and a BMW. He claims in the last 5 years the Benz has seldomly being driven. A car fax is in the works as soon as I get the VIN #.
I'll keep you updated.

pesuazo · #6 03-27-2003, 06:46 PM

The report from Car Fax came clean across the board.
Already contacted a very reputable shop in Houston (info gathered from other members in this forum).
The PPI includes a compression test for $173.00. Now I need to convince the owner to take the car to the shop and drop it off.
Let's see what he says.
Will update.